Ambassador Rufus Gifford and Dr. Stephen DeVincent’s Copenhagen Wedding

Our dog, Argos, is unsure of the unusual activity happening in our dressing area. David, the owner of the store from which we bought the wedding attire, is assisting Rufus in positioning his pocket square. We descended the back stairs smiling, just before heading to the ceremony. A pre-wedding photo under the trellis woven with wisteria in the backyard. An American flag was raised in the main reception room of the town hall on the day of our wedding to mark the special occasion. Rufus taking a breather and a sip of a drink, in the anteroom of the main hall in which the ceremony took place. Our rings, designed by the Danish silversmith company Georg Jensen. I needed some assistance with the placement and positioning of my boutonniere. I wanted to read over the vows just before the ceremony took place. A few of the guests taking a selfie before everything got started: Kimberly Emerson with her husband, John Emerson, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, and U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe Dan Baer and husband Brian Walsh. The Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen, leading Rufus and me to the front of the main hall. The Lord Mayor officiating the ceremony. Rufus and I exchanging our rings. Guests applauding at the conclusion of the ceremony. Greeting our guests. We also stood for a few photos underneath the Danish and American flags in the town hall. Our friends and family all descended the stairs after the ceremony. Rufus and I outside in the gardens while the press snapped a few photos of us post-nuptials. Rufus and I with his parents, siblings, nieces, and nephew on the front lawn of Rydhave. Our planner set up a beautiful tent for the reception dinner in the backyard of the Rydhave. Our menu cards for the family-style meal, catered by one of our favorite local restaurants, Pluto. Some last-minute dinner prep. Rufus standing with the embassy’s deputy chief of misison, Karl Stoltz. Rufus and I gave some welcome remarks at the start of the reception to give thanks and get the celebration started. There were 16 toasts coordinated by a Danish friend who served as toastmaster, which is standard at a Danish wedding. Me and my sister Jackie embracing after she gave her toast at dinner. The toasts were given by our family and friends, with great emotion, resulting in laughter and tears of appreciation and joy. The five eldest of Rufus’s nieces giving their remarks at the reception. A kiss during the toasts. I’ve been to many weddings, but ours was truly filled with so much love and lots and lots of laughter that made it feel different. Rufus’s father, Chad. Rufus and his father in an amazing embrace after the toast. Cutting the cake at midnight, as is tradition in Denmark. Rufus and I tasting the cake, arm in arm, just before midnight. Our special fireworks show at midnight. Around 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning, Rufus and I were grabbed by our Danish male friends and hoisted into the air. Our shoes were removed and the tips of our socks were cut off. This is a Danish wedding tradition that dates back hundreds of years and is meant to prevent the groom from running off with another woman (or in our case, another man).