Nootre Dame is rebornand it does so by celebrating love. After the devastating fire and years of meticulous reconstruction, the Paris cathedral hosted an exceptional event: The first marriage under its restored vaults. The protagonists of this modern fairy tale, which marks a new beginning for the cathedral, are Jade and Martin Lorentz. And it’s no coincidence at all: he is one of the craftsmen who, for three years, literally brought the cathedral back to life.
Carpenter Martin’s wedding at Notre Dame
The “yes” was pronounced in front of 500 guests, including many of the groom’s colleagues, but surrounded by visitors: «There was a flow of visitors around. We were in the nave, it was impressive and, at the same time, protective”, confided Martin. He, in a moving gesture of professional pride, he put on his carpenter’s outfitcomplete with a pencil in his pocket, as he saw Jade advance marvelously towards the altar of Notre Dame.
The idea was born during the reconstruction of Notre Dame
But how was it possible to realize such a dream? The idea came to Martin while he was working on the beating heart of the cathedral: «It was an idea I had while I was squaring the oak beams of Notre Dame, I didn’t decide it, I experienced it as a revelation». So he wrote directly to the archbishop of Paris, Monsignor Laurent Ulrich, who accepted his request.
The party with colleagues and tourists
An event that the groom himself defines as “a bit like a fairy tale, in which we were the characters”. The greatest emotion came at the exit, amidst the applause of tourists and family members: his “carpenter brothers” formed an unforgettable “haie d’honneur” (a guard of honour).raising their work axes to the sky. A powerful tribute to the rebirth of a place which, as Martin says, «is so magnificent, it is the building that gave this significance to our wedding».
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