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Amy and John met by chance at Third & Spruce Cafe in West Reading, though they later discovered they lived in the same apartment complex! John attempted to humor Amy with what she deems “an awful potato joke,” but by the end of the night, they were friends. Amy reveals that at the time, neither of them wanted to be in a relationship; they were just enjoying each other’s company. They were friends for months before realizing what they had was something more.
The Proposal
The day John proposed, he took Amy back to the place they met, blindfolded. He gave her what turned out to be a temporary ring, as the couple visited Amy’s sister’s grave for John to ask her permission in marrying her sister. They buried the ring there as a symbol. Recalls Amy, “He knew how much my sister meant to me, and I knew she would approve of him. It is a day I will never forget!”
It happened in April of 2018 when Amy arrived home from her now daughter-in-law’s bridal shower. John was standing at the door when she got there. As she approached the front door, she was told to close her eyes and wait patiently. John blindfolded her and took her to Third & Spruce, where they first met seven years prior. Amy opened her eyes to find a ring that looked like her wedding band to be sitting in front of her, but she was confused, as she was already wearing an engagement ring they’d picked out that September. John proposed and put the ring on Amy’s other hand. He then handed her two boxes holding Alex and Ani bracelets. One had the letter J (energy and spirit for John) and the other had a lock (for unbreakable love). Next, they returned to Amy’s sister’s grave. John said he just needed one more person’s permission to marry her. He took a rose out of a bag he had put in the trunk. He took the ring off Amy’s hand, put it around the stem of the rose and the couple buried the rose and the ring with Amy’s sister. Says Amy, “I know she would have loved him. My sister passed away suddenly 12 years ago. Not only was she my sister, she was my best friend. I never felt so special before in all my life.”
The Big Day
Amy and John were married in an outdoor ceremony at Stokesay Castle, with the bride’s parents, Blaine and Judith Berkley, and the groom’s parents, Leroy and Janet Martz, looking on. Amy was supported by her sister Melissa Steffy as her Matron of Honor and her best friend Sheila Harrington as Maid of Honor. John’s Best Man was Larry Kirshon, his best friend and the husband of their Officiant, Ann-Marie Kirshon. The ceremony was beautiful and personal.
The bride’s bouquet was comprised of white calla lilies and the bridal party carried roses, stock, ranunculus, Veronica, dahlias and a seasonal mix.
The reception space was stunningly decorated by Dave Reppert of Wishes Entertaining and Event Design by Boscov’s. The couple’s first dance was to James Arthur’s, Say You Won't Let Go. For dinner, all enjoyed filet mignon, chicken bruschetta and vegetarian pasta, as well as the five-tier red velvet cake with edible flowers. As a sweet surprise for Amy’s parents, the newlyweds played Sea of Love for them to dance to. Explains Amy, “My father used to call my mom when they were in high school, play the song and hang up without saying a word. They have been married 54 years.”
An important part of their big day was a memorial table honoring the couple’s loved ones, especially Amy’s sister. A chair was reserved with a bouquet of roses in each person’s memory on the table.
The couple agrees that their most cherished memory of the big day is having all of their family and friends together in one place to confess their love and devotion to each other and then party the night away.
The Honeymoon & Future Plans
The Sinking Spring residents honeymooned in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, staying at the Majestic Mirage and enjoying a couple’s massage, dinner on the beach and an 80s music show where John sang on stage with the lead singer. As for the future, Amy, an Assistant Principal at J.P. McCaskey Campus, School District of Lancaster, and John, a Senior Specialist at Alcon, plan to travel as much as possible, make memories with their children, and enjoy the rest of their lives with each other.
The Details
Cake: Ady Cakes, West Reading
Hair & Make-up: TKM Hair Design, Reading
Rings: Murphy Jewelers, Hamburg
Table Numbers & Seating Chart: Peacock Design & Paperie, LLC, Reading
Transportation: Infinity Limousine, Leesport
