Love |

Married

Oct. 13 at St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Wilmington, before 150 guests. The Rev. Andrew Molewski officiated. A reception followed at Hartefeld National Golf Club in Avondale.

They met

In February 2003, through an online dating service. On their first date, they closed both the Thai Pepper in Wayne and the local Starbucks, then talked in the car until the wee hours.

He asked

On Super Bowl Sunday of 2006, Brian visited his hometown of Hazelton, where he selected a round diamond in a vintage-style, white-gold crown setting. He went to his parents' house to announce his plans. Then he drove to Chadds Ford to ask Julia's parents and grandmother for their blessings.

The next day, two dozen white roses were delivered to teacher Julia's high school classroom, with a note that asked, "Are you ready?"

"I knew what that meant, and my kids all knew what it meant," Julia, 25, said. "All they wanted to do was talk about the mysterious man who sent their teacher roses."

That evening, when Julia returned to the couple's home, Brian and their yellow Lab were waiting inside the door. Brian said, "OK, Bailey, you know what to do!" And as he got down on one knee, the dog sat next to him. They'd been practicing for a week.

"You mean the world to me," Brian said. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?"

9 to 5

Julia teaches language arts at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in Plymouth Meeting, where she is also the coordinator of gifted education and the Virtual High School. Brian, 35, is associate director of research information services for Asia Pacific for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in Collegeville.

Making a home

The couple live in Collegeville.

First steps

"Dreams Come True," sung by Willie Nelson and Norah Jones.

Doing it their way

These are a couple of golf fanatics. Brian played on the men's team at Hazelton High. Julia played for the women's team at Ursinus College. And it was on a series of golf courses that the two fell in love.

"Our first or second time playing together, I had an amazing round," Julia remembered. "His wasn't the best. I came out ahead. He didn't get upset by that. He was actually bragging to everyone - 'Hey, she did better than me!' He wasn't too proud. And he was just as proud of me as I am of him."

Fourteen of the courses they've played - from as near as where they held their reception to as far away as Japan - donated golf balls that were fashioned into placecard holders.

The couple also spent much time making golf-themed wine-glass charms. With all that goes into a busy life, Julia said, it was wonderful to sit together, make the charms, and talk and talk and talk. "It brought us a lot closer," she said.

The day before the wedding, the two hosted a golf outing for their guests.

On their wedding day, there was also room for a bit of football. Brian graduated from Pennsylvania State University and loves the school so much that the groom's cake featured a portrait of Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno wishing the couple luck.

Not a dry eye

"From the minute I walked down to the aisle to the moment of our grand exit in the golf cart, every minute was just fantastic," Julia said.

Bloopers

The bride's brother, Don Jr., headed to the reception forgetting that he was holding car keys for his parents, Cheryl and Don. "We were making frantic phone calls," Julia said. About 20 minutes later, Don Jr. was back, keys in hand.

Julia says

"The planning process for weddings can be stressful, but the day is about the two of you making a commitment to each other. If you keep that in mind, everything else just seems trivial."

Honeymoon

Their week in Jamaica included a day on the golf course. Brian won.