Lighthouse Wedding: Message in a Bottle
By Sue Clark on Oct 1, 2007 in Other 
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Sometimes we need a little affirmation of our decision to get married. For Melody Kloska and Matt Behrs, that decision came after five years and several failed marriages between them. For a new beginning together, they chose to speak their vows at the beach at Wind Point Lighthouse in Wisconsin, at sunrise on August 18. Instead of throwing the traditional bouquet, they chose to throw a bottle in Lake Michigan, with a message inside. Written on the paper were their names, the date and their wedding vows. After a failed attempt by Behrs (he threw it underhand) which landed back on the beach, the bottle finally ended up in the lake, and was caught by the waves.
Fast forward a few weeks later to Michigan, where Lynnette Dubendorf was walking her dogs along the beach between Pentwater and Silver Lake. Looking for trash to clean up, she spied the bottle half buried in the sand and picked it up. Inside was the note sent across the inland sea from the Mehrs. Upon reading it, Lynnette was astonished to discover what it was, considering that she and her husband had been married on the beach, on the exact same date in 1979.
At first not wanting to respond to the letter, thinking it would encourage people to throw litter in the water, she eventually changed her mind thinking it was selfish of her not to write, and sent this note to the newlyweds:
“We thought you would want to know where your message in a bottle ended up! We picked it up on the beach between Pentwater and Silver Lake on Sept. 19. An ironic note, we were also married on the beach! Here in Michigan by Pentwater. Even more ironic, it was on August 18, 1979. We wish you both the best of luck in your new lives together.”
The Behrs couldn’t believe it, and read the letter several times. Melody said she couldn’t believe it had made its way across the lake. And the Behrs plan to send some photos and a letter to the Dubendorfs thanking them for writing. “I took it to mean that there’s hope yet,” Melody said.
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