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Tania Colamarino, Ama Photography
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Tania Colamarino, Ama Photography
Melissa Buckley and David Geddio went to Muhlenberg High School together, but they were not sweethearts in their formative years. Admits Melissa, “He was a year younger than me, so I paid no attention to him.” In fact, the two never spoke throughout their high school experience. Even funnier – years later, Melissa discovered that David’s home abutted the backyard of her best friend’s home. Oh, and they grew up two blocks apart.
What brought them together? It was, of all things, when Melissa’s Facebook account was hacked.
She recalls, “It [my account] sent a message to all of my Facebook ‘friends’ and David was one of them. He reached out to me about it and we started talking.”
The Proposal
After the fateful Facebook connection, the pair dated for several years, but because each had been married once previously, Melissa’s intention was not to marry again. But after seven years of dating, on Christmas Eve of 2016 when she was in her spare bedroom wrapping gifts, David made his move. He bought Melissa an advent calendar, knowing she loved them. With all of the holiday business, though, Melissa was a few days behind opening its little doors. While she was busy with the present preparations, David came in (in his underwear, she recalls), handing her the calendar. He’d secretly opened the missed doors, leaving just the Christmas Eve door closed. Upon opening it, Melissa discovered a diamond ring and was left stunned.
She remembers, “I was totally caught off guard. I froze. He was sitting behind me on the bed, and I heard the words, ‘Will you marry me?’” She obviously switched gears on her “no marriage” status and said, “Yes.”
The Big Day
The pair said “I do” on June 22 at the Berkshire Country Club in Reading in an intimate garden wedding. It was a small family affair that included David’s parents and siblings. David’s daughter Josie was Melissa’s bridal attendant, and his two sons, Dominic and Dustin, served as ushers. Sterling Hafer acted as officiant.
At the reception, guests enjoyed a delicious selection of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, followed by a sit-down meal with choices of grilled flat-iron steak with a bourbon demi-glace or pan-seared chicken in a Boursin cream sauce. The wedding cake, ordered from Wegman’s, was half chocolate with a ganache filling and half vanilla with a fresh strawberry filling. It was topped with beautiful blooms by The Rustic Bunch.
The newlyweds shared their first dance to Lovely Day by Bill Withers, a song with special meaning for the pair. Laughs Melissa, “We took lessons at Louise Lamar Dance Studio a few weeks before the wedding, and we totally botched it!”
As for the newlyweds’ favorite moment of the big day? Melissa says, “After 10 years together, to finally share that commitment to each other in such a beautiful way in the company of family and friends was special. Many guests came up to us and told us it was one of the most beautiful weddings that they had ever been to. That meant a lot to me. Everyone had a great time, there were no hiccups, the weather was perfect, and the overall mood was relaxed and happy.”
The Honeymoon & Future Plans
The couple took a mini-moon of sorts to their favorite spot – Bermuda – but something bigger is in the works for later this year. Her vote is for the Maldives. His is for Italy. No one knows who will win just yet.
Melissa is the founder/president/CEO of Honeybee Gardens Inc., based in West Reading, and David is a fleet maintenance manager for JP Mascaro in Exeter Township. They reside in Leesport near Blue Marsh Lake.
The Details
Bride’s Dress: David’s Bridal
Bridesmaid's Dress: Boscov’s
Groom/Groomsmen's Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse, Wyomissing
Hair: United Artists Salon & Spa, West Reading
Makeup: Patricia Solis, Pure Skin Studio, West Lawn
Music: The Party People, Reading
Flowers: The Rustic Bunch
