Wedding officiant: Tom Hanks said 'I will do it' and performs ceremony for Bellevue couple
Krisna Poznik Stahl wrote a letter to actor Tom Hanks.
She told the Academy Award-winning star a story about her and her fiancé, Tyson Stahl. They live in a 102-year-old house in Bellevue they’ve been renovating — reminiscent of the home in Hanks’ 1986 movie “The Money Pit.”
The couple planned to get married in the home, they said. And they had a special request for him, which he granted, helping to make the couple’s wedding dream come true.
On Sunday, Hanks officiated their nuptials.
“You can just tell by being around him that he loves doing things like this,” Poznik Stahl said. “He brings joy to people. He made our day, and we will be forever grateful for that.”
Several years ago, Hanks obtained a certificate to perform marriage ceremonies, he said at the time, in order to officiate at the wedding of friends.
The idea to pen a note to Hanks came in February, when a crew member from the movie he’s shooting here, “A Man Called Otto,” asked to put a catering tent in the couple’s yard. The couple happily agreed.
Poznik Stahl said she knew from media coverage that Hanks was “ordained” to perform weddings (he told E! News, “I studied as a minister for nearly $35”). That prompted her to reach out with the letter on March 1. She handed an envelope to a crew member, who got it to Hanks via his security guard.
Hanks read it and, she was told later, that he said, “Yes, I will do it.” Hanks’ assistant called with the good news on March 2.
To prepare, Hanks met with the couple for a few minutes on March 4. Poznik Stahl promised the event would be small — immediate family. And she said they wouldn’t tell anyone ahead of time, except their mothers.
She invited neighbor Grace Ruiz, a photographer she met working at Point Park University, and only told her that the officiant was from out of town.
“I knew she would be thrilled to photograph our wedding,” Poznik Stahl said.
She was.
In an email, Ruiz said that when her friend reached out, she expected the wedding to be a normal, small ceremony.
“To my surprise, Tom Hanks was their officiant,” Ruiz said. “It was truly an amazing experience to be a part of their wedding and capture this special moment for them! Tom Hanks was very personable and so kind! Truly an unforgettable experience!”
The wedding was held at noon on Sunday, March 20. The couple’s mothers captured the moment on video.
The couple’s 6-year-old son and 18-month-old daughter were there, with the son as ring bearer. They had cake and other desserts, and a toast with Arsenal Cider House’s Snowbound in lieu of champagne.
“Tom talked to everyone,” Poznik Stahl said. “It was such a special day for us. He made our day perfect.” Hanks is known for his stellar performance as the late Fred Rogers in the 2019 film “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.”
Hanks has been busy around town. Last week in Ambridge, he took time out from shooting to wave to a young child. On Saturday, the actor spontaneously approached a bride outside Fairmont Pittsburgh hotel to get a photo with her and members of her wedding party.
Poznik Stahl obtained Hanks’ permission before going public with the story of his role in their special day.
“I told him about our house and how it was like ‘The Money Pit,’ ” Poznik Stahl said. “We recently watched the movie and laughed the entire time. It was so funny. Our house is a labor of love. We gutted it and have been working on it for three years. The day we closed on the house (three years prior) was the same date I gave the letter to the crew member.”
And the catering tent that the film crew set up on their property? It never got used for the production — but came in handy for the wedding.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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