Photo by Eric Keith / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

Rhea Williams marries Warrant Officer Michael Carpentieri Friday afternoon at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

Cupid combined with the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Festival several years ago, and the result was a wedding ceremony that started in Friday morning’s sunshine.

Warrant Officer Michael Carpentieri and Rhea Williams began their wedding Friday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. The Rev. Sally Schwab performed the service for the couple, with a few close family members and friends in the garden. The newly married couple will return to this year’s jazz festival to celebrate their marriage with family and friends next Saturday.

The couple met several years ago at a Coleman Hawkins festival on Felix Street Square.

“I liked him on the spot, but it wasn’t the right time,” Ms. Williams said.

The next time she saw Mr. Carpentieri’s picture was in the News-Press. The picture showed the Army Reserve officer saying goodbye to his daughter. Michael was going away on active duty, and you could see tears in his eyes, Ms. Williams said.

In May 2008, Mr. Carpentieri arranged a tour of the White House, where he proposed in the Blue Room. Ms. Williams said yes. The couple were going to get together in January, but the Army extended Mr. Carpentieri’s tour of duty at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Ms. Williams works as a nurse practitioner for Northwest Health Services’ Savannah Medical Clinic.

Friday’s wedding ended up being the best time to get together. The wedding continued Friday night, when a friend performed a ceremony blessing the wedding. Retired News-Press photographer Ival Lawhon Jr. photographed the wedding for the couple.

Marshall White can be reached at marshall@npgco.com.