Love: Meredith Nita Osterman & F. Matthew Rust Jr.

May 25 at the Rittenhouse Hotel, with Judge Bradley Moss officiating. A reception for 215 followed.

Meredith and Matt met in November 2005 on a blind date. Meredith, who was then in her second year of medical school at Jefferson University Hospital, shared an apartment with her friend Justin. "Matt was a private chef for a family, and Justin was friends with that family," Meredith said. "Knowing both of us, he thought we'd make a good pair."

What a smart roommate! The couple's first date lasted eight hours, beginning with a cup of coffee, continuing with a 76ers game, and ending with late-night snacks at a Northern Liberties bar.

He asked

While Matt is the chef, Meredith, a surgical resident, shares his love for fine food. In May 2007, he scored reservations at Osteria, a restaurant they had been eager to try. Afterward, Matt, 35, suggested a walk to Independence Park to look at the Liberty Bell.

As they were nearing the end of the park, Matt clutched his knee. "He was like, 'Ow! Ow! I need to sit down!' " Meredith, 27, said. It was all quite convenient, actually - Meredith's specialty is orthopedics. She examined the knee and declared it sound. She asked if he had any painkillers.

"Oh, I think I have some in my pocket," Matt said. But instead of pulling out pills, the big faker pulled out a ring.

9 to 5

Meredith has recently begun her orthopedic residency. Matt is a private chef at a Haverford estate.

Making a home

Meredith, who grew up in Villanova, and Matt, originally from West Chester, Pa., have purchased a home in Girard Estates.

First steps

The couple performed a routine to Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You."

Doing it their way

Matt and Meredith designed the entire, nondenominational ceremony themselves. It was a wedding-in-the-round, with the bride, groom and judge standing together and family and friends sitting around them in a circle. Strings of orchids hung above the couple as they exchanged vows. Cherry blossoms lined the aisle.

The bride's sisters, Alexis and Zoe, were her maids of honor. And Tom Congersky, a close friend of Matt's family, shared his thoughts on marriage and commitment. Matt and Meredith each wrote a list of promises to the other, and Alexis and Zoe read them during the ceremony.

Matt's mom, Annellen, and Meredith's mom, Elissa, lit candles for the unity ceremony.

At the reception, David Zelouf, a physician and friend of Meredith's family's who is also her father's partner at the Philadelphia Hand Center, sang a blessing.

Matt loves to create new cocktails, so the couple set up a champagne kiss bar, where guests received a glass of champagne and added their choice of mixers. The rule was to toast and kiss your date before drinking the concoction.

For laughs, Meredith and her father, A. Lee Osterman, performed a dance routine to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean."

Not a dry eye

Matt was touched by the sight of Meredith walking down the aisle. Meredith was moved by the toasts made by her sisters, her mother and father, and Matt's mother.

Bloopers

A server spilled several glasses of champagne onto Matt's mom's dress. Hotel staff whisked her away, cleaned her dress and dried it with a hair dryer - few people even knew it happened.

Matt says

If possible, have the pictures done before the ceremony. "It eliminates halting the party while pictures are being taken."

The honeymoon

Three days in Napa Valley, where Matt lived for a few years, and five in Aspen, where Meredith's family has a home.