Keri Ann Meslar and Trevor Thomas Galko watched their friends and family sing and dance during a surprise firework show to cap off their wedding celebration on March 21 while standing arm in arm in the back of the Convento Santa Clara, the expansive ruins of the Santa Clara Church in Antigua, Guatemala. The massive 12,000-foot volcano known as the Volcán de Agua loomed in the horizon. Throughout the 18th century, Avicii’s song “Wake Me Up” was a hit.
According to Mr. Galko, 45, “the fireworks just got bigger and bigger and higher over the venue, and people were going nuts.” “I was crying because I was so happy and joyful.”
“People were saying, ‘It’s your turn,’ and it was this outpouring of love,” Ms. Meslar, 43, said.
Brian Luftman, 46, a groomsman and Mr. Galko’s college acquaintance, thought the couple’s journey enhanced the occasion. “True love won out even though these two individuals in their 40s took a very unusual route to get there.”
According to Mr. Luftman, their trip was like “a boomerang.” Early in life, the pair dated, split up, and then reconnected ten years later.
At the ages of 25 and 27, Ms. Meslar and Mr. Galko initially crossed paths in 2006. Both resided in Washington, where Mr. Galko worked in computer sales and Ms. Meslar was employed by the Washington Commanders, then the Redskins, a franchise in the National Football League.
In the end, they shut down a sports bar. Mr. Galko offered her cab money, “which was thoughtful,” Ms. Meslar said. Ms. Meslar’s participation in the 10-cent wings impressed Mr. Galko.
They saw the rock group Blue October at the 9:30 Club two weeks later on their first official date. Their official relationship began three months later.
After a day of kayaking, Mr. Galko ran across Ms. Meslar’s parents at a pub that summer, which led to a humorous first encounter. Ms. Meslar laughed as she remarked, “I wore Trevor’s basketball shorts and a T-shirt because I only had my outfit from the night before.”
Katherine Kennedy Allen, the acquaintance who responded to the Craigslist post and went on to be a bridesmaid, stated, “It was a timing thing.” “Keri Ann was discovering who she was as a person, traveling frequently, and her career was taking off.” In fact, Ms. Meslar went on to work at Nando’s, Burger King, and Coca-Cola, among other firms. A few years after being married in 2016, Mr. Galko got divorced.
In 2019, when the Volunteers from Ms. Meslar’s alma mater, the University of Tennessee, were competing in the March Madness basketball tournament, Mr. Galko was watching it on TV. “Oh my God, I miss Keri,” he remarked. “I texted her the words, ‘Go Vols.'” Dear Ms. Meslar,
