A Community Unites to Give Weymouth Newlyweds a Perfect Wedding

For newlyweds and Weymouth High School graduates Catherine and Christian Smith, the perfect wedding was a matter of timing, and an outpouring of help and support from the community.

Catherine, a student at MassBay Community College and Christian, a a flight equipment technician in the Marine Corps, were high school sweethearts, were set to get married, all they needed to do was plan the wedding in a period of six weeks.

With limited time and financial resources, Tina McCall, the mother of the bride, turned to the “Everything Weymouth” Facebook page with over 11,700 members for help.

“I normally wouldn’t do this but I’m desperate at this point,” she wrote on Oct. 14 according to the Boston Globe. “Does anyone know of a cheap hall rental to have a wedding reception? And when I say cheap I mean under $200. My daughter and her fiancé have decided they are going to get married in 6 weeks. I knew the wedding was going to happen but not that quick.”

Smith is stationed in North Carolina and had less than 96 hours at home during Thanksgiving before returning to his post, making time of the essence for the pair.

The unexpected came next, with advice and donations pouring in for the big day. The pair were married at the First Church in Weymouth, the Knights of Columbus in Randolph donated their hall for the reception, Visions Forever of Whitman provided the video and photography services, and the photography studio’s owner found a DJ to play music. The bridal dress, cake, and the limo were also donated from users on Facebook.

The day after the wedding, McCall thanked the members of the Facebook page for their help.

“The day was amazing and it was all because of the wonderful people on this page and the community for opening up your hearts in order to make my little girl’s wedding day be as it should,” she wrote.

While Christian is back in North Carolina, Catherine plans to move down south to join him at the end of the month.

Photo Credit: Visions Forever