Theirs is a tale of young love. Matt Berman and Hannah Vought met at Exeter Senior High School Band Camp in 2006. Though they were a year apart in school, they shared band rehearsals as clarinet players. Their story started as one of best friends participating in years of marching band together, as well as musical theatre productions and the school orchestra. Their love story began before each headed off to college.
Matt attended Penn State University, while Hannah was a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, but they maintained their relationship as a long-distance couple. It was difficult, but it made them a stronger pair in the long run.
The Proposal
Matt apparently had quite the challenge planning his proposal to Hannah. The original plan was to start the evening with dinner at one of their favorite restaurants. To his dismay, upon contacting old favorites, he found they were all closed! Dinner ended up being at Chatty Monks Brewery in West Reading. After dinner, they jaunted off to Koziar’s Christmas Village in Bernville, where Matt intended to pop the question, but little did he really know how busy it would be on Christmas Eve. There was zero opportunity for privacy, and he knew Hannah was not an “on display” kind of girl.
So on somewhat of a strike number two, Matt recommended they drive the grounds of the Reading Country Club, which was decorated for the holidays. It began to snow, and when they arrived on site Matt parked and the two strolled to enjoy the scenery. It was there that he got down on one knee and asked Hannah to be his wife with a ring by William H. Diller Jewelers, West Reading, that features an inherited diamond from Hannah’s great aunt. She said “Yes!” and the two later returned to Hannah’s parents’ house to celebrate with both families.
The Big Day
On May 25, the couple was married by officiant Pastor Amy Miller at the Reading Public Museum Arboretum and Art Galleries in front of about 85 guests. The bridesmaids walked the aisle in BHLDN dresses to a rendition of Devoted to You by Carly Simon, a song performed at Hannah’s parents’ 1986 wedding and one her mother often sang to her and her sister as children. Noelle Vought, Hannah’s younger sister, was Maid of Honor. Matt’s best man was his best friend and college roommate, Erik Zimmerman. Also in attendance were Hannah’s parents, Michael and Elizabeth Vought, and Matt’s parents, Harry and Michele Berman.
Instead of reciting personalized vows at the ceremony, the bride and groom exchanged letters privately before making their way to the altar as local musician David Cullen played acoustic guitar.
Prior to the reception cocktail hour, guests were invited to explore The Museum on self-guided tours. At the reception itself, the couple embraced the beauty of the venue and opted to add white cream flowers and linens with touches of gold. Place cards at the tables featured individual pieces of art and artifacts found throughout The Museum grounds.
The meal was catered by Special Occasions by Panevino, a happy discovery as the restaurant was once a favorite of the couple. The cake — lemon with vanilla buttercream and vanilla with fresh strawberries — by Dutch-Maid Bakery, Temple, featured a gold topper, a nod to the couple’s love of Harry Potter.
The newlyweds enjoyed their first dance to You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne. Looking back, they agree that their favorite moment of the big day came when they had a few minutes alone immediately after the ceremony while guests headed to the cocktail hour. Says Hannah, “We laughed and cried and tried to take in the incredible day.”
The Honeymoon & Future Plans
After the wedding, the newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon at Unico 2087 in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Matt is working to complete his education degree at Cabrini University with plans to teach history, and Hannah works as a healthcare designer with Array Architects in Conshohocken.
The Details
Hair: Jamie Kramlich, Polish Me Perfect, Reading
Wedding Bands: Boscov’s & Holden
Floral Centerpieces: Steins Flowers, Inc., Shillington
