Mike and Jo met at Bukowskis in November 2011, during which they discovered a shared loved of Photo-Hunt, pets (Mike had a cat and puppy and Jo was bordering on spinsterhood with 2 cats), and pre-gaming for first dates while watching the Patriots with friends. This date lasted 8 hours and from that point forward, Jo and Mike were inseparable, spending their weekend’s pub-crawling through Somerville and their weeknights cooking aggressively complicated meals. When asked when Mike knew he loved Jo, his response was simply: "I just never didn't." Jo and Mike spent the morning of their wedding getting dressed with friends and family. Jo wore a lace and tulle Kitty Chen gown with turquoise peep-toe pumps. Her good friend from college, Kara, did Jo's (and Jo's mom, Judy's!) hair and makeup and even sewed in rhinestone-encrusted buttons she found in NYC for Jo and Judy's hairpieces! Spring-themed flowers were provided by Winston's Flowers and were stunning, featuring some of Jo's favorite blooms, including tulips and daffodils.
Jo's friends and family have initiated Mike through steadfast traditions such as "Tequila Thursday" (more commonly known as "Thanksgiving") and Jo has been introduced to many of the pranks Mike and his friends share. One such prank, compliments of Mike's high school buddy, Greg, involves hiding a specific -and terrifying- porcelain clown doll in unlikely places (e.g., the refrigerator) to scare unsuspecting party guests. Unbeknownst to Mike, Jo (having been repeatedly burned by this prank) smuggled the clown into the limo and hid it in the ice container in order to successfully teach Mike his first lesson of married life- your wife can, when you least expect it, get you to scream like a little girl. The couple then took a limo around their beloved Boston, the city which had set the scene for their relationship. It was important for Mike and Jo to spend this time together, as they were sure the rest of the evening would be a blur, and they both agreed it was an unforgettable afternoon! They had their first look at the iconic Fenway park where they had, the night before, attended opening day. They then revisited their first date spot for a Chimay and "white trash tots".
Then they decided to "class it up a bit" by visiting the Public Garden where they were serenaded with the Wedding March by a street cellist and enjoyed a special concert by a man who since has been referred to as "Dr. Crazy Pants" Mike and Jo knew that they wanted "just a big party" vibe for the wedding, but they also wanted the ceremony itself to be a serious, reverent, and intimate occasion. For those who know Mike and Jo, this does not necessarily describe their personalities! Therefore, in order to focus their attention to the vows, they chose to keep the ceremony closed for only nuclear family to support this, Mike's mother served as the officiant while Jo's mother was her "Mom-Of-Honor" and Mike's father was his "Best Dad." Mike and Jo wanted a tangible symbol of the love and support they learned from their families, so devised a "tree-nurturing ceremony" in which the Mom of honor and Best Dad poured soil from Jo and Mike's respective hometowns onto the roots of a Linden tree, which Mike and Jo then watered, symbolizing their commitment to nurture and foster their relationship. For the wedding itself, Jo and Mike were thrilled to see 250 of the amazing friends and family who nurtured, supported, loved, and cared for them throughout their lives. The couple wanted a cocktail party feel where people could move around, socialize, eat, drink, and, of course, dance! They chose the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum, with its amazing structures, lighting, and space and were thrilled with the full-service catering provided by BG Events.
Jo's father made a wonderful welcome address followed by unbelievably touching words from some of Mike and Jo's closest friends. Their DJ, Greg Lanzolitta, from Beat Train was INCREDIBLE and the dance floor was never empty. At the culmination of the evening, Jeff Brouillet of Ready, Set, Film! revealed same-day film footage of morning / afternoon's events so that those who were not present for the ceremony could have a glimpse into the special moments.
A reading by Mike's nephew, Sean, told the myth of Baucis and Philemon, an elderly Greek couple who showed such hospitality and kindness to the gods that they were rewarded with one wish, to be together forever. The gods turned Baucis and Phelmon into an oak tree and a linden tree who were intertwined for all time, so Mike and Jo used an oak bench (crafted by Jo's college roommate's father) as a guest book, and plan on placing them together on their front lawn.
As an homage to their remarkable journey, Jo had a surprise groom's cake made (by Dessert Works) in which Mike protects his new home, pets, and bride... from zombies. Mike's business partner and childhood friend sang an acoustic "Follow You, Follow Me" (Genesis) for their first dance, which was amazing!!
When all was said and done, Mike and Jo were thrilled with their wedding. They believe the day's progression was representative of their journeys. First, they were surrounded by the love and affection of the close friends and family who have known them since birth, then Mike and Jo found each other in Boston and savored a few hours together. At the ceremony, they invited their families to witness as they officially became a new branch of the family tree, then finished the night surrounded by all those they so deeply cherish. Looking around at the end of the evening, Mike and Jo were overwhelmed by the love and support of their guests and know they will be with them as they embark on their next journey, as husband and wife. They couldn't be more grateful to everyone who made it such a perfect day.
Wedding dress: http://www.kittychencouture.com/ Flowers: http://www.winstonflowers.com Wedding Planner and Catering: http://bgeventsandcatering.com/ Wedding Venue: http://www.waterworksmuseum.org/ Videographers: http://readysetfilm.com/#/home/ DJ & Music Entertainment: http://beattrainproductions.com/boston-wedding-dj-reviews/greg-lanzillotta/ Groom's Wedding Cake: http://www.dessertworks.net/