Life After 50: Love And Marriage

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on October 14, 2025
- 8:48 am

By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Executive Director
Champions of Youth Ambitions

This is a time in life when our children and their friends may marry and begin their lives as young families. This weekend, I had the honor to assist with the wedding of Brandi Weiss to Nash Taylor, but let’s start at the beginning.

The year is 2013/2014 as 52 eighth graders at Los Alamos Middle School become the first WEB Crew in the State of New Mexico. Back then, I started a WEB Crew program, from the Boomerang Project. As an anti-bullying initiative Where Everybody Belongs, students are trained to welcome the younger classmen into the school.

While the kids may not have met at their WEB Crew training, they did meet at Los Alamos Middle School. Why share this fact, because this weekend, many of those kids came back to serve both the wedding party and even more to help with anything at a moment’s notice. It was not just a beautiful wedding, but a magical day of youth in service to their friends to make the day wonderful.

They held their rehearsal dinner at Fuller Lodge, as a nod to their history here. Ask anyone in attendance about Old Lady Crumbl and you’ll hear a great tale. Then, we headed up to the Pajarito Ski Hill to practice and celebrate a long-time tradition to request clear weather for the big day.

The bride hoped to be married outside with the magical view of the mountain, in all her glory. It rained off and on all day. The decision would be made at 3 p.m.

Autum leaves were spread to grace the aisle for the arrival of the bride and groom by a friend. They included foliage from the bride’s childhood home, Chamisa Elementary, Los Alamos Middle School, Los Alamos High School, Overlook Park, Fuller Lodge and Ski Hill. Leaves from the groom’s childhood home would be included in keepsake bags for the couple and parents.

Officiant Harry Zimmerman led a beautiful tribute that recognized the wisdom of family and friends. The ceremony included traditions like the tying of the hands and the breaking of a class as a jubilant “Mazeltov,” filled the air. The bride and groom beautifully wrote and read their own vows. Nash, a soft-spoken, good-natured, old soul left many in tears and the quietest, gentle, weep could be heard from one bride’s maid.

The wedding cake was made by a friend and served by the bridal party, to guests. Joseph “Susan” Sarrao (Man of Honor) and Raymos Estrada (Best Man) shared heart-warming stories of friendship and love during their toasts. They knew even then how the story started in 2014 would bloom in 2025.

The world seemed to stop for a moment when an ominous sky of gray clouds revealed the sun as the pair came together for the wedding ceremony. Divine Intervention was felt in the moment, and the tradition adhered to by the wedding party at the base of the Ski Hill the night before came to fruition.

Brani Weiss and Nash Taylor met at Los Alamos Middle School the year Principal Rex Kilburn allowed for the first WEB Crew program. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen