Dara & Robbie
September 14, 2024
How It Started
Surprisingly, it all started at a wedding! Dara and Robbie met at a mutual friend’s wedding when she was a bridesmaid and he was attending as a friend of the groom. Friends also helped connect them, and their first date was at Nonno Alby’s in West Reading.
They were immediately and mutually smitten.
The Proposal
Dara explains it as a traditional proposal with a twist. It all happened at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Recalls Dara, “Robbie totally surprised me and had the entire family in on it. My son, Ben, and our first child to be, Collins (in my belly), were there, too.”
A romantic at heart, Robbie asked for Dara’s hand in the Butterfly Conservatory. She later found out he had attended the show days before and spoke to the owner to set up the surprise. After the proposal and acceptance, a beautiful floral crown was placed on Dara’s head.
Butterflies have a certain significance to Dara. She says, “They’re a way to remember loved ones who have passed, specifically my Mom and Nanny.” The whole thing was recorded by Robbie’s sisters hiding in the wings.
The Big Day
On their wedding day, the pair welcomed guests to the Reading Public Museum for their ceremony, officiated by their best friend, Theresa Folino. A harpist played their favorite music, and Dara wore a lace dress by La Perle purchased at Dressed In Love, West Reading. Robbie wore a tuxedo by Vera Wang. In attendance were Dara’s family, Nancy and Schuyler Deale, and Robbie’s father, Robert Fyock. Their son, Ben, 7, and daughter, Collins, 1.5, played the roles of Ring Bearer and Flower Girl, respectively. Ben adorably pulled Collins down the aisle in a white wedding wagon. Jacquelyn Folino served as Maid of Honor and Sal Folino as Best Man.
At the reception held at Eight Twenty Events in Wyomissing, the décor theme of vintage botanicals with a terracotta scheme played out beautifully with florals from Events by Kelly of Leesport. In lieu of favors for guests, the couple made a donation to the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute, Lancaster County, in honor of Robbie’s late mother, Gloria Fyock, who lost her battle with cancer just before her granddaughter was born.
Eats consisted of Steak Frites and Chicken Marsala, catered by Sly Fox in Wyomissing, as well as a variety of mini desserts and the vanillaon-vanilla cake by Rose from Mom Chaffe’s in West Reading. There was also a fun photo booth as well as a late-night slider bar and specialty drinks by The Bar Cart, West Reading. Bunch of Funk provided the music for the evening.
The couple shared their first dance to You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne.
For Dara, the highlight of the day was marrying her best friend alongside their children. She recalls, “We lit a unity candle with our children.” She also loved the energy on the dance floor, saying, “After our first dance it broke into a dance party.”
Robbie also enjoyed sharing in the day with their children as well as seeing his bride walk down the aisle. He says, “I was touched by the speeches and toasts from our friends.”
The Honeymoon & Future Plans
Their honeymoon has yet to be determined. For now, Dara, a personal shopper/stylist, and Robbie, co-vice president of Blackboard and Casework Design, Inc., Reading, look forward to raising their children in their Wyomissing home.
Details
Rings: Van Scoy Jewelers, Wyomissing
Hair: Shelby Weatherholtz, FOX + FERN Collective, West Reading
Makeup: Jenny Smith, Global Makeup Artist Roxy Jackson of Roxy Jackson Makeup Artistry, Berks County
