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E D I T E D B Y C A T H E R I N E D . A N S P O N . R O M A N T I C T A L E S F R O M C O U P L E S W E L O V E . WE WED THE WAY TRIP DOWN THE AISLE: OCTOBER 12, 1957 Isla Reckling Recalls Courtship: We met in 1956 in late fall at a party. Tommy had been in the Marines in Korea, and I was at UT. We had our first date in January 1957 to a country-western party (on my birthday). We had only had 12 dates when we became engaged in early April, and now we have been married for almost 57 years. Proposal: He asked me on the front terrace of Rienzi. I was totally surprised. He didn't give me a ring until a little later. We took our children to Disneyland much later, and I lost it. I have never wanted another one. Wedding Day: We wed at St. Anne's Catholic Church, and the reception was at Rienzi. We married at 5 o'clock and left for our honeymoon that night. We went to New Orleans and two days later to Havana. Dazzling Details: The band was on the terrace, and our first dance was "Put Your Little Foot." Always wanted to be a cowgirl! Rienzi did not have a ballroom at that time, so everything was inside and around the pool. We had a beautiful, delicious five-layer cake, and Bob Galloway did the flowers. And, of course, we didn't eat. We seem to have traditional weddings in this family. Our three daughters and two daughters-in-law have had receptions at Rienzi. Also one granddaughter, one granddaughter-in- law and one granddaughter coming up in October. Two of my nieces also had receptions there. The dress was from Neiman's and the only one I tried on. My mother had bought some beautiful old European lace, and it fit perfectly down the sides of the dress. It had long sleeves, and I love that. She also bought an exquisite lace veil. It has been worn by six brides, all in a different fashion. I wore a face veil to go down the aisle. I don't think that is much around anymore. But I thought it was mysterious — or maybe I thought it was hiding my face. I had a long trailing white bouquet. Bridesmaids wore lavender with purple/ pink lavender flowers and big airy picture hats. Groom and attendants wore gray morning suits. When we left for the airport, the groomsmen had taken Tommy's suit, and he left in Bermuda shorts and a big straw hat. They did return his clothes to him just before we landed in New Orleans. Of course, I was in my suit and hat, with a big corsage. We registered at Carlton House, Westmoreland Antiques, Southland Hardware. It is amazing the gorgeous gifts we received. We still use so many things every day. I will always remember my wedding day because we were so happy and had so much fun. TRIP DOWN THE AISLE: JANUARY 7, 1989 Charles Foster Remembers At First Sight: It was at Ninfa's Restaurant on Kirby in 1986. I was asked by a mutual friend in the oil industry if I would be willing to meet Lily, who was at that time a graduate student at the University of Houston, working on her master's degree in drama. Lily had been a well-known actress in China, having been the principal actress in 20 films, and she thought she might have the opportunity to act in Hollywood. Thus, the meeting was set up so she could meet an immigration attorney who could help her obtain work visa status, if necessary. Lily, who was dressed in jeans and an aqua-green shirt with her long black hair down her back, was stunningly beautiful — it was love at first sight. She was not only beautiful, but charismatic. And, besides, I had a deep interest in both the movie industry and China. For Lily, it was a much longer process. I would periodically invite her out, often frustrated because dating had not been permitted in Mao's China, and she was very busy at graduate school. Courtship: Lily and I were not engaged until after she returned to China in 1988 to make a sequel to one of the biggest movies ever made there, where she played the Empress of China. During the six months she was in China, I sent many letters, which strengthened the relationship. I would also send tapes of music from favorite musicals that were well received, including Neil Diamond's "Coming to America" and songs from A Chorus Line and South Pacific ("Some Enchanted Evening") — all of which included subtle messages. By the time Lily returned to Houston in 1988, we became formally engaged quickly. Proposal: I took Lily to a favorite French restaurant, La Tour d'Argent, where she was duly impressed with my fluent conversation with the waitstaff — presumably in French. Only later did she learn the reality of Houston: The conversation was entirely in Spanish! She was less impressed, but it was too late, as the wedding invitations were in the mail. Wedding Day: The wedding was held at St. Paul's Methodist Church on Main Street near the Museum of Fine Arts with Reverend Wayne Day presiding. It was black tie, and the reception was nearby at the Warwick Hotel (now Hotel ZaZa). As her parents could not get visas to visit the U.S., her brother gave her away, and her childhood friend Phoebe Ho from Shanghai was her bridesmaid. My best man was my cousin, realtor John Nugent, and groomsmen included my partner Harry Tindall and legal colleague Patrick Dugan. Blissful Details: What was special was that Lily wore a stunning white wedding gown from Isabell Gerhart, but she changed to a red dress for the reception, which reflected her Chinese culture and what would have been more traditional at that time. The Consul General of the People's Republic of China's attendance figuratively blessed the event on behalf of China. My tuxedo was from Neiman Marcus, where we were registered. Friends in attendance, including Kenny Friedman, Jeff Love and Pat Oxford, audibly gasped when they saw Lily coming down the aisle; she looked so beautiful. We honeymooned at the former Rockefeller Estate at Caneel Bay in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was as close to heaven as one could get, with just about the right amount of isolation. What I'll always remember from my wedding day was seeing Lily walk down the aisle. She was as close to perfection as any bride could ever hope to be. Rienzi's Royals: ISLA& TOMMY RECKLING East Meets West: LILY & CHARLES FOSTER AS TOLD TO JENNY ANTILL GITTIINGS GITTINGS GITTINGS "WE SEEM TO HAVE TRADITIONAL WEDDINGS IN THIS FAMILY. OUR THREE DAUGHTERS AND TWO DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW HAVE ALSO HAD RECEPTIONS AT RIENZI." — ISLA RECKLING "LILY, WHO WAS DRESSED IN JEANS AND AN AQUA-GREEN SHIRT WITH HER LONG BLACK HAIR DOWN HER BACK, WAS STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL — IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT." — CHARLES FOSTER KAYE MARVINS Isla and Tommy: The knot is tied. Very newlywed Lily and Charles in marital bliss Arriving at Rienzi Cuba, here we come.