Marissa and Jordan

Jordan and Marissa met in Winter 2007 (yes 11 years ago!) while attending Duquesne University.  It was while Jordan was pledging his fraternity among 15+ other freshmen guys that he stood out to Marissa and struck her as someone she was drawn to.  With the help of Marissa’s friend at the time, and future best friend of the groom and groomsmen in their wedding, he set the two up and they started dating immediately.  They would have many challenges and triumphs during their decade together, including Jordan’s relocation to Charlotte for law school (Marissa counted her visits there – over 20 times!), Marissa’s relocation to Columbus, OH, and many milestones in between.

Jordan and Marissa love taking trips together almost monthly, and during one of their typical Christmas-week trips, this time to San Francisco, while on an intimate boat cruise of the bay on New Year’s day, Jordan asked Marissa to marry him on the top deck of the ship.

 They spent the next 20+ months planning the perfect wedding during their favorite month of the year, September.  They both put so much of their own touches on their special events – Jordan making floral arrangements for the shower and rehearsal dinner, Marissa designing every piece of paper used on the wedding day (menus, programs, place cards, etc.), and both of them brainstorming the perfect flower wall for reception and Jordan’s dad constructing it from scratch for the florist to decorate.  Their families also put their special touch on their day by baking 40 different kinds of cookies!  St. Paul Cathedral is Marissa’s family’s parish.  Her grandparents and parents were both married there, and Marissa spent her childhood attending Sunday mass when she spent Saturday night over at her “Nona’s” house.  It was her dream from when she was a little girl to get married in the church that went back so many years in her family.  The couple knew they wanted a live band to play the classics that get everyone out of their seats and dance.  The dance floor was PACKED all night long and the couple especially left!  The night ended with a surprise after-party with Jordan on the DJ tables entertaining the crowd until 1am.  Marissa was shocked that he planned a DJ set for her and the remaining guests.