Haley Walker,

Taylor Toothman AND

Caroline Young

Crystal Vogelsang said she never expected to get married.

But when she entered the Coalition of Service and Charity (COSAC) homeless shelter six months ago, she found love at
first sight.

Vogelsang, 45, met Shawn Anderson, 37, in September 2008 on the first day she arrived at the Hollywood shelter.

"He is intimate, sensitive, caring and loving," Vogelsang said. "He is a real man."

Although relationships at the shelter are discouraged, Vogelsang and Anderson said they found a soul mate in each other.

Unlike in her previous relationships, Vogelsang said Anderson loves her for her. Her eyes lowered as she changed from expressing the joy of the day to reflecting on the reality of her past. She bluntly told of being raped and diagnosed as HIV positive.

"I wanted to die," she said. "I give my life to Shawn because he
gave me mine. Even if you have a disease, there is someone out there for you."

Vogelsang said she often broke the rules by kissing Anderson in the elevator. "We weren’t supposed to fraternize, but we couldn’t help it," she said.

Anderson proposed a month after they met, and since then they have been abstinent. According to Vogelsang, Anderson wanted to honor their religious values.

"We are not going to have sex until we are married, so tonight is going to be very exciting," she said hours before her April 4 wedding. For their honeymoon, they spent two nights in a local hotel.

The couple enjoys the movie "Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves," the outdoors, fishing and camping. Vogelsang smiled as she said Bryan Adams’ "I’ll Do Anything for You" is their song.

"In the back of my mind, I always knew that he was the one," she said of Anderson. "This is my first and last marriage."

The bride got ready in a bathroom of the shelter in a silk turquoise dress and white pumps.

"For all the ladies who are getting married in this economy, look around at Target, Kmart, and Payless," she said. Her hair was curled tightly, and sparkles from her makeup shimmered across her chest.

Christine Jordan, a shelter receptionist and the maid of honor, put a silver heart necklace around Vogelsang’s neck. Jordan said she has watched Vogelsang and Anderson’s relationship grow.

"I am happy for her because this is what she wants," she said. "For people to find love in a situation like this is a good thing." Just outside her door, sleeping residents bunk in the hallways on mats. Blankets cover their faces. Half-eaten trays of dinner sit next
to them.

Vogelsang was homeless for 15 days before she came to the shelter. When asked what scared her the most about living on the streets, she said it was the uncertainty.

"Not knowing where I was going to sleep, eat and live," she added. "Being out there where you can get murdered, it was just scary."

Vogelsang was married at Young Circle in downtown Hollywood. When she arrived, she said she was not nervous, but excited. She playfully hid behind friends in fear of the groom seeing her before the ceremony.

"How much longer do I have to wait?" she asked. "I just want to be Mrs. Anderson."

Michael Vogelsang visited from Fort Lauderdale to give his sister away. The siblings both smiled as they walked together toward Anderson. A group of teenagers playing music at the park improvised a wedding march.

"This is a very special moment for Crystal," he said. "It’s all about her."

Friends from the shelter, family and onlookers gathered closely around the couple as they exchanged vows. Yvette Tucholski-Dekles, a shelter therapist, said she was happy to celebrate.

"It’s important for anyone to be happy, whether they live in a shelter or mansion," Dekles said. "Everyone should have happiness."

During the ceremony, Vogelsang and Anderson gazed into each other’s eyes with obvious excitement and certainty.

"In the back of my head, I always knew that he was the one," she said. "Shawn makes me whole."

Sean Cononie, founder/director of the shelter, expressed hope as he officiated their marriage.

"There is no I anymore. It is we," he said. "You two are poor, but rich in another way."

After the ceremony, Vogelsang said she was still
excited. She beamed as she posed for pictures with her new
husband.

"I feel like a bride," she said. "Let’s eat some cake and do
the honeymoon."