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Photography by Patti Gabriel
Amy and Josh
June 26, 2004
St. Louis, Missouri
ABOUT THE BRIDE: Amy grew up in St. Louis and graduated from
Visitation Academy. She earned a bachelor's degree in computer
science and engineering with a minor in music at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) and a master's degree in technology in
education at Harvard University. Currently, she is a senior software
developer for Six Red Marbles, an educational software company, in
Cambridge, Massachusetts.
ABOUT THE GROOM: Josh grew up in Huntington, New York and
received a bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering and a
master's of engineering from MIT. He is a founding associate of
Galatea Associates, a Boston based financial services technology
consulting firm.
HOW WE MET: Amy and Josh met while attending MIT. Josh was
a member of an MIT fraternity and met Amy during a fraternity event
before her sophomore year began. That fall semester, the two took a
math class together and got to know each other better while doing
problem sets.
ENGAGEMENT: Josh took Amy on a surprise trip to Paris. On
the second night, they dined at a 19th century restaurant along the
Seine. After the main course, Josh got down on one knee and presented
Amy with a ring. Amy said "Yes!" Unbeknownst to her, Josh carried in a
camera to capture the moment. Afterwards, they crossed the Seine and
walked back to their hotel. They later called family members on a
cell phone Josh had rented. The rest of the trip they celebrated
their engagement with more fine dining and sight-seeing.
PLANNING: Both Amy and Josh were very involved in the
planning process. Because their wedding was taking place during the
centennial anniversary of the St. Louis World's Fair, they
incorporated those elements into many aspects including the
fleur-de-lis motif into the stationery, website, and favors. Amy and
Josh enjoyed designing their "Meet Us in St. Louis" Save the Date
card that included an Arch rendering using the appropriate equations
for a catenary curve and a freshly minted Missouri quarter released
just weeks before the mailing. They also hand-sealed each wedding
invitation with a silver fleur-de-lis wax seal.
The music was another priority for the couple. Amy had sung in the St.
Louis Children's Choir for seven years and asked them to be a part of
the wedding ceremony. She also had five college friends sing,
accompanied by organ and a brass quartet. Amy and Josh love classic
Big Band music and hired the 14-piece Stan Fornaszewski Orchestra to
entertain guests during dinner and dancing at the Saint Louis Club.
ATTIRE: Amy shopped with her mom and sister, Katie, her Maid
of Honor. After visiting Berrybridge in St. Louis and the Michelle
Roth studio in New York City, she chose an empire line gown covered
with alencon lace. She also tried on her mother's wedding veil in
hopes that it would work with the dress -- and it was a perfect match!
Amy and Katie chose blue satin Vera Wang gowns for the bridesmaids,
also from Berrybridge. Josh wore a traditional white tie and tails
tuxedo as did his groomsmen, the ushers, and fathers and grandfathers.
THE CEREMONY: Amy and Josh had a traditional Catholic Mass
at the Shrine of St. Joseph in downtown St. Louis. Greeting guests
as they entered, was the beautifully framed Papal Blessing for the
bride and groom from Pope John Paul II which the groom's parents had
arranged. In the pews reserved for their grandparents, they placed
roses in memory of the grandparents with them in spirit. A special
friend created the ring pillow with embroidery of their initials,
wedding date and well wishes. The sounds of the St. Louis Children's
Choirs, her college friends, organ and brass filled the church from
the balcony with heavenly music. The bride's parish priest, Father
Gerard Garrigan officiated the ceremony. Afterwards, Amy and Josh
rode in an antique Rolls Royce to Kiener Plaza and Forest Park, the
site of the 1904 World's Fair, for pictures.
THE RECEPTION: The reception at the Saint Louis Club in
Clayton was magnificent. After the cocktail hour, The Stan
Fornaszewski Orchestra began playing as guests entered the dining
room. They enjoyed the white glove service, scrumptious beef
Wellington, and delicious wedding cake.
Amy and Josh semi-choreographed their first dance to their song "Fly Me
to the Moon", as sung by Frank Sinatra. They thrilled the audience by
ending with a double dip, first facing their parents' side of the
ballroom and then spinning around to perform a different dip to the
other side.
Amy and her dad danced to "Once in Love with Amy", and then Josh and
his mother danced to "When You Wish Upon a Star".
Later in the evening, Amy and her college friends sang "Meet Me in St.
Louis" in celebration of the 1904 World's Fair. Then Amy surprised
Josh by serenading him with "L.O.V.E" accompanied by the orchestra.
The couple left the reception through a shower of rose petals and
although the wedding day had come to an end, the exciting and joyous
marriage was just beginning!
VENDORS WE USED:
Photographer: Patti Gabriel
Wedding Coordinator: Details Event Coordinators
Attire: Michelle Roth and Vera Wang, Berrybridge; Formal America
Band: The Stan Fornaszewski Orchestra
Organist: John Walsh
Videographer: Creative Video Services
Florist: Meg Huber
Cake: Saint Louis Club
Stationery: The Write Impression
Calligrapher: Barbara Winnerman
Antique Car: James Cochran
Limousines: JED Limousines
If you have questions or comments for Amy and Josh please e-mail them at
ajfienup@hotmail.com.
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