PORT ANGELES — While holding hands in a makeshift meadow, Mark and Adriana Sewell renewed their vows to each other Saturday.
As the fake trees and cardboard cutouts of fictional characters Bella Swan and Edward Cullen around them might suggest, this was no ordinary ceremony.
The Sewells, from Everett, were one of two couples to renew their marital bonds to the theme of the four-novel Twilight series at The Gateway transit center downtown as part of TwilightFest.
The inaugural two-day celebration in Port Angeles, which ended Saturday, was held in conjunction with Forks’ Stephenie Meyer Weekend. Both events were based on Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling novels of vampires and teen love: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn.
The novels are set in Forks, but characters visit Port Angeles.
The fake trees and grass at The Gateway were meant to resemble the “meadow scene,” where Cullen and Swan confessed their love for each other, said Kristen Chittick, the ordained minister who organized and conducted the ceremony.
The vows themselves, written by Chittick, did not stray away from the theme.
“Though we are no longer in the twilight of our love, we have braved the new moon and weathered the eclipse, and I still look forward to every breaking dawn with you,” the Sewells, who will have been married for five years in November, repeated to each other.
Sealed with a bite
Adriana, 30, also surprised her husband with a playful bite on his neck afterward.
She said the couple had planned their vacation, with their two children, for the North Olympic Peninsula before they knew of the festival.
“I just love it out here,” Adriana Sewell said.
“I am definitely a Twilight fan,” she added with a smirk, “and he’s just kind of going along with it.”
Chittick said his wife enjoys unique weddings and ceremonies.
“It just sounded like fun to me,” she said. “Life is too short to be serious all the time.
“You got to have some fun with it.”
Although the clear, sunny day may have kept dark-loving vampires away, there was plenty for fans to enjoy at TwilightFest.
“We don’t want the rain, but rain is good for vampires,” joked Port Angeles Downtown Association Executive Director Barb Frederick.
At The Gateway, fans were treated with Quileute storytelling from Anita Wheeler, Twilight-themed merchandise, Shula Azhar Dancers, and Quileute drums and cedar woven hats.
In the book series, some Quileute teenagers become werewolves to protect tribal members from vampires.
Bella’s Ball, a dance for fans, was held at the Elks Naval Lodge that evening.
On Friday evening, Frederick said about 200 people came to The Gateway to watch a showing of the movie Twilight.
“Last night was great,” she said, adding that the downtown association intends show more movies at the location next summer.
But will there be a TwilightFest next year?
Frederick said fans will have to wait to see.
________
Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
