Real Wedding: Mara & Peter
Floral Design: Angel's Trumpet
Photography: Closed Circle Photography
Some of the most important relationships established in many young adults' lives are made at college, and for many it's in the freshman year dorm where long-lasting friendships begin. This is especially true for Mara and Peter, whose friendship blossomed into romance, and eventually into marriage.
After both receiving the rookie of the week awards in their respective sports (Mara for Soccer and Peter for football), the two were introduced and found out they lived in the same dorm. They formed a strong friendship that lasted all through college, with Peter secretly holding a crush on Mara. They began dating senior year, and following college they both moved down to Miami, where Peter was from and where he was offered a job. After a year in that "hot and crazy city," Mara returned to Upstate New York to pursue a master's degree at Ithaca College.
Mara and Peter kept their relationship going over the next two years, "cursing the horrid world of air travel" and were able to visit each other about once a month. Peter was eventually accepted into Columbia Business School in New York City, and the two moved together into a small studio apartment in the Upper West Side. From being miles and miles apart to living in such a tiny space together, Mara said the transition put their relationship to the test, but never once did their commitments to each other waver. After living together for over a year, Peter proposed.
Having already discussed the idea of getting married, Mara told Peter the only thing she wanted out of a proposal was having friends and family members around to celebrate after. Peter went above and beyond, however, and uncharacteristically wrote and framed a poem for Mara to read. The last lines of the poem read, "I can think of nothing that would make me happier than for you to be my wife - So please say yes, give me a kiss and let me give you all of my love for all of my life." With Mara fighting back tears, Peter got on one knee and presented her with a beautiful engagement ring.
As promised, the newly engaged couple then went to a nearby restaurant where Peter had invited around thirty friends and family members to help them celebrate. After the engagement party, complete with champagne and toasts from various guests, Mara remembers the couple being "completely blissed out" following the celebrations.
Since she was a little girl, Mara had always wanted to get married in her hometown of New Lebanon, NY. Finding an appropriate venue and a place that felt right was more difficult than anticipated, however, but eventually a friend suggested having the ceremony at The Tannery Pond, which was close to the school Mara had attended as a child. Although Peter was from Miami, he was easily convinced to have the wedding there after seeing how beautiful The Tannery Pond is.
The ceremony was done in the Jewish tradition, but included some modern twists. The chuppah, a canopy used in Jewish weddings for the bride and groom to stand under as they are married, was made from a lace tablecloth that once belonged to Mara's great-grandmother. Peter gave Mara his grandmother's wedding band and both the bride and groom were escorted down the aisle by their parents, who also stood under the chuppah with them. Although the weather didn't fully cooperate, the couple opted for a blue and yellow color scheme in the hopes of representing a beautiful and sunny summer day.
Having written their own vows, which were kept from one another until the ceremony, the newly-weds shared "heart-stopping" promises with each other. Mara even declared her "undying love and loyalty" to the Miami Dolphins, Peter's favorite hometown team. During the reception, the bride and groom were treated to a David Letterman-esque "Top Ten Reasons We're Happy Peter and Mara got Married," courtesy of Mara's parents and brother. Ultimately, it was the feelings of love and happiness shared by all the guests that was the most memorable part of the wedding.
While the wedding was a very joyous occasion, it also seemed to follow Murphy's Law, which states that if something can go wrong, it will. It was pouring rain all day which certainly was less than ideal for an outside service. With the ground flooding, having to make several improvisations with the food and pictures, and the power going out on the band twice, frustrations began to swell. But they made the most of it, especially when a group of friends led all the guest through an a cappella rendition of "You Lost that Loving Feeling."
With a self-proclaimed Type-A personality, Mara suggests that brides and grooms focus on relaxing and not to be over-anxious. It's important to remind yourselves that everyone there is supporting you and will be there to help. Most importantly, though, just savor every moment and enjoy the most special day in your life.