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Jamaica Plain News (https://www.jamaicaplainnews.com/2020/04/13/couple-marries-at-arnold-arboretum-for-love-and-covid-19/209397)

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Couple Marries at Arnold Arboretum for Love (and Due to COVID-19)

By David Ertischek | April 13, 2020
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A Boston EMS EMT and a chef got married in the Arnold Arboretum on Saturday out of love, but also due to COVID-19.

Kara Solomon and Ryan McLoughlin during their wedding ceremony at the Arnold Arboretum on April 11, 2020. (Courtesy image)

West Roxbury residents Kara Solomon and Ryan McLoughlin got engaged last October, and are still planning a wedding for October 2021. But due to the unprecedented circumstances in the world, the couple chose to get married sooner.

"We chose to get married two weeks ago, partially because Ryan is at high risk for contracting or carrying COVID-19, and partially because my health insurance is terrible," said Solomon. "So by legally marrying, I am able to get on his good health insurance plan, and we are protected in case one of us gets sick."

Kara Solomon and Ryan McLoughlin during their wedding at the Arnold Arboretum.

Solomon, who's a pastry chef at Steel & Rye in Milton, but currently laid off due to the restaurant doing a limited menu, said they called their friends and family last week to tell them of their impending nuptials.

No doubt their 2021 wedding will have more attendees, as Saturday's affair overlooking one of the three ponds, included Solomon's parents, her sister, and her two best friends. McLoughlin's two best friends were unable to make it due to self-isolating, and his father who lives in Florida, could not attend. So they planned a Facebook live stream for a private group.

There was no aisle to walk down, but her father still walked near her, before a justice of the peace married the couple.

"After the ceremony, we walked the Arboretum with our family and friends and took pictures," said Solomon, who wanted to gift hand sanitizer, but couldn't find any. "We gave everyone a roll of toilet paper and a mask as 'wedding favors,' as well as a box of treats I baked for everyone for Easter."

When they got home they walked the dog, cuddled with the cats, cooked dinner, and watched Lord of the Rings.

"Perfect day," said Solomon.

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5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

January Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter

January 5 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

January Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter

Everyone is warmly invited to participate in the January Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter, on Thursday, January 5, from 5:30-6:30 pm on the lawn of the First Baptist […]

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Winter Wellness Walk

January 8 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Winter Wellness Walk

Stay connected to nature and enjoy the health benefits of a winter walk at the Arnold Arboretum. Docents will cover seasonal interest, Arboretum history, and our plant collections. Please dress […]

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6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Lecture: Bird Bills

January 10 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Lecture: Bird Bills

Bird bills come in all sorts of sizes and shapes, from the needle-like bills of swallows for picking insects out of the air, to hummingbirds' long and curved bills for […]

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Tree Mob: Sweet Birch

January 12 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Tree Mob: Sweet Birch

It looks like a cherry tree, it smells like root beer, but it is, in fact, the beautiful and aromatic sweet birch. Join Horticulturist Brendan Keegan to learn about this […]

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1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Family Hike: Evergreens!

January 15 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Family Hike: Evergreens!

Spruces and hemlocks and pines, oh my! Take a walk and use a hand lens to see the intricacies of evergreen needles and cones. You will be surprised at something you’ve never […]

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11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Learn About Ice Harvesting on Jamaica Pond

January 21 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Learn About Ice Harvesting on Jamaica Pond

Back by popular demand, this talk will explore the history of ice harvesting on Jamaica Pond. Before the 19th century, ice was a commodity available only to the very rich […]

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Open House: Arboretum Entrance Improvement Project

January 21 @ 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Open House: Arboretum Entrance Improvement Project

Open House: Arboretum Entrance Improvement Project Saturday, January 21, 12-3pm Location: Weld Hill Research Building, 1300 Centre Street, Boston, MA 02131 Please join the Arboretum and landscape design firm Michael […]

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Barking Up the Right Tree: A Tour of Bark Diversity at the Arboretum

January 22 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Barking Up the Right Tree: A Tour of Bark Diversity at the Arboretum

What is there to see at the Arboretum after all of the leaves have fallen and before spring flowers start to bloom? Bark! Shaggy bark, mottled bark, striped bark: the […]

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Book Talk: Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart

January 26 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Book Talk: Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart

In her New York Times bestseller Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln’s Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities, Amy Stewart takes on Mother Nature’s most appalling creations. It’s an A […]

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The Overstory: A Participatory Read Aloud

January 28 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

The Overstory: A Participatory Read Aloud

Join a participatory, in-person read-aloud of excerpts from Richard Powers’ tree-inspired novel The Overstory hosted by the Arnold Arboretum. The read-aloud will take place on Saturday, January 28, between 1pm and 4pm, within the exhibition […]

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Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter

February 2 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter

The February Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter will be held Thursday evening, February 2, from 5:30-6:30 pm on the lawn of the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain. […]

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February 5 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Learn About The History of St John’s Episcopal Church, Jamaica Plain

Katharine Cipolla, Parish Historian, will present a survey of the historic building from her recent book A History of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, The First Century. St. […]

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January 5
January 5 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

January Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter

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January 8
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Winter Wellness Walk

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January 10
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Lecture: Bird Bills

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January 12
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Tree Mob: Sweet Birch

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Family Hike: Evergreens!

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January 21
January 21 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Learn About Ice Harvesting on Jamaica Pond

January 21 @ 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Open House: Arboretum Entrance Improvement Project

January 22
January 22 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Barking Up the Right Tree: A Tour of Bark Diversity at the Arboretum

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January 26
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The Overstory: A Participatory Read Aloud

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February 2
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Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter

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Learn About The History of St John’s Episcopal Church, Jamaica Plain

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February 2
February 2 @ 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Vigil in Support of Black Lives Matter

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Learn About The History of St John’s Episcopal Church, Jamaica Plain

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ABOUT JAMAICA PLAIN NEWS

Jamaica Plain News is an independent online news source and community platform for the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

David Ertischek

Our publisher David Ertischek has been a community journalist for more than 18 years. He has been the editor and reporter for local newspapers and websites. He has lived in Jamaica Plain since 2002. His favorite thing about Jamaica Plain is the Arnold Arboretum.

Jamaica Plain News is supported by advertising from local businesses. Please click here to learn more about advertising on Jamaica Plain News or email David Ertischek at david@jamaicaplainnews.com.

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