Downtown's heart offers perfect wedding location
Mary Malone Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 2 months AGO
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Erik Musson smiles at his bride’s enthusiasm after he and Susan Walker got married in the middle of a crosswalk in the intersection of First and Main in downtown Sandpoint Tuesday evening.
(Photo by CAROLINE LOBSINGER) Erik Musson watches as his bride Susan Walker is escorted to his side by her son as the two prepared to get married in downtown Sandpoint on Tuesday.
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Susan Walker smiles at her groom as her son escorts her into the crosswalk at the intersection of First and Main in downtown Sandpoint, where the wedding ceremony commenced on Tuesday evening.
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Erik Musson and Susan Walker share a kiss after getting married in a crosswalk at the intersection of First and Main in downtown Sandpoint on Tuesday evening.
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Erik Musson and Susan White get their first good look at each other as husband and wife after exchanging vows in a crosswalk at the intersection of First and Main in downtown Sandpoint on Tuesday evening.
(Photo by CAROLINE LOBSINGER)Erik Musson and Susan Walker get ready to kiss after getting married in downtown Sandpoint, the heart of the community close to where their love first blossomed.
(Photo by CAROLINE LOBSINGER)Erik Musson whispers to his bride Susan Walker during their wedding ceremony in downtown Sandpoint on Tuesday.
(Photo by CAROLINE LOBSINGER)Erik Musson and Susan Walker exchange a love-filled glance during their wedding in downtown Sandpoint.
(Photo by CAROLINE LOBSINGER)Erik Musson and Susan Walker hold hands during the wedding ceremony in a crosswalk at the intersection of First and Main.
(Photo by CAROLINE LOBSINGER)Erik Musson and Susan Walker recite their wedding vows during their wedding in downtown Sandpoint.
SANDPOINT — As Sandpoint Police officers began to block off intersections surrounding First Avenue and Main Street on Tuesday evening, a couple dozen passersby posed the same question: "What is going on?"
Many were surprised by the answer, as it is not every day that someone gets married in a crosswalk in the middle of downtown. That is just what Erik Musson and Susan Walker did, however.
Musson said he and Walker had their first date in downtown Sandpoint, and with so many options of where to get married, choosing a venue was a difficult decision for the couple to make — and they wanted to do something a bit different.
"I just kind of said, 'We ought to get married in a crosswalk,'" Musson said, adding that she gave him a look before he said he was kidding. "But it just evolved; it just felt right."
And both were nothing but smiles as 6 p.m. rolled around on Tuesday, and dressed to the hilt in traditional tuxedo and wedding gown, the couple exchanged their vows. Musson, accompanied by his mother, waited on the southwest corner of First and Main. Walker entered from the opposite direction on the same side of the street, accompanied by her son. They met in the middle of the crosswalk where the ceremony commenced.
While only those standing closest could hear the vows, their faces said it all as Musson and Walker pledged their love to each other. Family, friends, and some people who just happened by the scene, cheered as the couple said yes, sealing those vows with a kiss.
The couple met on match.com and had their first date at Eichardt's, Musson said. He had a house in Bayview, and she had a house in Hope, so Sandpoint became their central hub.
"At this time last year I was in Equador on the side of a mountain," Musson said. "A year later here I am the department head of hardware at Home Depot, happily married."
Musson said the ceremony would not have been possible without all the help from Sandpoint officials, City Clerk Maree Peck in particular, as it did fall under the requirements for the event and public assembly permit.
City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton said the city has been working toward designating downtown as an event area on Main between Farmin Park and First Avenue, and Second Avenue between Cedar and Church. As each request comes in, she said, the city considers several factors, such as impact on traffic patterns. In this case, there was a road closure blocking traffic to the north on First Avenue, though Stapleton said the city would have accommodated the wedding either way.
"I think it's a great human interest story for a local citizen who loves his community and loves his downtown," Stapleton said.
Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.
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