Civil Ceremony in Seattle, WA - March 2, 2006
Their first wedding ceremony took place in Seattle shortly after Maura received approval for a K-1 fiancée visa. She arrived with her mother, Izilda, at the end of February 2006 heavily laden with both anticipation and a significant amount of luggage.

The couple had reached the conclusion of the first major stage of Maura's immigration process, a process that had begun just days after their engagement in Mexico. A few days later, Maura and Ian were joined by their parents and Maura's sister Vanessa to embark on the next stage - their civil ceremony.

To both abide by the requirements of the K-1 visa and to ensure the immigration paperwork was process in time so Maura could travel to Brazil in June for her sister's wedding, as well as their own second ceremony, the couple exchanged vows before the Honorable Fred Bonner in his chambers at the Seattle Municipal Court on March 2, 2006. Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and wedding party dined at Geneva, one of downtown Seattle's top restaurants.

The day was blessed by amazingly clear and sunny weather, a rarity in the early months of spring in Seattle, as well as a quicker than expected ceremony.  With several hours between the wedding and their celebration dinner, the newly joined Silveira-Hameroff family enjoyed a long limo tour around town and over to West Seattle for pictures and a number of champagne toasts.

Maura and Ian travelled to Brazil in June 2006 to celebrate two weddings -- their own and Maura's sister's. The journey to these events was quite the harrowing experience. For Maura to leave (and, more importantly return to) the United States prior to receiving her Green Card, she needed a special approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The couple filed for the required documentation days after their civil cermemory in March, but due to a error by the U.S. Post Office, they never received the notification letters from the government requesting additional paperwork.

Thanks to both Ian's father Glenn (who suggested they contact their congressman's office), and the help of Seattle's U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott, the couple were able to complete the process in time. A huge debt of graditute is owed to both Rita Stewart (Staff Assistant to Congressman McDermott) and Gloria Tams (a friend of the Maura and Ian's who sent important paperwork to the couple while they were down in Brazil).

The cermemory in Brazil took place at Buffet Maison Menorá, where over 100 friends and family members joined Maura and Ian in the celebration of their new life together. Although already married, Ian's best friend Adam lead a renewal of their vows that brought both tears and laughter to all in attendance.

The celebration in Brazil went late into the evening as everyone ate, drank, and danced.

Maura and Ian's wedding cememory in Brazil capped off an amazing visit to South America, that included many joyous events and resulting in a happy ending for all. The couple returned to Seattle after a short stop over in Boston.