Love | Jamie Lynn Pooler & Albert Vincent Macchione

Married

March 31 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in South Philadelphia, with the Rev. Francis Sabatini presiding. About 275 guests attended a Center City reception at the Crystal Tea Room.

They met

In December 2001, while working in the same department at Independence Blue Cross. They started as friends, but "we were at crossroads with our significant others," says Jamie. "We always went to lunch together." By January 2003, they were discussing their "old" relationships, but the courtship started slowly. They had their official first date in August: dinner at Two Mile Landing, between Cape May and Wildwood Crest.

He asked

Sept. 8, 2005, after dinner at Capital Grille. Jamie and Albert took a stroll through Rittenhouse Square, then stopped and sat on a bench. "He started playing with my hair," she says, "then I looked down and there was the open box. I hugged him and jumped all over him . . . I was very surprised. I didn't think it would happen then."

9 to 5

Jamie, 30, of South Philly, is a supervisor in the enrollment department of Independence Blue Cross. Albert, 31, of Roxborough, is a Philadelphia police officer.

Making a home

The bride and groom live in Roxborough.

First steps

To Edwin McCain's "I Could Not Ask for More," sung by wedding band Masquerade.

Doing it their way

Jamie chose an ivory Anne Barge gown, with a lace appliquéd bodice and an organza skirt with pick-ups - and a cathedral-length veil at Mass. Thirteen bridesmaids wore taupe Watters & Watters dresses with silver brocade; the maid and matron of honor added pink sashes.

Before Jamie and her father, Tom Pooler, walked down the aisle, those gathered listened to a poem about a daughter growing up. During Mass, two soloists sung "The Prayer," made famous by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion.

The Crystal Tea Room was a vision of pink and chocolate brown, with three styles of centerpieces, including urns of ivory roses and pink tulips and votives hanging from tall branches. A three-letter Swarovski crystal monogram topped the pink-and-brown cake (layers of raspberry swirl and chocolate chip) from Termini Bros. The bride and groom also added a monogram to the dance floor.

Hopefully, their guests came hungry: cocktail hour - with butlered "flirtinis" - featured three ice sculptures (a monogram, a pagoda and an ice boat) paired with antipasti, sushi and shrimp stations. Coffee stations and a chocolate fountain topped off the dessert room. Everyone took home bottles of red wine (with custom labels, of course), as the favor.

Not a dry eye

"When I said my vows, I got choked up," says the bride. She says her groom "was choked up the whole day."

Jamie says

"Take in as much as you can. It goes so fast. I feel like I missed some stuff. But it's about you and him and starting your life together."

The honeymoon

Eight days at Secrets Capri, Riviera Maya, Mexico.