bride's hometown: Manheim, PA

groom's hometown: Pequea, PA

current place of residence: Columbia, PA

bride's occupation: family business, The Honeybee Shoppe

groom's occupation: welder/fitter

how they met: Angie and Eddie met in October 2013, crossing paths when Angie and a mutual friend arrived at a babysitting job. "He caught my eye!" Angie recalls. "However, I was only 15 and he was 23, so naturally I didn't catch his." Four years later, though, they met again at a coming-home party for the mutual friend, who was now a Marine. "This time, I was all grown up," says Angie. The couple began dating three weeks later. "Those kids I helped babysit are now my niece and nephew!" Angie says.

the proposal: Two weeks before popping the question, Eddie gave Angie money to buy a dress that made her feel pretty "because it was time we went on a fancy date," Angie says. On their way home from that fancy date, Eddie, who was sitting in the driver's seat, pulled over and asked Angie to drive because he wasn't feeling well. When Angie came around to the driver's side, Eddie was on one knee holding a Ring Pop. "He said the sweetest words as he proposed," Angie recalls. "I ugly cried while he reminded me he needed an answer." She said yes, of course, and Eddie then presented her with a diamond ring. "This resulted in me crying all over again," Angie shares.

length of engagement: eight months and 22 days

honeymoon destination: The couple had planned to visit Bushkill Falls. "Because of COVID, we decided to cancel that trip," Angie shares. "We just stayed in our new home."

The Wedding

wedding date: March 22, 2020

ceremony location: Conestoga River Park, Conestoga, PA

vow renewal date: June 27, 2020

vow renewal and reception location: The Gathering Place, Mount Joy

wedding colors: burgundy, blush, and sage green

wedding theme: classic

special reading: 1 Corinthians 13

flowers: white peony, Tessa crimson garden rose, mauve astrantia, seeded eucalyptus, cinerea eucalyptus, ice princess pink protea, blush ranunculus, parvifolia eucalyptus, and burgundy spray roses

the menu: pulled pork, ham loaf, baked corn, green beans, macaroni and cheese, dinner rolls, and salad, along with a dessert buffet provided by Angie's mom and Eddie's sister that included sugar cookies, angel food cake, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, cream cheese Oreo brownies, cream cheese cupcakes, cake pops, peanut butter eggs, Oreo cheesecake, and, of course, the wedding cake

cake: vanilla cake with vanilla icing

favor: a jar of raw Lancaster County Spring Blossom honey from Angie's dad's bees

something worth splurging on: "My dress - hands down!" Angie says.

favorite decoration: a large hanging flower arrangement put together by Angie's mom. "It went on the arbor we stood under," Angie says.

Vendors

photography: Avastahs Photography, Lancaster, PA

flowers: Lancaster Flower Co., Manheim, PA

music: Maya Sauder, close friend

bride's dress: Country Threads by Gail, Manheim, PA

altering: Country Threads by Gail, Manheim, PA

suits: Men's Wearhouse

salon: Hats Off A Vous Salon, Sophia Zook, East Petersburg, PA

cake: Rachel Holliday, Eddie's sister

decorations: Kelly Miller, Angie's mom

 

The Wedding Planner: What was the first thing you did when you began to plan your wedding? What inspired you to start there?

Angie: Technically it was our guest list because that was something we talked about before we were engaged! Once we were engaged, though, I chose our color theme first. After knowing that, I could decide on decorations and talk to my florist, my mom could start making invitations, etc.

 

TWP: How did you select the bride's dress, the groom's attire, and the outfits of the members of the wedding party?

Angie: I tried on several different dresses, but I knew the one I chose was "the one" because I said I loved it when I looked at myself in the mirror. After they held up some lace to show what it would look like with straps, I LOVED it. I knew I wanted my bridesmaids in all sequins because I love sparkles, and burgundy is one of my favorite colors!

As for the guys, I knew I wanted them in black with burgundy ties. Eddie had a custom suit made. Thanks to COVID-19, Men's Wearhouse was shut down for a long while, so they just sent him a standard suit.

 

TWP: How did you incorporate the tastes and personalities of both the bride and the groom into the wedding?

Angie: I chose what I liked and then ran it past Eddie to make sure he was OK with it. He smeared the wedding cake in my face, and that's pretty much all he ever wanted out of his wedding so he was content with that.

 

TWP: What did you find to be the biggest challenge/hurdle in planning a wedding?

Angie: The biggest was when we had to cancel our wedding, send out new invitations with a new date, find a new venue, and then send out a bunch of un-invitations. We had to take our guest list of 200 who said yes down to 60 to keep it small and safe. I don't wish that stress and heartbreak upon anyone.

 

TWP: What is the single most important piece of advice you have for other brides and grooms planning their weddings?

Angie: As long as you don't have to cancel it, everything will work out just fine!