LYNN — Hoana Cortez and Jesse Lobato got married Sunday, March 29 in the Land of a Thousand Hills cafe on Munroe Street.
Her dad, Jose Cortez, “walked her down the aisle” from the family home in Hickory, N.C. Her mom, Sotera Vazquez, watched her get ready and cried when she saw how beautiful her daughter looked in a gorgeous white dress.
Thanks to FaceTime, her parents got to participate in the wedding and pre-ceremony happenings. A YouTube stream allowed them and her brothers, Juan and Aron, to watch the wedding in North Carolina. A photo album was posted on Instagram the next day by the new Mrs. Lobato
When it comes to love in the time of COVID-19, these innovations are making it possible for families who are heeding the stay-at-home order to come together and celebrate together, even if it’s a virtual coming together. About 70 friends also got to watch at home.
Jesse grew up in Malden, and his mom, Christina, and brother, Jonathan, attended the wedding in person. Also there were the Rev. Kurt Lange, lead pastor of East Coast International Church in Lynn, his wife, Jen, and their daughters Kyla and Haley. Executive pastor Joshua Kansiewicz also attended and Rev. Lange performed the ceremony. Kyla, a Lynn Classical High senior, served as wedding photographer.
Hoana, 25, and Jesse, 22, are both employed by the church. She is associate pastor/Youth and Media. He is confidential assistant to the lead pastor.
“It was a wonderful day,” agreed the couple, speaking on the phone from their home on Sagamore Street. “We definitely broke the six feet rule, but at least we had our masks on,” said Hoana. The masks came off for the “You may kiss the bride” moment.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds spent the day and night in Boston.
The couple met at East Coast International Church, when Jesse attended a service there. “I moved to Lynn in 2019, taking a job as an intern at the church. On my first day being on staff, I met Jesse that day.”
They stayed in touch and would often see each other at church events. One day Jesse received a text message from Hoana. “I read her text wrong. I thought she wanted to go on a date,” he said, then laughed. She didn’t, but was open to hanging out. He was embarrassed, and thought she was “taking pity on me.” They eventually spent a day together, walking in the North End of Boston, and discovered they had a lot in common and enjoyed each other’s company. After successfully completing a church project together, they looked at each other and said “We’re pretty good at this.” Romance blossomed.
“We both have a passion to help people,” said Jesse. “That drew us together, the desire to have an impact in people’s lives.” They are also creative types, and the live streams of church services gave Hoana the idea to stream their wedding.
A celebratory reception will be held in North Carolina, tentatively in August. Hoana is thrilled she’ll again be able to wear her wedding dress, which was designed by Sottero and Midgley and purchased from Precious Memories Bridal Shop in Malden. “I love it, and not every bride gets to wear their dress twice. I’m excited that I will be able to!”
The honeymoon, a trip to San Diego, was postponed but will likely take place.
