 |
|
|
JANE MONAHAN to MATTHEW RUDNICK
June 18, 2005
HILDENE
THE PROFESSIONALS:
CATERING: THE LITTLE ROOSTER CAFE
COORDINATION& FLORAL DESIGN: FLOWERS, FLOWERS
PHOTOGRAPHY: NANCY COHN PHOTOGRAPHY 
JANE AND MATT MET AND FELL IN LOVE OVER A GAME of Pac-Man at a cocktail party in Boston. Introduced to each other by Jane's childhood friend, Tara, their courtship survived a few unsuccessful attempts at a marriage proposal, a trying excursion to Southeast Asia and Jane's challenging fashion career for which Matt's steep learning curve consisted of jean lines, contemporary designer threads and the day-to-day challenges of retail. Their relationship also flourished, however, with long, leisurely walks along the Charles; with sushi and Chardonnay by candlelight, and with pizza in Harvard Square.
A trip to Thailand was their first test, with a sleepless 36-hour departure, sickness that followed a Bangkok floating market meal, and an endless tuk-tuk ride across Phuket that never wound up at the intended destination. They left Asia feeling closer than ever, and Jane thought that Matt might perhaps pop the question even though they had been together for only a year. He didn't. Nor did he on a surprise trip to Montreal in sub-zero weather on Valentine's Day. And when a trip to Miami soon followed, Jane thought it best to keep her expectations in check. Matt was planning on proposing this time around, and though it did all work out in the end, there was no lack of possible and unforeseen calamity. An airport security agent nearly let the cat out of the bag with a spot check of Matt's briefcase, and some overly zealous musicians turned Matt's plan into a romantic parody. Not to be deterred, Matt did finally propose beneath a star-filled sky. Jane, needless to say, accepted.
Vermont was chosen as their wedding destination because it's their favorite state. Jane spent a lot of time in Manchester visiting grandparents and now her parents, who have a summer home there. She knew, even as a little girl, that she would get married in Vermont. Matt went to school at Middlebury College, and shares her opinion that Vermont is a very special and exceptionally beautiful place.
Wanting to some how incorporate a Vermont setting into their announcement, they asked Jane's uncle, artist and teacher Kenneth Rush, to come up with something special. He presented them with a sketch of a barn, a barn that had been in the family since the 1950's and was actually the setting for a Thursday evening party before the wedding. Jane and Matt were so taken with the sketch that they used the image everywhere - on matchbooks and mints; on cocktail napkins and ceremony programs. Finally, colors for the wedding were chosen because of their Vermont "connection". Jane chose green and lavender to be the theme throughout because she felt the colors echoed the surrounding green mountains and twilight on a clear Vermont evening.
A few words of advice from the happily married couple: Incorporate your personal tastes into the day with a constant theme. Keep things relatively simple so there is continuity, not only from one moment to the next, but between the smallest details, the setting and the overall experience. Limit "decisions by committee", and though you've certainly heard this one before, have as much fun as you possibly can!
|
|
