After a year-long courtship, 28-year-old Melody LaLuz and 30-year-old Claudaniel Fabien sealed their wedding vows with a kiss. Their first kiss.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the bride and groom teach abstinence courses to Chicago public school teenagers and made a commitment to practice what they preach. While dating, in addition to abstaining from kissing, the two made sure they were never alone. They watched movies together, but remained vertical rather than lying down or cuddling on the couch. Fabien found other ways to show his affection—such as cleaning LaLuz’s car and washing the dishes. “It really tested us and encouraged us to grow closer in our hearts and our minds, just expressing things verbally,” Fabien said.
With the long awaited words “You may now kiss the bride,” the couple locked lips for two minutes, reported the Associated Press. Behind them a cacophony of claps, stomps, and cheers resounded from their 500 wedding guests.
The newlyweds will spend their honeymoon in the Bahamas. They have no plans to go snorkeling.