Tag Archives: live drawing

Big Gay Wedding: the Grooms, the Minister and family!

Big Gay wedding Gieza and Tomi at Zionskirche by Suzanne Forbes Oct 18 2022Dear ones Gieza and Tomi celebrated their wedding at beautiful and historic Zionskirche in Berlin this May.

I was so grateful to the grooms for making disability accommodations for me, so I could live-draw their day. It was one of the most special moments in my documentary drawing career.

Big Gay wedding Gieza and Tomi with minister at Zionskirche by Suzanne Forbes Oct 18 2022Here you can see the grooms and their minister, Dr. Reettakaisa Sofia Salo.

The grooms wore headpieces made by me, with twenty-foot veils attached! Gieza and Tomi’s wedding clothes were completely hand made by Alexis Mersmann. Alexis hand-marbled sheets of fabric to make the suits and every detail from scratch. You can contact Alexis via insta dm to commission custom work!

Dr. Reettakaisa Sofia Salo is from Finland, like Tomi, and has had trouble for performing gay weddings there.

Big Gay wedding Minister dr Reettakaisa Sofia Salo at Zionskirche by Suzanne Forbes Oct 18 2022She posed for me in her “casual minister” clothes before the ceremony.

It was wonderful to get a chance to meet her and draw her!

Big Gay wedding nieces at Zionskirche by Suzanne Forbes Oct 18 2022These lovely little girls are Gieza’s nieces.

They came and drew with me during the champagne reception at the church!

Big Gay wedding Gieza family at Zionskirche by Suzanne Forbes Oct 18 2022Gieza’s sister is so nice!

Everyone wore fancy headpieces in keeping with the theme.

Big Gay wedding Tomi family at Treehouse by Suzanne Forbes Oct 18 2022It was a delight to meet family members of the grooms.

At The Treehouse, where the reception was held, I was able to draw a few of the family and guests.

Big Gay wedding Gieza and Pansy at the Treehouse by Suzanne Forbes Oct 18 2022Gieza and her longtime creative collaborator Pansy, of Pansy’s House of Presents.

I wish I could have stayed for the fabulous drag shows and dance party later on, but I just didn’t have the stamina. Nonetheless it was an incredible day, and I’m so glad I was there.

The grooms in their headpieces (made by me!)

The guests in their finery

The dancers who performed

Gieza’s website is here, insta here, and Tomi’s website is here and insta is here.

The Big Gay Wedding in May was the only non-medical indoor event I’ve been to in almost three years; it was extremely well ventilated at both venues and I was always N95/FFP3 masked. I was profoundly supported and cared for as a disabled person by the grooms and the community, and I am so grateful. It cost a LOT to get my disabled self there, in taxis & paying a kind carer for their time. It was worth it and my Patrons made it happen!

I am so grateful to my Patreon Patrons, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to continue documenting Berlin performers as a disabled person.

The Big Gay Wedding of Gieza and Tomi, part 1!

Big Gay Wedding dancers Suzanne Forbes June 13 2022

This glorious event was the highlight of the Queer Berlin Spring!

Dear ones Gieza and Tomi celebrated their wedding at beautiful and historic Zionskirche in Berlin this May. I was honored to be there and doing documentary drawing.

The first drawing I have to share is ballet dancers Selene Laurent Halliwell, left, and Kai Immanuel Alonzo Braithwaite, right. These two artists illuminated the church with their grace and were a joy to draw.

Kai and Selene dancing in Zionskirche at the wedding of Gieza and Tomi event photography by Jenkins Photography 2The event videography was done by Tony Stewart, and the event photography was done by Jenkins Photography.

Above and below, beautiful images of the dancers by Felix Jonathan Jenkins and Essie Jenkins of Jenkins Photography! Jenkins Photography website here and insta here.

Selene’s insta is here, and Kai’s insta here and website here

Kai and Selene dancing in Zionskirche at the wedding of Gieza and Tomi event photography by Jenkins Photography

Gieza’s website is here, insta here, and Tomi’s website is here and insta is here.

The Big Gay Wedding in May was the only non-medical indoor event I’ve been to in 2.5 years; it was extremely well ventilated at both venues and I was always N95/FFP3 masked. I was profoundly supported and cared for as a disabled person by the grooms and the community, and I am so grateful. It cost a LOT to get my disabled self there, in taxis & paying a kind carer for their time. It was worth it and my Patrons made it happen!

I am so grateful to my Patreon Patrons, whose monthly financial support makes it possible for me to continue documenting Berlin performers as a vaccinated but Covid-vulnerable disabled person.