"Right now with the economy the way it is, it didn't seem like a good thing to take that kind of money and spend it for one night," said Bracamontes, who plans to spend the cash she and her fiance saved on the wedding to furnish their new warehouse living space in Torrance.
"If things were the way they were a couple years ago, we probably would've spent mad money on a big party, but it's a slow time right now," said Bracamontes, 38, a clothing buyer. Miranda, 28, is an architect.
It's a slow time for Bracamontes, but not for the wedding chapel inside the Norwalk Registrar-Recorder building. The tiny, linoleum-tiled waiting room for the about-to-be-married was standing room only, packed with brides and grooms and friends and family. The deputy commissioner, who was running late for the couple's 1:30 appointment, had to squeeze through the crowd and yell to be heard when she called their names.
"Santiago Miranda?"
Miranda took Bracamontes' hand. Bracamontes screamed. And their friends hummed, "Here comes the bride," as the excited group of eight headed into the Norwalk chapel.
--
susan.carpenter@latimes.com
