New Haven Independent

Rosemary Albino, 18, was sitting on a bench at City Hall Wednesday morning, her face beaming with joy. Next to her in the sky-lit atrium, her baby bounced on the knee of justice of the peace Helen C. Powell-King.

Powell-King, who works for the Registrar of Voters office, had rolled out the white arch of flowers under which they would say their vows. Rosemary’s fiancée, Moices Muñez, 19, had shown up, ready with a bridal ring. Then he realized they had forgotten one thing: A camera.

Moices rushed out to buy one, while Rosemary stayed behind to wait.

The pair had slipped out of their apartment this morning without telling their parents where they were going. They live together at Westville Manor with their baby. They had awaited this day for a long time, she said.

Rosemary and Moices have known each other ever since they were little kids, growing up in the projects by West Rock.

“His mom and my mom were best friends,” said Rosemary. So the two would see each other a lot.

“I didn’t like him at first,” Rosemary admitted with a smile. “But, you know, hate turns to love.”

A year and four months ago, the two had a son, Misael Muñez (at center). Their parents weren’t too keen on them getting married so young, said Rosemary, so they had to keep putting off the wedding. Finally, they decided to sneak down to City Hall and get it done.

The pair beamed with young love as they said their vows under the flowers, at the prompting of the justice of the peace.

Rosemary said she wants to be a lawyer. Moices wants to be a Christian rapper. He has a small business making and selling reggaeton beats out of a studio in their apartment. They both plan to start Adult Ed classes in the fall. “I do“‘s exchanged, the two set out for a celebration — a buffet lunch and a honeymoon night at a hotel.

Rosemary said she’d tell her mom about her marriage when the couple got home — “Unless she reads it in the news first.”