Becky and Jesse give online dating two thumbs up! After chatting for several months online and by phone, the couple met for their first date at a bowling alley along with some friends in November of 2008. It must have gone well, because their second get-together saw a trip to Bull Ride Mania and the third was on Christmas when they took in a showing of Marley & Me.
Says Becky, “We both had similar interests and knew what we wanted in a life partner; we were not looking to date just anyone.” The rest of their dates began to blend together as they gradually met each other’s family and attended agriculture events.
The Proposal
Agriculture plays a big part in the duo’s life together and even factored into their engagement on Dec. 17, 2014. Recalls Becky, “We planned to finish our Christmas shopping that day. When Jesse picked me up, he forgot his phone at home. We went to get it and he decided he needed to check on the corn drying bin. I stayed in the truck. While waiting for him, I was talking on the phone and he called to tell me he needed help in the bin, but refused to tell me why when I asked. When I got to the top of the stairs he was waiting INSIDE of the bin. He then asked me if I would marry him, and, of course, I said, ‘yes!”’ The newly engaged couple waited to tell family until after Christmas, not wanting to disrupt any normal Christmas activities. Also, Becky wanted to get her ring fitted, and Murphy Jewelers, Hamburg, got the job done.
The Big Day
With lots of help, and after many months of planning, it all came together on Sept. 26, a date the pair picked so they’d be able to have an outdoor event, when they wouldn’t have to worry too much about taking care of their crops.
It turned out to be a gorgeous fall day at the “Friendly Acres Farm” near Oley. Becky was escorted down the aisle by her father Jacob Vandyke and wore an A-line beaded organza gown with a Queen Anne neckline by Justin Alexander from In White in Lancaster. Also in attendance was Becky’s mother, Barbara Jean Heisey, and Jesse’s parents, David and Phoebe Bitler.
The ceremony setting was a naturally provided “cathedral” complete with tall white pines, backed by a ready-for-harvest corn field. A handmade, stained wood split-rail arbor and fence adorned with a fern garland and sunflowers provided space for an altar of four straw bales. The aisle was lined with mum-topped milk cans. Off to each side of the fencing was an antique tractor. The keyboard music, scripture reading and Giving of the Bride were all performed by Becky’s uncle, Christian Elliot, a pastor with Knobsville Church of the Brethren. The remainder of the ceremony was officiated by Pastor Gary Blosser of Hope Community Church.
The reception followed the farm feel and was held, appropriately, on the groom’s adjacent farm in a machine shed. Good food was essential to the celebration, says Becky. The main course included tossed spinach salad with homemade pickled onions and balsamic vinaigrette dressing; fresh, handmade dinner rolls by Sunnyside Bakery of Narvon from a stand at Fairgrounds Square Farmers Market; scalloped corn, homemade with homegrown sweet corn from the groom’s uncle and aunt, Joe and Joanne Ruth; baked seasoned potatoes, grown and prepared by Richmond Produce, Fleetwood; and roast beef, home raised on the couple’s Vista Grande Farms. Dessert was simple: homemade apple pie from Sunnyside Bakery and Golden Guernsey ice cream from Yoder’s of New Holland. Beverages included milk cans filled with garden tea, peppermint water and ice water, as well as local sodas from Kutztown Bottling Works.
Tables were set for 8, featuring centerpieces with three different-sized mason jars. The smallest was a jelly jar filled with Cow Tail candies. The pint jar featured a sand bottom and a tea light candle lit for dinner. The top was adorned with an ear tag (plastic tag used in the ear to identify livestock) as a table number attached by a jute twine bow. The quart-sized jar held fresh flowers arranged by Centerport Flowers. Favors were randomly placed and included black and white molded chocolate cows placed on top of green crinkled paper in a brown kraft-colored jewelry box adorned with a jute bow and a thank you note – all made by the bride's family.
Becky and Jesse tossed Hershey’s Kisses every time the crowd clinked glass to try to get them to kiss.
The Best Part
The couple agrees that the highlight of their day was being surrounded by 280 family members and friends who came from far and wide to share in the celebration. Explains Becky, “The weather was so gorgeous that day that it made plan B a past thought. The tractors and cattle all cooperated, both the ones used for photos and the ones used day-to-day in the farm operations.”
Future Plans
Both Becky and Jesse plan to remain in active owner/management roles at Vista Grande Farms LLC in Fleetwood. Jesse handles the crop management while Becky works in dairy cow management.
DETAILS
Cake: Cupcakes from Lancaster Cupcake
DJ: The Party People Inc., Sinking Spring
Rental Company: Knight’s Rental Inc., Leesport
Rings: Murphy Jewelers, Hamburg
Becky and Jesse give online dating two thumbs up! After chatting for several months online and by phone, the couple met for their first date at a bowling alley along with some friends in November of 2008. It must have gone well, because their second get-together saw a trip to Bull Ride Mania and the third was on Christmas when they took in a showing of Marley & Me.
Says Becky, “We both had similar interests and knew what we wanted in a life partner; we were not looking to date just anyone.” The rest of their dates began to blend together as they gradually met each other’s family and attended agriculture events.
The Proposal
Agriculture plays a big part in the duo’s life together and even factored into their engagement on Dec. 17, 2014. Recalls Becky, “We planned to finish our Christmas shopping that day. When Jesse picked me up, he forgot his phone at home. We went to get it and he decided he needed to check on the corn drying bin. I stayed in the truck. While waiting for him, I was talking on the phone and he called to tell me he needed help in the bin, but refused to tell me why when I asked. When I got to the top of the stairs he was waiting INSIDE of the bin. He then asked me if I would marry him, and, of course, I said, ‘yes!”’ The newly engaged couple waited to tell family until after Christmas, not wanting to disrupt any normal Christmas activities. Also, Becky wanted to get her ring fitted, and Murphy Jewelers, Hamburg, got the job done.
The Big Day
With lots of help, and after many months of planning, it all came together on Sept. 26, a date the pair picked so they’d be able to have an outdoor event, when they wouldn’t have to worry too much about taking care of their crops.
It turned out to be a gorgeous fall day at the “Friendly Acres Farm” near Oley. Becky was escorted down the aisle by her father Jacob Vandyke and wore an A-line beaded organza gown with a Queen Anne neckline by Justin Alexander from In White in Lancaster. Also in attendance was Becky’s mother, Barbara Jean Heisey, and Jesse’s parents, David and Phoebe Bitler.
The ceremony setting was a naturally provided “cathedral” complete with tall white pines, backed by a ready-for-harvest corn field. A handmade, stained wood split-rail arbor and fence adorned with a fern garland and sunflowers provided space for an altar of four straw bales. The aisle was lined with mum-topped milk cans. Off to each side of the fencing was an antique tractor. The keyboard music, scripture reading and Giving of the Bride were all performed by Becky’s uncle, Christian Elliot, a pastor with Knobsville Church of the Brethren. The remainder of the ceremony was officiated by Pastor Gary Blosser of Hope Community Church.
The reception followed the farm feel and was held, appropriately, on the groom’s adjacent farm in a machine shed. Good food was essential to the celebration, says Becky. The main course included tossed spinach salad with homemade pickled onions and balsamic vinaigrette dressing; fresh, handmade dinner rolls by Sunnyside Bakery of Narvon from a stand at Fairgrounds Square Farmers Market; scalloped corn, homemade with homegrown sweet corn from the groom’s uncle and aunt, Joe and Joanne Ruth; baked seasoned potatoes, grown and prepared by Richmond Produce, Fleetwood; and roast beef, home raised on the couple’s Vista Grande Farms. Dessert was simple: homemade apple pie from Sunnyside Bakery and Golden Guernsey ice cream from Yoder’s of New Holland. Beverages included milk cans filled with garden tea, peppermint water and ice water, as well as local sodas from Kutztown Bottling Works.
Tables were set for 8, featuring centerpieces with three different-sized mason jars. The smallest was a jelly jar filled with Cow Tail candies. The pint jar featured a sand bottom and a tea light candle lit for dinner. The top was adorned with an ear tag (plastic tag used in the ear to identify livestock) as a table number attached by a jute twine bow. The quart-sized jar held fresh flowers arranged by Centerport Flowers. Favors were randomly placed and included black and white molded chocolate cows placed on top of green crinkled paper in a brown kraft-colored jewelry box adorned with a jute bow and a thank you note – all made by the bride's family.
Becky and Jesse tossed Hershey’s Kisses every time the crowd clinked glass to try to get them to kiss.
The Best Part
The couple agrees that the highlight of their day was being surrounded by 280 family members and friends who came from far and wide to share in the celebration. Explains Becky, “The weather was so gorgeous that day that it made plan B a past thought. The tractors and cattle all cooperated, both the ones used for photos and the ones used day-to-day in the farm operations.”
Future Plans
Both Becky and Jesse plan to remain in active owner/management roles at Vista Grande Farms LLC in Fleetwood. Jesse handles the crop management while Becky works in dairy cow management.
DETAILS
Cake: Cupcakes from Lancaster Cupcake
DJ: The Party People Inc., Sinking Spring
Rental Company: Knight’s Rental Inc., Leesport
Rings: Murphy Jewelers, Hamburg
Photos by John A. Secoges, Secoges Photographics
