A ‘dream’ wedding

In the minutes before the wedding of her dreams last Saturday afternoon, as she waited for her chauffeur, Mary Carlson made final preparations. Then, at last, her ride arrived, and with her veil on, she . . . strapped on her emergency rescue gear and climbed into the ambulance.

The groom, David Paganini IV, sporting an elegant tuxedo shirt and bow tie, waited patiently, alongside his wedding party and an eager gathering of guests, at the site of the ceremony. As his groomsmen offered him tips on what was about to occur, he nervously fiddled with his suspenders, which held up . . . baggy firefighter pants.

The traditional “Here Comes the Bride” harmonized with sirens as Carlson’s unconventional limo made its way up East Meadow Avenue and into the parking lot of Fire Department headquarters. The bride was escorted up the “aisle” by her son, Andrew Carlson, who pushed her brother, William Morrison, in a wheelchair.