We chose to have our wedding in Harlem, New York for many reasons. When Xavier came to New York for the first time in 1998, he attended a gospel ceremony in Harlem and found that Gospel music - the energy, the enthusiasm, the candid abandon of the singers - was something he really admired. Emilie had been teaching at a college in Harlem since she first moved to New York and grew to really enjoy the pulse and the vigor along 125th Street and in her students (especially in contrast to her stuffy office on Madison Avenue). Finding the best way to bring together a traditional French family and a Mormon family with 8 children proved to be a bit tricky. We wanted something full of spirit, exciting and not at all formal or traditional. Together, we explored the churches of Harlem and listened to choirs, talked to preachers and finally chose Mount Moriah Baptist Church. We loved the disheveled appearance, the peeling turquoise ceiling, the location, the vibrant choir, and especially the Reverend. The first time we saw him, he was preaching in dark shades. Only Jake and Elwood were missing...