Hello there!
Dave and Kara both grew up in Upper Dublin. Now 21, they met in their preteen years at Sandy Run Middle School, introduced by a mutual friend. They dated as much as middle schoolers can date, and became an official couple in their sophomore year in high school.
They purposely went to different colleges to have time apart, and even broke up once in their sophomore year. "I missed her for a week, real bad," Dave said. Kara didn't really want to break up, but she thought she should. How could she still be with her middle-school boyfriend? But after a week, Kara said, "I realized that no one else makes me happy."
How does forever sound?
By their junior year in college, Dave and Kara began planning to get married - but they didn't intend for it to happen this soon.
Dave, a public relations major at Bloomsburg University, and Kara, an anthropology major at Ithaca College, spent last semester, from February to June, studying abroad in Amsterdam.
Between classes, they traveled together: Barcelona, Paris, Brussels.
They also learned that Kara was pregnant. She's due next month.
"We did everything backward," Dave said. "We took a honeymoon, we got pregnant, and now we're getting married."
There was not a traditional proposal, Kara said. It was more of a discussion. "We had always planned to get married after school, but we found out we had a baby on the way, so we decided to move up the plans."
At home
When the school year begins, Dave and Kara will live in Bloomsburg so that Dave can finish his degree. Kara will stay home with the baby. The following year, the family will head to Ithaca, so that Kara, also a rising senior, can finish her degree. After that, they hope to settle in the Philadelphia area.
At work
During the summer, on breaks, and whenever they can during the school year, both Dave and Kara work for Kara's mom, who has developed a line of organic vegan cakes scheduled soon to be sold in a regional convenience store and a national healthy-food supermarket. Kara works with production and product development for Kind Cakes, while Dave handles publicity - including the digital, grassroots- type through MySpace and Facebook.
It was so them
Kara and Dave were married on the grounds of the Glen Foerd Mansion on the Delaware River - an outdoor setting was important to these nature-lovers.
The couple's entire immediate families stood with them as they were married. On Dave's side, his parents and his sister, who was the maid of honor, and his brotherlike best friend, who served as best man. On Kara's side, it was her mother, father, stepmother and two little brothers.
To honor Dave's Jewish heritage, they were married under a chuppah. And because he is a musician - he plays both guitar and bass guitar - the couple hired a band to play lots of Grateful Dead (their fave!), Bob Marley, the Beatles and Stevie Wonder.
To keep things casual and fun, Kara said, they chose to set up food tables throughout the mansion, party-style, rather than formal, assigned-seating style.
This didn't happen at rehearsal
The couple had been outside, on a very hot day, for about two hours when the time came to exchange rings. Their fingers had swollen. Kara couldn't get Dave's ring on - he had to force it over his knuckle. She had to do the same for him.
Awestruck
"When I saw her for the first time in her wedding gown, that's when it really all hit home for me," Dave said.
During the ceremony, the officiant read lists, provided by Dave and Kara, of the reasons they love each other. "It made me cry," Kara said.
Discretionary spending
A bargain:
One of Dave's good friends is a guitar major. As his gift to the couple, he played classical guitar during the procession. "It meant a great deal to me," Dave said. "It's a huge gift."
The splurge: The food. Kara is vegetarian, as were some of the other guests. The couple wanted good food for everyone, veggie or not.
The getaway
They've already seen Europe, and now need to focus on the baby and finishing their degrees, the couple said. But one day, they hope to see India and Africa.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Officiant
Maria Odilia Romeu of Journeys of the Heart, a nondenominational ceremonial ministry in Philadelphia.
Venue
The Glen Foerd Mansion on the Delaware, Philadelphia.
Catering
Conroy Catering, Philadelphia.
Photography
Michael Duretz Photography, Hatboro.
Music
The Mighty Manatees, Philadelphia.
Dress
Purchased at Rowland Design Management, Inc., Conshohocken.
Designer: Bob Mackie.
Invitations
Of the Earth Invitations of Auburn, Wash. The invitations are made of recycled paper and have wildflower seeds embedded in them. If planted, wildflowers will grow.
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