Hello there
During the 2007-08 school year, Marianne was a college counselor at Merion Mercy Academy in Merion Station. She helped her students find colleges that were a good fit, advised them on application preparation, and wrote letters of recommendation.
In April, Marianne was discussing the college options of a student, Paige, with Paige's mother, Michelle, who mentioned a forthcoming graduation party - and then asked Marianne if she was dating anyone. "Not anyone special," answered Marianne, who found it sweet and amusing that a parent would care about her life.
In May, Paige handed Marianne an invitation to the party. "You really should come," Paige urged her. She offered a special incentive: Brian, who is the good friend of Paige's brother-in-law from the Naval Academy.
At the party, Marianne was chatting with a group of her coworkers and some parents when Paige's father interrupted. "You should be talking to people your own age!" George told her.
Soon, Marianne, then 29, was talking to Paige's sister and brother-in-law, and the brother-in-law's Navy buddy.
"We hit it off right away," Marianne said. Brian, then 30 and an F/A-18 pilot stationed in Virginia Beach, Va., had grown up in Summit, N.J., and one of their first conversations was about childhood summers spent down the Shore.
From there, the flight instructor and the counselor found many other topics to discuss. "I didn't leave the graduation party until, like, 2:30 in the morning," Marianne said. Before she left, Brian asked for her phone number. She was skeptical that anything would take hold between two people who lived states apart. But the evening had been so wonderful, she had to take a chance.
He called the next week. In early summer, Brian was coming north to visit his family in Summit. On July 1, "I drove to Ocean City, N.J., for a lunch date. It ended up being a daylong date," Marianne said.
Brian spent the Fourth of July with Marianne and her family at their Ocean City beach house. They went to another party together the next day.
Even when Brian went back to Virginia, he and Marianne usually managed to see each other twice a month. "A 41/2-hour drive became very easy," Marianne remembered. "He got an E-ZPass in August, and that's when our families knew we were getting serious."
How does forever sound?
After they had been dating for about a year, Brian was chosen to fly the Super Hornet fighter plane at air shows across the country, and Marianne sometimes went with him. In mid-October 2009, Brian invited her to Virginia Beach for his last show of the season.
Brian was the announcer for the second day of the show, and the couple spent about five hours watching planes on a cold, dreary day.
Afterward, Brian suggested they warm up with dinner at a fancy restaurant. Marianne went upstairs to get ready, and came down in Marianne time - 15 minutes late. Brian said not to worry - he had built extra time into their schedule. Then he turned off the TV and asked Marianne to sit next to him.
"We really need to talk about something serious," he said.
Marianne held her breath. "He was up for new orders, and I thought he was getting deployed," she said.
That wasn't it. Brian told Marianne he loved her very much, and then got down on one knee.
On the way to dinner, the couple called Marianne's parents, Charley and Mari, who live in Wayne. They were thrilled for more than one reason - Brian had sought their blessing the week before, and keeping the secret was killing them!
Later on, the couple called Brian's father, David, at his home in Vermont, and his grandparents, Lois and Alan Schneider, who live in Summit. Brian's mother, Laurie, passed away nearly seven years ago.
It was so them
Brian and Marianne wanted a wedding ceremony with a classic and elegant feel.
They were married in the chapel on Villanova University's campus - the college where Marianne and her brother, father, and sister earned their degrees. The Rev. James J. McKeaney, who had also married Marianne's parents and baptized her as a baby, performed the ceremony. Marianne's mother sang "Ave Maria."
Brian's late mother, Laurie, was remembered during the ceremony. Eight members of the Navy and Marines formed a sword arch outside the chapel for the newlyweds to walk through, and as a wedding present to each other, Brian and Marianne hired local artist Bette Lesher to capture the moment on canvas.
The reception for 230 guests was held at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia. In a bit of a contrast to the formal ceremony, the couple wanted a reception infused with warmth, fun, and a family vibe. Cocktail hour featured a "Taste of Philly" station with mini-cheesesteaks, french fries, and soft pretzels. Later in the evening, black-and-white milk shakes were served - adults had the option of a shot of Baileys Irish Cream.
The couple made a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that provides services to those who are seriously injured in the line of duty and provides assistance and counseling to their families.
nolead begins
This didn't happen at rehearsal
Marianne's sister, Katie, was maid of honor. When it was time for her toast, Katie invited their brother, Charley, to join her at the microphone. Marianne is a Phillies fan. Brian loves the Mets. "My family has always kidded us that we would have a mixed marriage," Marianne said. Charley and Katie presented the couple with a baseball signed by Jamie Moyer. They gave Marianne a Phillies cap embroidered with her and Brian's initials and their wedding date. And then, just to show their new brother-in-law that they love him as is, they gave Brian a similarly embroidered Mets hat.
During the reception, Sting - yes, that Sting - was sitting at the Four Seasons bar. The bride would like to thank him for being "a gracious person, who allowed a lot of people to take pictures."
Awestruck
When the chapel doors opened and it was time to walk down the aisle with her father, Marianne saw Brian watching her. It was a moment she'll never forget. "I thought, 'This is really happening,' " she said.
Discretionary spending
A bargain: The bride's friend Sabrina Andrews, owner of Blushing Bride Wedding & Special Events in Philadelphia, refused to charge for her services. The bride and groom gave her a nice gift instead. The couple also got a family discount on their stationery from Valley Press in Bala Cynwyd.
The splurge: The bride was married in her dream shoes - a pair of Manolo Blahniks.
The getaway
Nearly two weeks in Bora Bora. Then, shortly after their official honeymoon, the couple took a two-week drive across the country. Destination: Hanford, Calif., and Lemoore Naval Air Station, where Brian, who recently became Lt. Cmdr. Lauber, is now stationed. He is expected to be deployed next year. Marianne is hoping to become a counselor for the Navy.
Love: BEHIND THE SCENES
Officiant
The Rev. James J. McKeaney, Pastor, St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Bryn Mawr
Venues
St. Thomas of Villanova Chapel, Villanova University, Villanova; the Four Seasons, Philadelphia
Catering
The Four Seasons, Eric Allen, catering manager
Photography
Phil Kramer, Phil Kramer Photographers Inc., Philadelphia
Videography
Marc Smiler, Mark Smiler Video Artist, Philadelphia
Music
CTO Park Avenue, Philadelphia
Flowers
Il Fiore Bianco, Philadelphia
Dress
A Melissa Sweet design purchased at Priscilla of Boston in Ardmore
Invitations
Valley Press, Bala Cynwyd
Planner
Blushing Bride Weddings & Events, Philadelphia
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Love: DO YOU HAVE THE DATE?
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