We had a wedding rehearsal in the chapel, the same little chapel where Li had been baptised. He and I thought the idea of a rehearsal was absolutely hilarious. All I had to do was walk down a very short aisle – no pointe shoes, no dance steps, no partner, no lighting, no conductor with orchestra. It was the easiest thing I’d ever had to do. A rehearsal just to do that?!
Apparently Li had to have a bucks party a couple of nights before the wedding. Of course he had absolutely no idea about these Western wedding traditions, but he went along with it nevertheless. The group was a mixture of old friends like Charles Foster, Li’s best man. Charles was the immigration lawyer who’d prevented the Chinese Consulate officials from taking Li back to China against his will all those years before. Then there was John Grensback, his close friend from the company, and some other friends and dancers. Mum was nervous about what might happen. My brother Matt went with Li, and I’m sure was equipped with instructions from Coralie to get him home safely. I heard the next day that the party started at an Irish pub where Li and his dancer friends often played darts on the weekends, and then moved to a black-tie party being held in honour of Hollywood star Isabella Rossellini, hosted by a friend of Li’s. They then headed to a club for more drinking and fun until well into the early hours. Matt drove Li home but unfortunately forgot that he needed to drive on the other side of the road in America. Li has never forgotten that journey, drunk as he was at the time.
The day before the wedding, while Li was still in bed recovering from his hangover, Mum asked me, ‘Have you organised your licence?’
I said, ‘What licence?’
I had no idea. I hoped Li had already done it, but when I woke him and asked the question, he looked as puzzled as I was.
Coralie was very upset with us. ‘You are both so hopeless!’
I could see she was livid and this was the first time Li had seen sweet Coralie so cross. We had to rush to City Hall and appear before a county clerk to take an oath to prove that we really were who we said we were. It was a bit scary actually, doing it at the last minute.
That night, Li and I parted. He was to stay with Charles that night. ‘See you tomorrow, darling,’ he whispered in my ear as we kissed goodnight.
We were all up early on the big day, Mum organising breakfast for those who wanted it. The ceremony was at 11 a.m. and everyone was queuing up for the shower. The girls were putting on their outfits and Matt was polishing his shoes. People were starting to feel flustered, but as always my calm mother held it all together. Jackie did my make-up and found a cream ribbon and some flowers for my hair. She just made it all up on the spot and I was so impressed at how she managed to tame my wild hair and make me look presentable. And then I put on my beautiful Prue Acton frock and simple court shoes and it was time to go.
Mum and the girls took their seats in the chapel while Matt and I drove around the block one more time. As I entered I saw Li waiting at the altar, and I caught my breath. It was really happening. We were about to be married. He looked so handsome standing there. The re-tailored beige suit from his godfather, Mike Stude, set him off to perfection.
The chapel was very simple – white walls, and only ten or so pews lining the short aisle. I held on to Matt’s arm tightly as the music sounded, and off we went. There was my mother, my sisters and Jackie, Ben, Charles and other ballet friends, Anita and Mike, Ava Jean and Herb, and even Chinese Consul Ding Wei and his wife accepted our invitation.
It was not a full nuptial Mass, but our vows were traditional and heartfelt. It was a moving, simple ceremony – exactly what we wanted. We both knew that each of us took our vows seriously. Li didn’t have his family with him. Now he would become part of my family. He already felt accepted and I knew he would be one of us. We all gathered on the grass for a group photo.
Afterwards we went back to our house on Euclid Street. Li carried me over the threshold and our family and friends showered us in confetti. It was such a happy afternoon, the reception in our front yard nicely catered. Tables and chairs were set up under the marquee, with a small vase of white flowers in the centre of each table. Brig and Jo had cleverly put these together from the many bouquets delivered that morning. It was quite modest, and I was proud that I hadn’t needed to ask my parents for money. The speeches were spontaneous and heartfelt. Ben and Charles spoke beautifully about Li, and Nella talked about the McKendry family. Li told the guests how much he wished his family could be there. When it was my turn, I said, ‘I wish my father Neil George was with us. I know he would be proud.’
At around 5 p.m. we had waved off the last of our guests. We said goodbye to my family, who were staying at our house, and drove ourselves to Warwick Hotel, one of Houston’s finest, overlooking Hermann Park. We were so tired that we didn’t even feel like dinner. So we had a quiet first evening together as husband and wife, reflecting on the day. It had been perfect.
The next day, my family and a few close friends met us there for brunch, which was a highlight of the celebrations. Everyone was relaxed and now we had time to laugh and digest the week of parties that had just seemed to happen spontaneously, thanks to the generosity of our friends. We’d had no idea what was normal for weddings in Houston, or much about weddings at all – except on stage. What a whirlwind it had been.
Now it was time to start our married life. We had a week off and went to Acapulco, Mexico, for our honeymoon, staying in a four-star hotel. Li drove me around in a small pink Jeep called ‘the Mosquito’, up and down the hills with the wind in our hair. We had no rehearsals or schedules to keep, just pleased ourselves. We chartered a boat around the coast, swam and lazed in the sun, bought food and headed off to a secluded beach for the day. We swam and swam together, knowing it was a great way to keep in shape because soon enough we’d be back on stage. Mexico was wonderful, and it was only a three-hour flight from Houston. Li booked a celebration dinner in a fabulous restaurant overlooking Acapulco. When the sun went down, the lights on the coast made it look like the stars in the sky continued right down to the earth. We toasted our new life together with champagne and watched the moonlight glint on the ocean.
When we got home, there were some exciting things happening. Celebrated choreographer Ronnie Hynd had returned to create a brand-new ballet, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I was to be Esmeralda and Li would play Quasimodo, the hunchback. We both thought how strange it was for Li to be the ugly one instead of the handsome hero. He was in a huge red wig and ugly make-up, with a big bump on his back, and he had to move very clumsily with a limp. He had to maintain this character for hours. There was more acting than dancing for Li in this role, but I had a lot of dancing. The role of Esmeralda was a wonderful experience for me to show my emotional range and acting abilities.
Ronnie was followed all through the next year by other guest choreographers in what was an exciting time for Houston Ballet. Christopher Bruce, the highly lauded British choreographer, came and staged his chilling Ghost Dances, and Glen Tetley staged Le Sacre du Printemps (The Rite of Spring) by Stravinsky, a contemporary ballet in which Li and I danced lead roles.
Romeo and Juliet was next. I had waited all my life to dance the role of Juliet! It was the ballet I’d grown up with – with Rudolf. Every ballerina wants to dance Juliet. The music is so stirring. Ben was creating a new production – including costumes and sets – so it felt even more special. Many times I’d watched from the wings, Rudolf and Patricia as Romeo and Juliet, never assuming I’d be Juliet myself one day. Ken was my Romeo; I was very comfortable with him by now. My time to dance Juliet had come. It was a shame that Li and I weren’t cast as the star-crossed lovers, but I did get to do the pas de deux later with him at a gala in South Carolina, which felt so natural that it didn’t feel like dancing at all.