Wedding inspires questions of love and commitment

Mr. and Mrs. Gaussman
Photo by Bolero News Services

By Bolero News Services

AMAZON -- Wedding bells rang through the jungle Sunday when Gaul Gaussman married his longtime girlfriend, Persephone Bolero, after a short engagement period.

Rumor has it, Gaul took his own, sweet time proposing to his bride. While the proposal took, like, forever … Persephone happily agreed to be Gaul’s wife and subsequently gave birth to their first child, Cayden Gaussman, who looks just like his father.

The couple also have an adopted daughter, Kiki Bolero, who served as the wedding’s flower girl. There was some debate over whether she was a cute flower girl or the cutest flower girl in the history of weddings. Nonetheless, attendees agreed she was definitely in the top ten.

“She was the cutest flower girl I've seen in quite a while,” said Kathy Katz. 

You may kiss the bride.
Photo by Namida Giulia

The ceremony was officiated by Diana Fawcett, who was the only one in the wedding wearing white. The bride, groom, best man, and maid of honor went with a much darker color scheme for the wedding than the traditional white and pastel colors that symbolize purity and innocence, or something like that. The Gaussmans said traditional colors didn’t really fit their lifestyle very well.

“Well, I haven’t slept with many others before Gaul,” Persephone explained, “but my husband really gets around. And I don’t expect that will change now that we’re married. So we decided black with a splash of red would be a nice choice to reflect his adventurous nature.”

The elaborate ceremony the Gaussmans held inspired thoughts of matrimony and commitment among those who attended. How do you know when you’ve met that person you want to spend the rest of your life with, the person known as ‘The One?’ How do you make the marriage last?

The groom pointed to acceptance as the primary factor that determines the success of a marriage.

“If she didn't accept me for all my good things and all of my bad things, I don't think she'd have said yes,” Gaussman explained.

He said he knew Persephone was ‘The One’ when he couldn’t imagine there being a number two.

Cabal, whose affiliations in the Amazon are unclear, said trust was the key ingredient to a successful marriage.

A couple dances during the reception.
Photo by Namida Giulia

“You know you've met ‘The One’ when they click into you like a puzzle piece, a part that was always missing and you just never realized it. When you feel complete for the first time in your life and would rather be with them more than anywhere else, that's ‘The One,’” Cabal said.

Katz, who is in a long-term partnership with Honey Katz, also agreed trust is key to making it work. She said it was more a gut feeling when you've got the right person. 

I’m “not really sure what to say about how to know when you've met ‘The One.’ I guess it was just a feeling I had when I met my partner,” Katz said.

Dylan Fintan, who has been married to his wife Eve for longer than it took Gaul to propose to Persephone, said successful marriages are built on support.

“I know my wife is always going to be there for me, always going to have my back just like I have hers. As for when I knew she was 'The One,' [it was] probably about the first minute I met here when she laughed at my first cheesy joke,” Fintan said.

Not everyone views marriage in a positive light. Michel Morane, a member of the Mercenaries, believes marriage inevitable leads to tedium and routine.

“Marriage is the slow descend to hell,” Moran stated bluntly. “Moving from romance to intimacy, then from intimacy to promiscuity, and from promiscuity to crass vulgarity -- one day you end up sitting on a couch, and the highlight of the day is what you just pulled out of your nose, and you feel the need to describe it, else the day would be empty.”

Michel Morane and his Number One, Kaela.
Photo by Namida Giulia

Despite having a rather unromantic view toward matrimony, Morane said he’s practically married to his girlfriend, Kaela.

“Kaela says that she fully agrees that she is the one, and I'm the two … or vice versa,” Morane added.

Tantrica, a known ecoterrorist who surprisingly didn’t disrupt the wedding reception with her shenanigans, seemed befuddled by the very notion of matrimony.

“Marriage is crazy,” she said simply.

Aisha, a friend of the Gausmanns and Fintans, said she believes there is no one answer to the questions of love and marraige. She said honesty, sincerity, and mutual trust all play a role in a lasting union. She also believes a relationship needs to be free and open.

“I need my freedom as well, a lasting relationship should not feel like living in a golden cage,” she said.

Persephone Bolero-Gaussman had a critical view of monogamy as well, calling it a “deal breaker” for her.

“Madonna said it best,” Persephone averred, “‘Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another.’”

The honeymoon began on the dance floor.
Photo by Namida Giulia

Azrael, an associate of the Catadore Resort, said it was more of a feeling you experience that indicates when you’re with ‘The One.’

“You know you have met ‘The One,’ when there is always a nagging dull ache in your body that only goes away when you are with them,” he said.

Though, that could also indicate a medical condition as well, so be sure to talk to your doctor if you experience such a symptom.

Skylar Hastings, a single mother who works at the Catadore Resort, said she knew it immediately upon meeting her first husband.

“I knew it in the first seconds when we started to talk,” she said.

Persephone expressed her gratitude for all those who helped plan the wedding.

“I just think it’s amazing all Dylan and Eve did. And Gaul, bless his heart, went to so much trouble to do a lot of the decor. And Eve contributed so much to make it a special evening. It will certainly be a day I’ll never forget,” the bride said as she beamed lovingly at her husband.