Made in Detroit

“Both of our journeys were so different, and we struggled for so long to be who we really should be. This was like, we finally hit the summit. We did it”. – Tony Misuraca

Tony Misuraca and Patrick Brewis married on Sept. 9, 2016 and started another chapter in their story together — a story that began more than 50 years ago at the former Outer Drive Hospital (now Vibra Hospital of Southeast Michigan) in Lincoln Park.

It wasn’t until they started dating about two years ago that the couple discovered their first chapter was already written. Patrick, born in 1966 on June 1, and Tony, June 6, were not just in the hospital at the same time, but were also brought into the world by the same doctor. Their paths separated after that — Patrick was raised in Wayne while Tony grew up in nearby Taylor.

Patrick was living out of state until four years ago, when his mother was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He packed up his life and moved back home two days after hearing the news. Being back in Michigan after nearly 20 years away, Patrick had lost many of his connections, but in 2014, a mutual friend introduced him to Tony at a birthday party. The next day, they went on their first date.

Then, after more than a year and a half, Tony and Patrick were wrapping up a vacation in Cancun when the hotel staff unexpectedly decorated their room with rose petals and sent in chocolate covered strawberries and champagne. “It was just beautiful,” Patrick says. “So I took the ring that my father wore, that was his grandfather’s, and that I’d worn ever since he passed away, and I got down on one knee. I looked up at Tony, I grabbed his hand, and I asked him to marry me.”

The twosome planned their wedding over the next few months, and it was no question that their day would have a Detroit theme. “Most of our dates were in Detroit, and I just have a huge affinity for the city,” Patrick says. “So we started thinking about it, and it made sense. We do have that pride, and we love the city.”

The ceremony and reception both took place at The Rattlesnake Club.

“To be (recognized) across the board that we’re in love with each other, and before God, before all of our family and friends, it was all about love.” — Patrick Brewis

“There were a lot of tears shed,” Tony says. “But it was absolutely beautiful.” Tony’s parents have both passed away, but his two daughters sang at the ceremony and also gave speeches at the reception, as did Patrick’s mother, who is doing well since her diagnosis. “It was beyond meaningful for me to have my mom there after everything she’s been through,” Patrick says. “It was all about love.”

Their seating chart resembled the original plans for Detroit’s street grid. Tables were labeled with locations and streets like Campus Martius, Jefferson Avenue, and the former Tiger Stadium, which was located at the intersecting tables of Michigan Avenue and Trumbull Avenue. They also had a “Made in Detroit” table, which was fitting as they were both “made” in metro Detroit. On the table were Vernors, Faygo, Better Made potato chips, and Velvet peanut butter, to name just a few items available for guests. “We tried to do some really different things, and I think it really worked,” Tony says.

For Patrick and Tony, this was a day 50 years in the making — 50 years filled with plenty of challenges, pain, and loneliness. But when their paths crossed again, everything began to fall into place. “Both of our journeys were so different, and we struggled for so long to be who we really should be,” Tony says. “This was like, we finally hit the summit. We did it.”

“To be (recognized) across the board that we’re in love with each other, and before God, before all of our family and friends, it was all about love,” Patrick adds. “I could not think of anything that was more beautiful and more love-filled than that day.”