Hello there
By summer 2005, Jeannette had recovered from the end of a long-term relationship, but she wasn't ready for dating. "You've got to get out there!" urged her friend Veronica. Jeannette said she didn't want to risk the rejection that looking for love could bring.
Veronica knew Jeannette's concern was about her weight. She was determined to get her past it.
"Try some dating sites for big, beautiful women," Veronica said. "You might get turned down, but it would not be because of your size."
Jeannette signed up and soon was dating. Nine months in, she discovered the most interesting profile: Chris said he worked hard and played hard - just like Jeannette. She had played fast-pitch softball at Rider and Drexel Universities. Chris coached fast-pitch softball with the Philadelphia Fury travel team, and he coached track and field at Penn Charter. Plus, "he had a devilish glimmer in his eye, and I thought, 'Oooh, he's cute!" Jeannette remembered.
But then she saw a disappointing addendum: "I've met a wonderful woman I'm happy with on this website. Good luck to everyone!"
Jeannette continued to date, and continued to be underwhelmed.
Then in November 2006, Jeannette was showing her technologically challenged friend Jennifer how to search for the MySpace page of a wildlife clinic where she volunteers. MySpace pages can be located by searching demographic information - people-centric stats such as gender, location, race, and age. The wildlife organization used the stats of one of its organizers, so Jeannette filled in the search terms: Caucasian, male, 35-40.
But the first profile that popped up was not the clinic's. There was Chris' devilish smile again - and his profile said he was single.
Jeannette filled out her own MySpace profile, just so she could e-mail him, and initiated contact with some softball small talk.
Jeannette's e-mail was flattering. "She seemed very nice. And she was attractive," Chris said. "I e-mailed her back, and we started talking - and talking and talking."
About a week later, Chris, who grew up in Roxborough, and Jeannette, who is from Kensington, met in person at the Helium comedy club in Philadelphia. They've been laughing together ever since.
How does forever sound?
Jeannette's family threw a 75th birthday celebration for her mother, Catherine, at Cottage Green in December 2008.
Chris previously had a little conversation with Catherine. Would she mind if her special day was shared with Chris' proposal to her daughter? Catherine was thrilled. As was Kathryn, Chris' mother, who gave Chris her engagement ring so he could reset the diamond for Jeannette.
In the middle of the celebration, Chris walked up to Jeannette's mother. "I want to give Catherine a special present," he said. Chris gave his girlfriend's mother a paperweight-size fake diamond, and everyone laughed.
Then he quickly walked over to Jeannette. "That's not the kind of diamond she wants," he said. Jeannette "wants something a little nicer, and a little sweeter."
Chris got on one knee. Jeannette said yes. The piano player - who would later play at their wedding - broke out into their song: Rascal Flatts' "Bless the Broken Road."
It was so them
Jeannette, 36, works in admissions and development at Nazareth Academy. Chris, 39, teaches K-6 computer science at Pennypacker Elementary School. They were married at Twining Hall at the Trevose Fire Company.
At the start of the ceremony, a parade of people who have played important roles in their lives walked up the aisle with a single purple or white flower. Chris, at the altar, and Jeannette, peeking in through a small window near the bridal suite, watched as each placed their flower in a vase - family members, professional mentors, the daughter of a softball teammate, one of her oldest friends and one of his, and one of the athletes he coached. Then Shayna, the first friend they made as a couple, tied the flowers into the bouquet Jeannette carried up the aisle. One special flower - a pink rose - represented Jeannette's father, Paul, who passed away five years ago.
All 174 guests held small candles. Chris' best man and Jeannette's cousin lit those of some guests seated in the back, and the flame was passed person-to-person until it reached the front of the room. The couple's mothers then used their candles to light special candles representing Chris and Jeannette, who used their candles to light a unity candle.
When officiant Diane Smith-Hoban asked Chris if he would take Jeannette to be his wife, he took a step back and flipped a coin high into the air. He caught it, gave a look, and loudly proclaimed, "I will!"
Then Dianne asked Jeannette if she would take Chris to be her husband, simultaneously offering her a Magic Eight Ball. Jeannette flipped it over. "All signs point to yes," she reported to the guests. "I will!"
Guests signed baseball jerseys emblazoned with the couple's last names and the numbers they have used their entire sporting lives. They will be framed and hung in their Fox Chase home.
This didn't happen at rehearsal
Jeannette's cousin Duckey walked her halfway down the aisle, where they met her mother, Catherine. Catherine took her daughter's hand as another cousin, Tommy, began pushing her wheelchair toward the altar. Jeannette's dress got caught in Catherine's wheels. "I couldn't walk," Jeannette said. She and Tommy managed to get everybody untangled.
The bride and groom made a pact not to smush wedding cake in each other's faces. But others were not as safe. Jeannette took aim at best man Dan; Chris got maid-of-honor Paulette.
Awestruck
When Chris and Jeannette entered the reception, their guests stood and cheered, stadium-style. Adding to the athletic atmosphere - the guests were also twirling purple rally towels, bearing the couple's names and their wedding logo: a yin and yang symbol with a shot put and a softball.
Later, Chris sneaked up to the balcony and looked down at his closest friends and family having a great time. And then he saw his happy new wife. "It was so intense," he said. Buds from his league football team had placed bets on whether Chris would make it through the day without crying. "Most thought I would not cry," Chris said. "They lost money."
Discretionary spending
A bargain: Christine, a coworker of Jeannette's, designed seating cards that looked like baseball tickets and programs that looked like scorecards. Then Christine and Jacqui, another coworker, picked up the printing costs and created the centerpieces. Not only did the couple love the unique items, but Jeannette estimates the gift saved them $2,500.
The splurge: Photographer Monika Broz. "I hate having my picture taken, but I love the pictures that this woman takes," Jeannette said. The cost was about one-third more than other photographers the couple considered, but Broz's charge included the rights to all of the thousands of photos that were shot, Chris said.
The getaway
About 20 days in California, punctuated regularly with professional baseball games. To ease the transition back to reality, the couple bought tickets to a Phillies game soon after their return.
Behind the Scenes
Officiant
Diane Smith-Hoban of Journeys of the Heart, Jenkintown
Venue
Twining Hall,Trevose Fire Company,Trevose
Catering
M.E.I Catering, Twining's in-house caterer
Photography
Monika Broz, Titusville, N.J.
Music
Dr. Bobby Fingers,Horsham
Flowers
Otto Schmidt's Florist, Philadelphia
Dress
BridalTown, Collegeville
Invitations
RS2guru.com
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