Intimate Summer Wedding - Jenna Perfette Photography

15 years after their first meeting, Lauren & Chris tied the knot with an intimate summer wedding. While the current pandemic messed with their original plans to say “I Do” back in March, they still made the best of things and had a safe, intimate celebration with those closest to them.

The Proposal

Chris had originally planned to propose at the end of summer 2018, but a broken finger made him postpone until October. They had planned a night out in Philly to the restaurant Moshulu, set aboard this historic ship on the Delaware. Lauren had her suspicions because it’s not often they go out to a fancy dinner on a weeknight. She excused herself from the table to take a mini tour of the ship (“you know, in case he wanted to get the waitress involved, this should buy him some time”).

When she got back to the table, she looked at her recently appeared wine glass – no ring. They got their food – no ring hidden there. Then their creme brûlée came, carried by a waitress with what Lauren could have sworn was some sort of signal that this was her moment, but – no ring. They take a romantic walk on the top deck after dinner, a more secluded spot with fire pits and twinkly lights, but again – no ring.

They drove home, and Lauren reminded herself that it was a great date to a place they had been wanting to go to for a long time. She reached the front step to go inside the house, and Chris grabbed her by the arm. He held up the ring (in the dark so she couldn’t really see what it was exactly) and said “Hey, I love you. Wanna get married?” After allll of that, he still managed to make her jaw hit the floor because at that point, she was not at all expecting it.

Here’s some favorites from their intimate summer wedding!

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How did the engagement ring come to be?

Chris: I kept it a surprise but probed out what kind of ring she wanted beforehand. Did a decent amount of shopping and research to find the right one. Props to Testa Jewelers in Paoli!

Lauren: I remember we were watching TV together, it was probably close to Valentine’s Day, because some Kay or Zales jewelry commercial played in the background. Something about ‘chocolate diamonds’ and I said something like, “you don’t have to buy me diamonds, just chocolate is fine.” And now I have a sapphire!

When did you realize your partner was “the one”?

Chris: When we realized a good night out was downing a few beers and splitting a pizza.

Lauren: I had a crush on him since high school, but it took him a while to catch on =P I realized he was my person when I didn’t have to hide myself or walk on eggshells around him. And no matter how weird or goofy I am, he still sticks around!