Don’t Rock the Boat

Mirror File Photo

What used to be, ‘Just another excuse for seniors to drink on a Saturday night has become a tradition,’ said David Mattei ’98.

The tradition is the Fairfield University Mock Wedding, which began in 1996, as a theme party at Lantern Point with seniors dressed as either a bride or groom.

Thirteen years have passed since the first annual Mock Wedding, and with each Fairfield University graduating class, 13 new Mock Wedding traditions have emerged.

The Mock Wedding tradition is a week of alcohol involving wedding festivities, bachelor and bachelorette parties, the bride and groom’s exchange of vows and a reception with a wedding cake.

To keep this Fairfield University beach tradition alive, the Student Beach Resident Association (SBRA) took extra precautions for this year’s event because of complications with Mock Weddings in the past. Precautionary actions were initiated by SBRA President Kyle Robinson ’09 who informed the Cruise reception event coordinator that the event will be a ‘mock’ wedding.

However, in previous years and as tradition stands, not until 400 intoxicated college students arrive at the reception venue are the employees to know that’ it is not a real wedding. This forewarning will prevent the five hour reception from ending early like the Mock Wedding of 2007, when students were forced out of the Aqua Turf Club at 11 p.m. and drinking at The Grape by 12 a.m. like it was any other Saturday.

Because of this long standing tradition, ‘Most businesses in Fairfield know of Mock Wedding and the time of year it takes place, so even if you call to book a reception they will say, ‘This isn’t that Fairfield University wedding thing, is it?” SRBA Secretary Catarina Maia ’09 said.

2008 Mock Wedding Fiasco

Last year’s Mock Wedding also went awry. The 2008 SBRA President, Erin Hickey was charged for the damage students wreaked on several buses during Mock Wedding.

Hickey was not willing to discuss any details about the event, but was completely liable. Unfortunately she did not have the funds to pay for it, SBRA officers Robinson and Maia explained.

Yet this year, the SBRA has assured the B’amp;B bus company that students will not be permitted to bring alcohol on the buses, and will provide trash bags for any alcohol related emergencies. After all, there will be, ‘450 wasted kids on a bus,’ Robinson commented.

Charles Sousa, the assistant director of Resident Life and the advisor to the University affiliated SBRA, spoke about last year’s unfortunate situation. ‘My best advice that I can give students is that you need to take care of yourself and protect yourself.’

What’s new this year

As president of SBRA, Robinson was obliged to put everything under his name for the approximate $60,000 wedding, but has learned from Hickey’s situation and taken Sousa’s advice. Unlike past events, ‘We have had more disclosure and transparency with companies we work with so they know what they are getting into,’ Robinson explained.

In addition, this year’s $95 Mock Wedding ticket, which includes transportation, dinner and an open bar on the cruise, was more expensive than in the past purposely so SBRA could put aside $2,000 for any potential damages. According to Sousa, ‘At the end of the day, students need to remember that your peer is responsible.’

Sousa was the only Fairfield University administrator who agreed to speak about the event. The Dean of Students, Thomas Pellegrino and Assistant Director of Student Activities and Facilities, Duane Cady Melzer were not willing to discuss the Mock Wedding because it is not a, ‘University sponsored event,’ as Pellegrino reiterated several times in an email.

Planning 2009 Mock Wedding

Mock Wedding has been completely student run and financed since 2006. ‘The school wants nothing to do with this because of all the issues in the past,’ Robinson said.

Robinson, along with the other SBRA officers and board member Jen Barish ’09, have been working hard since September to plan the event.

Several seniors are appreciative of the SBRA’s efforts. ‘If it saves us from getting kicked off the boat, then I support them,’ said the 2008 Mock Wedding priest Andrew Chapin, who also writes for The Mirror.

Mock Wedding was created by two Fairfield students, Chris Tucker ’96 and Steve Xeller ’96. They based the event on the 1975 film, ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show,’ according to a Connecticut Post article.

‘It is one of the biggest senior events of the year. You get to go to a wedding with all of your best friends’ senior Liz Lupo stated. This is exactly why current SBRA officers are working hard to assure this tradition continues.

‘Our class will act more responsible about the event and realize that we can have a good time without breaking a window,’ said Robinson.

On Saturday, April 18, Jamie Butler and Joe Pijanowski will be able to walk down the path at Fairfield beach and be married by ‘priest’ Andrew Chapin as arranged. Following the ceremony, to be held at The Vatican beach house, the love boat, nautical-themed wedding celebration will continue aboard the three-tiered Skyline Princess Cruise.

Although aspects of Mock Wedding traditions have been altered to assure smooth sailing, Mattei is certain one thing still remains the same: ‘the presence and the consumption of alcohol.