The Meeting
Jessica and Matt met as coworkers at Biaggi’s Restaurant in Algonquin. Jessica was a hostess and Matt was a food runner at the time. They both worked there throughout high school and college as a couple.
Matt definitely made the first move! He would always go out of his way to swing by the hostess stand at the restaurant to say hi.
The First Date
Jessica and Matt went on their first date at On The Border in the Algonquin Commons, close by where they both worked.
The Moment
It’s hard to think of a specific moment because we both have just always hoped the day would come! We went to separate colleges, moved to Minneapolis together, and lived long distance for 18 months- Through the challenges we always saw the positives and supported each other no matter what!
The I Love You
Matt said it first, but it was mutual 🙂
The Proposal
I came home from work on a snowy Friday night to a rose and candle covered apartment and Matt on one knee. It was “Jersey Day” at work for a fundraising event- I clearly had NO IDEA this was coming.
The Wedding Day
Jessica and Matt held their first ceremony at The Haight in October of 2020. To ensure they could celebrate with all of their friends and family, they had a second wedding on June 3rd, 2021.
It’s so hard to pick one part! I think walking into our (second) ceremony with a room FULL of our friends and family after a year of wondering if the day would ever happen was our favorite.
The Song
Our favorite song is “Shotgun Rider” by Tim McGraw- We lived in Minneapolis for 6 years and spent many road trips in the car together.
The Venue
It was love at first sight! We loved that The Haight looked so decorative and romantic without many touches (The string lights, awesome photo ops, brand new rooftop..) and the staff was so welcoming and helpful! After TWO weddings at The Haight we can both say that we could not be happier that we chose The Haight. Backstory: When our original wedding was postponed due to COVID, we decided to host an intimate ceremony with our immediate family members on our 12 year dating anniversary, October 18, 2021. We knew this day was one we would always celebrate, and we didn’t know what to expect for the months ahead! We hosted a “drive by” shower before our intimate ceremony so that we could see our loved ones before the big day. On the day of, we did a small ceremony, a champagne toast and cupcake sendoff before we spent the night downtown in the city. We wrote our vows to each other and put them in our vow box to read during our first look on the “big day” celebration. The Haight made our (small) big day feel so special – We are grateful we got to celebrate twice!
The Advice
Don’t stress the small stuff! No one will notice the small details – your friends and family are just excited to be a part of your special day.
The Marriage
Honestly, not much has changed for us. We have always been a team, but now that we are married that has only grown stronger as we plan for our future as a family.
The Shoutouts
Benjamin Foote Photography | Cuisine America – Catering | Tony Ho at Sounds Abound Entertainment – DJ | Herb’s Bakery – Cake
The Vendors
Officiant – We R One Weddings | Florals/Decor – Periwinkle Florist | Photographer & Videographer – Benjamin Foote | Catering – Cuisine America | Cake & Sweets – Herb’s Bakery | Hair & Makeup – Elle Salon | Hotel – Sonesta