The ice accentuated the dress for a white wedding vow renewal Sunday at Cowichan Arena.
Gordon and Coral Sirup faced each other in the centre-ice faceoff circle during the first-period intermission of the Cowichan Valley Capitals-Powell River Kings B.C. Hockey League game to renew their wedding vows.
Gordon, 60, and Coral, 39, of Lake Cowichan were married on Sept. 15, 2012 but wanted a fresh start on a new date after an unfortunate incident.
“We had our house broken into at the end of November,’’ said Coral. “They stole our wedding rings and a bunch of jewelry that meant the world to me.’’
That included a ring from her grandmother and other sentimental items. Insurance covered some of the loss, but didn’t come anywhere near the replacement value.
“We’re still out close to $13,000,’’ said Coral.
“It’s the beginning of the year. We wanted to have a new start. Even if I ever get them back, they’re not the same.’’
The Sirups are Caps’ season-ticket holders so they talked to director of sales and marketing David van Deventer about pledging their love again before the team’s faithful with their new rings.
“I thought this would be the best place ever,’’ said Coral.
“She decided to do this because then it put meaning on these rings,’’ said Gordon, a 40-year member of the Lake Cowichan Fire Department, who wore his uniform for the ceremony.
Coral wore red shoes to make the connection with the fire department, a new addition from their first ceremony.
Coral was escorted to the ice from the corridor between the benches by Caps’ captain Kyle Horsman. She was met at centre ice by Gordon and marriage commissioner Dick Newman, who was the fire chief in Lake Cowichan for many years and officiated at the ceremony.
Gordon and Coral both wrote their own vows and read them over the public address system to members of a delighted and surprised crowd.
“They’ve never had it happen before,’’ said Coral of a Caps’ hockey-game ceremony. “We wanted it to be a surprise.’’
The bride, wearing the same dress as 2012 that had been dry-cleaned after the first ceremony and tucked away, had bare shoulders but insisted the only chills she felt were up her spine. “I wasn’t cold, I was nervous,’’ she said.
Gordon said the couple had talked about renewing their vows at some point.
“We thought maybe five years or something, but not this soon.’’
After the ceremony, the couple mingled with spectators in the corridor and passed out pieces of their hockey-rink themed cake. They returned to their seats and watched the rest of the game in their wedding attire.
The second honeymoon will likely be at Caps’ games Friday and Saturday at Cowichan Arena.