Hello there
It was October 2007, and Faye, then earning her doctorate in sociology at Penn, was in a horrible mood. A London native, she had two months to find a job or she would have to leave the country. Her friend, Carina, knew exactly what she needed: A night out. They went to a bar, where they met up with another friend, a student at Thomas Jefferson University. He invited Faye and Carina to a Jeff fraternity party. "I was ready to go home," Faye said. But Carina insisted, so to the party they went.
Faye had never seen the Flip Cups drinking game played before, but was willing to give it a try. The required skills did not come naturally. "In England, we just drink to get drunk," she said. "We don't need any games to help us along."
That's when Matthew, who back then was an insurance agent, stepped in. "I saw her struggling, and I thought, 'Now there's an attractive girl, and there's my in!" he remembered. Matthew, who was at the party at the invitation of a fraternity member friend, introduced himself and offered to teach her to play.
"He's a smooth operator," Faye said. "He asked me out in about five minutes."
Faye is usually much more cautious about such things. But that night, she agreed to a date and handed over her phone number - something she attributes both to her relief at feeling happy again and to Matthew's friendly nature and good looks.
Their first date was dinner at the Continental Mid-town. "We sat in the swinging chairs upstairs," Faye said.
How does forever sound?
By winter 2009, Matthew, who is now 26, was enrolled in grad school at St. Joseph's University, studying to be a high school English teacher. Faye, who is now 32, was a professor of sociology at Montclair State University. Both had a long holiday break, and they decided to spend it with Faye's family in London.
It was Christmas morning. "There is a tradition in my house that no one can touch any presents until after everyone has had their breakfast and showers," Faye said. After she ate, Faye headed upstairs to her childhood bedroom to get ready.
Matthew was there. He told Faye he had a special present for her - one that she couldn't open in front of her family. "I immediately thought it was something rude or racy," Faye said. "But when I turned around, he was down on one knee, and he had the most beautiful ring." About 70 years old, it had belonged to Matthew's grandmother.
She said yes. They took a few moments for themselves, then went downstairs to share the good news. Breakfast ended with champagne.
Because a friend of hers was newly betrothed, Faye had noted with interest that Philly.com and the Independence Seaport Museum were sponsoring a contest for engaged couples. The prize: A $90,000 wedding. Faye's friend wasn't interested in the competition. But an hour after the ring was on her finger, Faye remembered, and excitedly told Matthew about it.
They agreed to pursue it with gusto - and, because online readers would choose the winning couples, no one found out about their engagement without also finding out that Matthew and Faye would be needing their vote.
The couple, who live in Northern Liberties, were told in February that they had won, selected by judges and voters from an initial field of nearly 500 applicants. They attribute their victory to three things: The fact that they completed every bit of the questionnaire as a couple and took it as seriously as a master's thesis. And their secret weapon: the story of Tyson the bulldog, so-named after boxer Mike Tyson, because he gave Faye a black eye the day they met.
After Faye's dog Jakey died of old age, the couple wanted to adopt another bulldog and found one living at a shelter in Long Island. Faye knelt down to play with him, and he jumped up to get the ball she had. He missed, hitting her face and knocking her backward. The shelter workers were mortified, but Faye and Matthew were in love. "He's just like me," Faye said. "No grace, and no athletic ability whatsoever."
It was so them
The vendors volunteered to be part of the giveaway contest, and Philly.com readers had the final say on flowers, invitations, the dress, and even the way the food was served. About 21,000 people participated in the contest, casting 76,000 votes.
Still, Matthew and Faye "were able to put our personal stamp on it" in some ways, Matthew said. They narrowed down the voters' choices to two or three selections in each category.
For the dress, Faye met with Philadelphia designer Janice Martin. Faye had already determined that a strapless, mermaid-shape dress worked well for her. Janice sketched out two dresses with that silhouette for the voters to choose from. Each selection featured a different fabric, one of which was an ivory Italian satin that made Faye swoon.
"I was gunning for it," Faye said. She admits to doing a little campaigning for satin votes on her Facebook page and through e-mail.
(Voters didn't have a say in what Matthew wore. He opted for a black, tone-on-tone pin-striped suit, custom-made for him by Brian Lipstein of Henry A. Davidsen Master Taylors & Image Consultants. Note from Matthew to the gents: Turns out a custom- made suit is actually comfortable.)
Faye and Matthew also asked for a group photograph of all of their guests, like the large group photos commonly taken for special occasions in England. And Tyson the bulldog wore a bow tie and was co-ring-bearer, along with Faye's godson, Jordy.
Awestruck
After the ceremony (with Mayor Nutter officiating) at the Independence Seaport Museum, the couple were given about 10 minutes alone to savor the moment. Then they were whisked to the amphitheater at Penn's Landing Great Plaza, where photographer Kevin York had assembled their 200 guests. "We ran out into the amphitheater, and the whole wedding party and every single guest was lined up and was cheering," Faye said. Matthew really enjoyed that the guests did the wave. The fun atmosphere "set the tone for the entire reception," he said.
"It was the most amazing feeling, the most joy I've ever felt in my entire life," said Faye.
This didn't happen at rehearsal
Before the big day, Matthew and Faye agreed that in deference to their fancy clothes, there would be no bride-and-groom shenanigans with the wedding cake. "We said it was stupid, anyway, and why would anyone want to do that?" Faye remembered.
Well, now she knows why. Once the slice she was to nicely feed her groom was in her hand, "I was possessed by the devil," Faye said. Matthew saw this naughty gleam in her eye, and he knew it was coming. "I figured there was nothing I could do about it," he said. "I just knew if she was going to do it to me, I'd get her back."
Cake went up their noses, but somehow, nowhere near their clothes.
Discretionary spending
The bargain: Virtually the whole thing. "We are the luckiest couple on Earth that we got all of that," Faye said.
The splurge: The free package did not include libations, and this couple wanted their reception to be one big party. "We provided enough beer and liquor to play Flip Cups from here to about 2013," Matthew said.
The getaway
A week in Playa del Carmen, Mexico - a gift from the groom's parents, Myra and Larry.
Read more
Matt and Faye blogged all about their experience. Read it at Philly.com/mattandfaye.
{12766777472590}Behind the Scenes
Officiant
Philadelphia Mayor Nutter
Venue
Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia
Catering
Culinary Concepts, Philadelphia
Music
Back2Life, a band with Brandywine Valley Talent, Chadds Ford
Photography
Kevin York Photography, Philadelphia
Videography
Dave Williams of Cinemacake Filmmakers, Philadelphia
Dress
Janice Martin Couture, Ardmore
Flowers
Beautiful Blooms, Philadelphia
Planner
Eclatante Event Design, Philadelphia
Invitations
Two Paper Dolls, Wayne
Cake
Doughmain Baked Goods, Rosemont
Rings
Safian & Rudolph Jewelers, Philadelphia{12766777472591}