Vanessa & Jim
THE BIG DAY | JUNE 30, 2012 | THE PHOTOS | HEIDI REUTER PHOTOGRAPHY
HOW THEY MET
Jim (from Erie, Pa.) and Vanessa Cicero (from Wyomissing) met in college at Penn State when good friends of theirs were dating. They bonded over grueling games of racquetball and adventures in downtown State College. Their first official date came on Valentine’s Day, and not long after that, they made it official–as a couple, that is.
The proposal came later.
After college, the couple moved to Newport News, Va. And a few years later, they booked their first “grown-up, non-Spring Break” vacation together—a cruise to Mexico. It was then that Jim took the plunge and asked Vanessa to be his wife. The vessel? A heart-shaped cake inscribed with “Will you Marry Me?!” Vanessa said the cake was so good that she just couldn’t resist.
THE BIG DAY
Their wedding day came on June 30 at the beautiful Stirling Guest Hotel in Reading; the Stirling also provided a delicious dinner for guests, while Cake-a-Fare of Myerstown delighted with strawberry-filled cupcakes for dessert.
On that special day, Vanessa (Medaglia) Cicero was joined by her grandparents, Dawn and Larry Medaglia, and her Maid of Honor, Cara Alexander. James was joined by his parents, Lisa and Jim Cicero, and his Best Man, Victor Sciarrino.
THE DETAILS
The bride's and bridal party's hair was perfected at Shear Style Hair Salon in West Reading, and The Floral Studio in Sinking Spring decorated with gorgeous red Gerbera daisies and white hydrangeas. Marty of The Music Machine kept the party going for guests all night long and photographer Heidi Reuter of Heidi Reuter Photography, Reading, captured the couple’s memories for a lifetime.
But what was the newlyweds’ favorite part of the big day?
“Dancing and celebrating with all of our friends and family,” says Vanessa. “We were truly blessed to have so many wonderful loved ones.”
THE HONEYMOON
They celebrated their honeymoon in New York City. They stayed close to Times Square and were able to visit The Statue of Liberty, 30 Rock, The Empire State Building and The Museum of Modern Art. At night, they saw Peter and the Star Catcher on Broadway and Cirque du Soleil at Radio City Music Hall.
FUTURE PLANS
Today, the couple resides in Salt Lake City, UT. Jim works for FLSmidth as an Applications Engineer. Vanessa works at Bella Vista Elementary as a first grade teacher. They are currently enjoying all of the outdoor activities the Wasatch Mountains have to offer and are considering having children in the next three years.
VENUE & CATERING | Stirling Guest Hotel, Reading FLOWERS | The Floral Studio, Sinking Spring CAKE | Cake-a-Fare, Myerstown DJ & VIDEOGRAPHY | Marty of The Music Machine HAIR & MAKEUP | Shear Style Hair Salon, West Reading
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM VANESSA & JIM'S WEDDING!
Brienne & Jason
THE BIG DAY | AUGUST 11, 2012 | THE PHOTOS | CATARA CARRELL PHOTOGRAPHY
HOW THEY MET
Brienne and Jason’s meeting was a long time coming. While on a trip to Greece, Brienne met friends of Jason’s who encouraged her to meet him in two years when he was slated to return home from Africa. Quite frankly, she wasn’t interested. However, another friend of Jason’s who attended Brienne’s church heard about the attempted set-up, and urged her to meet this man.
Six months after she first heard his name, Jason came home for a brief visit and the two met. They went on one date, met each other’s families on dates two and three, and then he flew back to Africa.
THE PROPOSAL
And it was in Africa that Jason proposed. Brienne was able to visit Tanzania, where Jason arranged for a boat to take them to a private island from the White Sands Resort. Upon arriving, they enjoyed a picnic lunch and after much urging, Jason got Brienne to walk a rocky precipice overlooking the ocean. It was there that he dropped to one knee and read a poem he wrote entitled, “Home is With You.”
When he finished the last word, Jason asked Brienne to marry him. She responded with an enthusiastic, “Yes!”
THE BIG DAY
On Aug. 11, the Boyertown couple was joined in marriage at what Brienne affectionately calls “The Pinterest Wedding.” The ceremony, held at Reformation Evangelical Lutheran Church, Reading, had special meaning for the couple.
Says Brienne, “Our ceremony meant the most to us since we were standing before God and our friends to make a covenant of marriage. During the ceremony, we removed our shoes to signify that we were standing on holy ground before God, and we decided to write our own vows. The pastor was a dear friend of the both of us, Cliff Boone. He got married and went to Tanzania with his wife shortly after, similar to our story. For the day of, Jane Handwerk was our wedding coordinator and kept the day moving.”
Brienne was joined by her parents, Robert and Robin Neyer, and her Matrons of Honor, Amy Gangwer and Rachel Albright. Jason was joined by his mother, Barbara Raines, and his Best Man, Jonathan King.
THE DETAILS
The reception was held at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading. Admits Brienne, “Most of our wedding ideas came from Pinterest. Our reception was a vintage theme and some of the accents were an old typewriter, an old suitcase with shipping stickers for the card box, vintage keys for the seating chart, origami paper cranes, mason jars as glasses, and decorated jars with Produce Junction flowers. We put together a photo booth by making mustaches and lips on a stick along with other props and hung a frame we found at a thrift store. Watching the room as it got transformed and seeing my vision come to life was a breathtaking moment.”
Buds in Blossoms, Oley, exceeded the couple’s expectations for the flowers. Rhein’s Classic Catering, West Lawn, provided the food for the day. For dessert, family and friends made cupcakes from recipes Brienne found on Pinterest and her mother’s friend, Angela Homicz, made the cake to cut for photos. Photographer Catara Carrell, of Catara Carrell Photography, Douglassville, gave the couple the amazing and artistic images they were looking for, capturing the feel of the big day.
Looking back, Brienne says, “The best part of the day was walking away with my best friend as my husband. Writing our own vows added an intimate and personal touch to the ceremony. We plan on framing them and rededicating them to each other each anniversary.”
THE HONEYMOON
The newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Hawaii, which was romantic and relaxing. They surfed, went on a coffee tour, and spent days sightseeing, as well as just relaxing by the pool.
FUTURE PLANS
Brienne is currently finishing up what could be her last year of teaching fourth grade. Jason is working for Antrim’s Complete Chimney Services as a chimney sweep. They are also visiting with people to raise their monthly support so they can return to Tanzania where Jason was working through African Inland Mission. Their goal is to spend two years in the village in Ruaruke, Tanzania, working with the villagers through a demonstration farm. Due to poor farming practices, many of the villagers go hungry a couple months throughout the year. They hope to increase their harvest through teaching them more sustainable methods of farming.
CATERING | Rhein’s Classic Catering,West LawnVENUE | GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Reading FLOWERS | Buds in Blossoms, Oley HAIR & MAKEUP | Classic Bella Make-up, Pottstown
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS OF BRIENNE & JASON'S WEDDING!
Marissa & Seth
THE BIG DAY | SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 | THE PHOTOS | JOHN A. SECOGES, SECOGES PHOTOGRAPHICS
HOW THEY MET
Seth and Marissa met at a party in the summer of 2008, when they were introduced by a mutual friend who knew the now newlyweds would be starting nursing school together that fall. Ask them and they’ll both tell you they never believed in love at first sight until that moment. They’ve been together and inseparable ever since!
THE PROPOSAL
It all happened after a long walk on the beach in Atlantic City, NJ. Seth did his best to keep it a secret, but Marissa knew something was up. Before they left for the walk, Seth asked Marissa why she’d changed out of her dress (he’d never cared or questioned her about what she wore before!) and while walking, only allowed Marissa to walk on one side of him. On the other side, he had his hand buried in his pocket the entire time. Even though she was tipped off, Marissa was still ecstatic!
THE BIG DAY
The Big Day, Sept. 29, went surprisingly smoothly. While standing at the altar at First United Church of Christ in Hamburg, Seth confessed to Marissa that he almost forgot the CD with the song she was walking down the aisle to. He explained that his best man, Zack Koop, had to drive back to his mother’s house, which was thankfully just a few miles down the road from the church. He made it with about five minutes to spare. Seth was joined by his parents, Brent and Tanya Brautigam, and Marissa was joined by her parents, John and Marybeth Ibach, and her Maid of Honor, Sarah Sparkes.
Seth and Marissa are a fun couple. Ask Marissa about her favorite part of the day and she’ll tell you: “I think my favorite part was rubbing cake all over Seth’s face. We played a game and had our family and friends put money in two jars labeled Bride and Groom at our cake. Whoever had more money in their jar by the end of the night was the one that got cake smashed in their face…and of course I won. For months Seth was under the impression that he was winning.” Seth looks back on it a little differently. His favorite memory, he says, was, “seeing my beautiful bride for the very first time.”
THE DETAILS
For their reception, the couple selected the stunning views of the Heidelberg Country Club in Bernville. The staff there was flexible with each request the couple made and made the experience a dream come true.
Marissa considered herself truly lucky to find photographer John A. Secoges of Secoges Photographics. “I never imagined having wedding photos that look as magnificent as what he provided us with,” she says. “I can’t say how often people would look at my photos and say, ‘They look like they should be in a magazine.’” (Editor’s Note: and now they are!) It was exactly what we wanted!
The flowers were done by Heck Brothers Florist, and Unique Desserts by Chef Anne Louise, Reading, created the elegant–and delicious–cake.
Marissa purchased her dress at Joyce’s Bridal in Morgantown. She and the bridal party got their hair and makeup done at Tranquility Day Spa in Leesport. The music for the reception was provided by the Party People, who had no trouble getting the party started. Wanish Limousine of Reading was responsible for the bridal party's transportation for the night. The ladies rode in their spacious, 12-seat Lincoln Navigator. Finally, Marissa’s engagement and wedding band were from Muller Rare Coins and Fine Jewelry in Hamburg.
THE HONEYMOON
Seth and Marissa spent their honeymoon at an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana, a wedding gift from Seth’s aunt and uncle. They enjoyed excursions to a different island and a natural pool, went deep sea fishing, snorkeled and spent lots of relaxation time on the beach.
FUTURE PLANS
Seth and Marissa live in their dream house in Hamburg. They work as registered nurses at the Reading Health Systems. Seth works on C-1, a cardiac and respiratory unit, while Marissa works in the Emergency Department. Kids are definitely in the future, but now they have their hands full with their Weimaraner puppy, Sammy.
CATERING & VENUE | Heidelberg Country Club, Bernville FLOWERS | Heck Brothers CAKE | Unique Desserts by Chef Anne Louise, Reading MUSIC | The Party People HAIR/MAKEUP | Tranquility Day Spa, Leesport CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS OF MARISSA & SETH'S WEDDING!
