KYLE & NEDA
THE BIG DAY | May 28, 2011
PHOTOS BY | Josh Finsel & Amber Breiner Photography
STORY BY | Neda Oswald
Kyle Oswald, originally from Kutztown, moved to Seattle in 2000. Seven years later, he met Neda Vaseghi on an Alaska Airlines flight to Fresno. The two have been in love ever since.
Last year, before a family trip to the Outer Banks, Kyle contacted Alaska Airlines to assist with his in-flight proposal. The airline upgraded the couple to first class and provided champagne and flowers. After reaching altitude, Kyle walked to the front of the plane, later returning with the bouquet and a copy of his first email exchange with Neda. He presented her with the most beautiful blue sapphire ring. She said "yes" and the pilot announced the engagement.
Neda is originally from Iran and moved to the U.S. in 1985. Her immediate family members reside in Seattle and were gracious enough to agree to a “destination wedding” in Kutztown. After much deliberation, the couple decided on an outdoor wedding in a field adjacent to one of the oldest 19th century stone barns in the county, owned by Kyle’s brother and sister-in-law. The family helped restore and decorate the beautiful setting, including the perfect placement of white Chinese lanterns, candles set from floor to ceiling, touches of peacock feathers and flower arrangements.
Neda purchased a stunning San Patrick dress in New York City. Using her eclectic taste, she accented the dress with blue suede shoes, a blue feather in her hair and Sorrelli earrings (Sorrelli is owned by Kyle’s brother and sister-in-law). Her hair and makeup was perfectly done by Jen Petko of Oreland at the charming Kutztown Main Street Inn Bed & Breakfast, where all out-of-state travelers stayed for the week. Jackie and Daughter Flower Shop, Kutztown, created the white waterfall orchid bouquet. The couple decided on a wedding party that meant the most to them – their parents! It was amazing to see the love in their eyes, especially from Kyle’s parents – 91 and 81 years of age.
On May 28, wine and champagne was served as the guests arrived and were seated. Kyle’s dear friend, Brandon Gough, officiated the 14-minute service. Neda was 30 minutes late (very normal in the couple's non-punctual world)! Kyle could not hold back emotions and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. The bride walked with her parents to Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah played on the piano. The service included a reading by Rumi (This Marriage) and a traditional Iranian honey ceremony under oak trees by the bank of a stream. The bride and groom kissed throughout the ceremony before saying, “I do.” BarNone Wedding & Entertainment ended the ceremony with Dirty Bit by the Black Eyed Peas to the surprise of their guests, who quickly joined in the celebration.
Moselem Springs Golf Club catered mouth-watering food, including a raw bar, prime rib and crab cake sliders for the 55 locals and 25 friends who traveled across the country. BarNone kept the music pumping until 1am. The real gift was when the entire event was preserved forever by JF+AB Photography and BarNone’s videographer (Trai).
It was quite simply a perfect day pulled together by the help of their families and friends.
CHUCK & CARA
THE BIG DAY | July 30, 2011
PHOTOS BY | Heidi E. Reuter Photography
STORY BY | Cara & Chuck Alexander
Chuck Alexander’s and Cara Walter’s paths did not cross until they shared a 21st Century Poets class in 2005 at Penn State. From Cara’s point of view, Chuck was the funny and sweet boy who sat next to her on the first day of class. From Chuck’s point of view, Cara was the most beautiful girl in the class and clearly the most intelligent. He made her laugh nonstop while he half-paid attention and half- did a crossword puzzle. Chuck soon asked Cara to be his partner for a poetry project.
Like Carrie Bradshaw says on Sex and the City, Cara knew immediately that she was falling for Chuck because she couldn’t stop thinking about him and she couldn’t remember exactly what he looked like when she wasn’t with him. The two were inseparable in ENG458, and, to be honest, Cara never missed a day of that class because she wanted to see Chuck. Every now and then, Chuck would come to the 24-hour computer lab above the 24-hour library where Cara worked. Sometimes, Cara would say she was running to the bathroom during work and instead run upstairs to see Chuck.
Finally, at Chuck’s Halloween party, Cara and Chuck shared their first kiss.
Five years later, Chuck decided on an unforgettable marriage proposal via the popular podcast, Diggnation. The wedding planning began almost as fast as Cara screamed, “YES!”
Both Chuck and Cara knew they wanted an unforgettable wedding, so they settled on a Mad Men theme. Skinny ties, elegant dresses and a healthy mix of classic 60s music defined the event and gave all 100 guests something to look forward to. Sure enough, the wedding went off (almost) without a hitch.
Cara and Chuck have been through all kinds of ups and downs and nothing has been able to stop them. Several years, life events, career changes and one move South later, the two are setting down roots and becoming comfortable in the life they will live together…happily ever after.
JEFF & KELLY
THE BIG DAY | September 10, 2011
PHOTOS BY | Martin Miller Photography
STORY BY | Kelly Piccioni
Kelly Geissler met Jeff Piccioni 6 ½ years ago when he stopped into her family workplace, Geissler Tree Farms Inc., Leesport, and bought trees. Her attraction to him was instant.
She explains, “He was quiet, so I did most of the talking for about a year and a half. We finally got together after a little push from mutual friends, bought a house after a year, and settled into a
comfy relationship.”
But on Aug. 30 of 2010, it got even more exciting. Jeff proposed to Kelly on her family’s farm in the woods in front of two beech trees of a mostly-oak forest, where they had plans to build a home.
Because of how the couple met, and the on-going tree theme in their relationship, they decided on a tree-themed outdoor wedding. To that end, the colors were neutral (ivory, brown, greens) with the exception of a splash of color with blue mason jars and peacock blue bridesmaid dresses by Ann Taylor.
The groom and groomsmen canoed across the lake at Arrowpoint Estates in Bethel. Kelly and her bridesmaids were ushered in by a horse-drawn wagon. They walked down a burlap aisle surrounded by onlooking friends and family, who enjoyed lemonades in their mason jar wedding favors etched with the letter “P” for the couple’s last name. As they said their “I dos,” Kelly and Jeff exchanged rings from Murphy Jewelers in Hamburg.
Hair and makeup for the ladies was handled by Lords and Ladies of Fleetwood and the bride wowed in an Amsale’s Tyler dress she purchased online. Her handsome groom, the groomsmen, the father the groom and the father of the bride, wore brown suits from Jos A. Banks.
At the reception decorated with string lights and candlelit lanterns, guests enjoyed catering by Boscov’s and rentals from Wishes by Boscov’s. Attendees were also treated to a beer truck and a Captain and Coke fountain from Wernersville Beverage, as well as a Penn State-themed cocktail hour with pulled pork sliders and a cardboard cutout of Joe Paterno.
Kelly, owner of Kelly’s Florist, designed all of the floral pieces herself, including her bouquet, filled with white flowers representing each of her eight bridesmaids, peacock feathers, green roses, cabbage, tulips, lily, hypericum and fern fiddleheads. She also crafted the centerpieces: blue mason jars with white flowers, candles and wood slices that served as the base for tall cylinder vases filled with branches from the tree each table was named for.
Martine Cajas at the House of Clarendon, Lancaster, baked the fabulous cake. Bob Tier of The Party People and Burning House rocked the reception until 1:30am. Photographer Martin Miller captured images of the beautiful day.
STEVE & ELIZABETH
THE BIG DAY | October 29, 2011
PHOTOS BY | Epic Photography
THE STORY BY | Elizabeth Bridge
Elizabeth Morgan and Steve Bridge met on Dec. 31, 2008, at a New Year’s Eve party in Baltimore. Both Elizabeth and Steve knew the person hosting the party, Mary, but not each other. They ended up chatting quite a bit at the party, but did not exchange numbers as they departed that evening. A month went by and they both got in touch with their mutual friend and she facilitated the number exchange. The couple went out on their first date in the beginning of February, 2009, at GNA in West Reading. Steve lived in Harrisburg at the time, and Elizabeth lived in Reading, so they began a bit of a long distance relationship. Things gradually became more serious that summer. Then, before they knew it, they were celebrating their second New Year’s Eve together, their first as a couple. Elizabeth and Steve knew it was time to start thinking about living a little bit closer to one another. Spring 2010 rolled around and Elizabeth found a new job, located in Camp Hill. The couple moved in together in June, 2010.
The newly cohabitating pair decided to vacation in Florida over the next New Year’s holiday. They arrived in Florida for a relaxing week and went shopping during the day on New Year’s Eve. Being her clumsy self, Elizabeth dropped an entire bottle of wine and cut herself on the glass at the liquor store. As they left, she jokingly suggested they stop at the jewelry store to cheer her up. Steve laughed nervously and quickly changed the subject. Later, he suggested they get a bunch of food and cook a fancy dinner at home that night. Not thinking twice about it, Elizabeth agreed. She started cooking their appetizers for the evening and as she was preparing the food, Steve came into the kitchen, got down on one knee, and proposed.
She, of course, said “yes,” and dinner was delayed a little while as they celebrated and called their families and friends with the good news. Steve had the proposal in the works for a little while. He went “Christmas” shopping with his Mom and sister to get the ring and told Elizabeth’s parents of his plans on Christmas Day. The couple started planning immediately, knowing they wanted a fall wedding. But Mother Nature had a surprise in store and the couple ended up getting a winter wedding in the middle of fall. Their plans went slightly awry as the snow accumulated more than was predicted. There were several tree branches down, which delayed their arrival. The couple finally made it to Berkshire Country Club and began to prepare for the ceremony. Then the electricity went out. Steve’s sister ended up playing the piano for music during the ceremony. As Elizabeth and Steve had pictures taken outside in the snow, they were told that a generator had arrived so that they could have music and could cook meals on the gas stove for the reception. A credit to wonderful vendors, as well as the couple’s families and friends, everything worked out in the end.
