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closeJeffrey Polunas and Aiyani Mersai’s love flourished amidst the stage lights and sets of Santa Maria’s PCPA Theaterfest where Aiyani was in the acting program and Jeffrey was a sound intern.
Six months after they shared their first tentative post-show kiss, the couple decided to marry. It was a surprise to none that the creative pair was a perfect match, or that they would want a wedding that was somewhat unconventional.
In tribute to their shared love for the theater, Jeffrey and Aiyani decided on a theme wedding. Showtime would be July 14, 2007; the venue, the Atascadero Lake Pavilion.
Both Jeffrey and Aiyani are creative, and from the start, they found clever ways to play up their theater theme. Aiyani’s sister, Summer Schmitz, a graphic artist and photographer, volunteered her design services for the big day. She began with save-the-date cards that depicted the couple behind the scenes of PCPA’s “Seussical the Musical,” a production the two had worked on together.
“The picture on the card had Jeff rey helping tape my microphone to my face while I was in costume,” said Aiyani. “It left his side of the family wondering what I actually looked like.”
Months later, when guests received invitations, they also received tickets to “the show.” But the topper was the wedding program, designed to look like a Playbill from a Broadway play, complete with an outline of acts, a summary of the plot (how the couple met), and headshots and bios of the cast (wedding party). Even their parents got a plug: as show producers.
For Jeffrey and Aiyani, it was far more important that the wedding be meaningful than traditional. For instance, instead of conventional bridesmaids and groomsmen, they chose an “ensemble” which, in a play, refers to the supporting cast. Th is allowed Jeffrey and Aiyani to select both men and women to stand by them during the ceremony.
Instead of a pastor or justice of the peace, the couple chose a close friend and Arroyo Grande resident, Cory Moore, to officiate. Aiyani, who like Moore is ordained through the Universal Life Church, wrote the ceremony – they called it “the script.” On the day of the wedding, approximately 130 guests gathered at Atascadero Lakeside Pavilion, which was draped with a silver curtain, an allusion to the theatrics ahead.
When the opening march began to play, it became clear that this would be no typical wedding. Th e couple had eschewed Wagner in favor of a relic from their childhood: “Somebody’s Getting Married” from the film, “Muppets Take Manhattan.”
“I don’t know how many girls grow up dreaming to walk down the aisle to Miss Piggy singing to Kermit the Frog, but it couldn’t have been more perfect,” Aiyani noted.
Demonstrating their synergy as a creative team, Aiyani and Jeffrey crafted the vows and music to flow together and synchronize flawlessly.
Jeffrey wove together pieces from several movie soundtracks to create a custom soundtrack for the wedding. Poignant passages underscored emotionally charged portions of the ceremony. Sound effects punctuated humorous or lighthearted moments. Like a good movie, it was meant to take guests through a range of emotions along with the bride and groom.
Naturally, the climactic ending of the production was the couple’s first kiss as husband and wife. Th e action was timed to a swelling music and culminated with a cymbal crash, as dramatic as any Hollywood ending.
The theater theme continued at the reception. Show tunes played over a sound system. Friends and family of the wedding party (Aiyani included) belted out favorite songs. Guests were invited to come up and have the couple sign their Playbills, a fresh take on the traditional receiving line.
While a theme wedding may seem daunting to some, the Polunases advise that it facilitates the process.
“It’s amazing once you pick a theme, provided you are passionate about it, how easy planning out a wedding becomes,” Aiyani said. “It helped, for us, that theater itself is such a broad place with so much interpretation and creative energy flowing.”
Jeffrey agreed. “I really enjoyed the ceremony and the day and I felt it showcased who we are and what we wanted our day to be,” he concluded. “Our family and friends were entertained and more importantly, we were able to share a moment with everyone and show them exactly who we are.”
Jeffrey and Aiyani Polunas have since moved from Santa Maria to Vista where Jeffrey is completing his degree in theater and Aiyani is auditioning for acting jobs in Los Angeles. Their next joint project is adding final touches to their wedding video. As they like to joke, it’s The Wedding of Jeffrey and Aiyani… coming soon on DVD.
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