Text by Lori Ann Schulten
Photography by Leigh Photography

As I sat down with Shannon Montano, her faced beamed with excitement. As a newlywed she could recall the events of her courtship, wedding, and honeymoon like it was yesterday. Shannon, a pharmaceutical representative for Jansen, met her husband while attending the University of Louisville five years ago. Shannon was a Ladybird, and Miguel was a football player for the University of Louisville, both traveling and participating in various events involving the football team for a while before they met. Shannon recalled cheering for him during a game, but she had never put a face to the name. A friend of hers was interested in meeting Miguel, so Shannon decided that she would arrange it. Walking up to him at an event, she asked his name. His reply: “Mike.” Confused, Shannon asked him his last name and he replied, “Montano,” so she said, “Isn’t your name Miguel?” He smiled. There were sparks immediately, and Shannon forgot all about fixing up her friend.

Shannon and Miguel dated for almost five years before he proposed. Miguel had planned a weekend getaway for Shannon’s birthday, which also happened to be on Labor Day weekend. Miguel told Shannon not to worry about a thing, that he would pack and plan everything. The two ended up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where they spent the day at King’s Island. Miguel thought that she would enjoy it, since the Ladybirds from the University of Louisville were performing. He was right; she had a great time. They spent the rest of the day riding roller coasters, with Miguel sticking Shannon on the inside of each ride, which Shannon thought was strange. As the day wore on, Miguel suggested that they go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower for the fireworks display, but Shannon was a little nervous, being afraid of heights. She remembers holding on and thinking about how scared she was. When the fireworks began, Miguel got down on one knee, pulled out the ring, and asked Shannon to be his wife. She said, “Yes.” Shannon wondered when Miguel had time to go out and get the ring when they had been together all day, but it had been with him the whole time, which was why he kept putting her on the inside of the rides. That way, when she grabbed his leg, she wouldn’t feel the ring box. Shannon told me that Miguel had the ring for about six months, and she had no idea. When they returned from their trip, Shannon immediately called the Olmstead to book their reception, with the only night available for the whole year being October 11, 2002.

The wedding was an elegant affair in which both the bride and groom participated in the planning. Shannon is Irish and Miguel is Hispanic, so the two agreed on making their wedding one to remember for both families. They were married at The Cathedral of the Assumption in downtown Louisville. Shannon was originally a member of the Middletown Christian Church, and Miguel was a member of Holy Name, but they were unable to have the wedding at his church because of a schedule conflict; the church was holding bingo. So, they decided on the Cathedral, with both the minister and the priest of each church officiating the ceremony that was done in both English and Spanish. A bagpiper entertained the wedding guests with his soothing sounds of the Celtic culture. The bride wore an elegant strapless gown with a beaded top and full skirt, her veil attached to a tiara that was hand made by Patrecia for Brides. Shannon’s sister was her matron of honor, and some of her very closest friends were bridesmaids. The bride’s youngest brother Charles Cummings, III, gave her away. Miguel, one of eight children, had five of his brothers and close friends stand up with him. His sister Maria was also a member of the wedding party. The reception was an eloquent affair, with the tables draped with platinum and white tablecloths, candles, and a display of fall colored roses. A trumpet player, who played the Churchill Down’s Call to the Post and just happened to be Shannon’s brother, introduced the bride and groom. The Artie Dean Harris Band and DJ supplied the music. Christy’s Cakes made the groom’s cake to be a replica of a Cardinal bird, and the wedding cake held over 120 roses and had inlaid charms. The bride wanted to include the bridesmaids, so each removed a charm that would foretell her future.

The honeymoon began with a two week trip to Mexico. The happy couple started off at the Royal Hideaway Resort in Play Da Carmen, then went on to a few days in Carmel, then Cancun. The trip came to its end in Mexico City where the groom’s family is from. This was a wonderful experience, where they were even able to celebrate again. Some of Miguel’s family who were unable to attend the wedding gave them another reception. Shannon wore a tiara of roses, and they both participated in all of the Hispanic traditions of matrimony.

Although both the bride and groom were born and raised in Louisville, they decided to bring some of the aspects of their culture into the ceremony. And what a beautiful ceremony it was.