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Crist Says 'I Do' In St. Pete

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By WILLIAM MARCH and CLOE CABRERA

wmarch@tampatrib.com and ccabrera@tampatrib.com

Published: December 12, 2008

Pals and politicos, socialites and supporters braved a chilly breeze and surly protesters to attend the wedding of Gov. Charlie Crist and businesswoman Carole Rome on Friday night in St. Petersburg.

"It was beautiful," former Florida Gov. Bob Martinez said of the ceremony at the First United Methodist Church. "Charlie and Carole were just beaming."

After the ceremony, the bride and groom made a brief appearance outside the church. "It's a great night," Crist told reporters. "It's a great night for Florida. It's a great night for us."

Gesturing toward protesters who had gathered in a park across the street to represent several causes, Crist added, "Free speech is alive and well."

The bride wore a long white strapless dress by Spanish designer Pronovias. She carried white roses and wore a long white veil.

Her sister, Michele Oumano Powell, was matron of honor. Her daughters, Jessica and Skylar, served as junior bridesmaids. Crist's sisters were bridesmaids. They wore strapless champagne gowns designed by Jim Helm.

Crist and his groomsmen, including his father, Charles Crist Sr. of St. Petersburg, who served as best man, wore black tuxedos.

Tampa lawyer Steve Burton, a fundraiser in Crist's 2006 campaign, said it was very much a family affair.

When the Rev. David Miller asked who would give the bride away. Jessica and Skylar Rome each quickly answered, "I do."

"It was the sweetest thing," Burton said.

Not so sweet were the hundreds of protesters outside the church.

Members of the Uhuru Movement came out in force, carrying a bullhorn and a banner demanding justice for Javon Dawson, who was shot and killed by a St. Petersburg police officer outside a high school graduation party in June.

They also carried an effigy of Crist, dressed in prison stripes, a reference to Crist's "Chain Gang Charlie" nickname.

Impact Florida also showed up as planned to protest the Florida Marriage Amendment and to send a message that gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry, said spokeswoman Lorna Bracewell.

The police did not interfere with the protesters as long as they stayed on their side of the street.
Inside the church, guests applauded as the bride entered the sanctuary and walked down the aisle to "Trumpet Voluntary" by Henry Purcell.

When Florida's first couple shared their first kiss as man and wife, "It was very sweet," said Britta Spanke, co-owner of Not From a Box, the St. Petersburg company that designed the invitations, menus and programs for the wedding.

"They kissed and she grabbed his face, and they kissed again," Spanke said.

"It was a storybook wedding," said Linda Burmer of Tampa, whose husband, Jay, is a longtime friend of the governor.

""I've never seen Charlie happier. Carole was radiant," Burmer said. "They'd be a perfect couple for the White House."

After the wedding, the Crists and their guests headed to a reception at the nearby Renaissance Vinoy Resort, where they dined on lobster, caviar raised at the Mote Aquaculture Park in Sarasota County, short ribs and grouper.

For their honeymoon, a closely guarded secret, the Crists will spend three or four nights on Useppa Island, near Fort Myers.

Back at the scene of the wedding, Amy and Steven Eversole, who live in the Stanton Apartments across the street from the church, enjoyed beers and munchies as they celebrated the governor's nuptials.

The couple hung a congratulatory banner from their balcony, hoping the first couple would get their message.

"Apparently, our invitation was lost in the mail," Amy Eversole joked.

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761. Reporter Cloe Cabrera can be reached at (813) 259-7656. Information from a media pool also was used in this story.

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