Hello there
If the universe had given either Jen or Wayne exactly what they wanted in 2005 and 2006, they never would have met in 2007.
After graduating in May 2005 with a bachelor's degree in English, Jen, who grew up in Fort Washington, went to South America to teach and travel. She taught English at a school in Brazil, then gave individual lessons to businesspeople in Argentina. In February - summer in Argentina - Jen wasn't finding many teaching gigs, so she joined friends on a backpacking trip around the continent. By April, Jen was out of money. She moved to Glenside with her mother, Judi, and stepfather, David, to look for work in the States.
Jen interviewed for many writing jobs in Philadelphia and New York, but received no good offers. After a fun visit with friends, she expanded her job search to Washington and landed the first job she applied for - as an assistant editor with B'nai B'rith International.
Wayne grew up in Potomac, Md., but after earning his master's degree in real estate from the University of Illinois at Chicago, he really wanted to stay in that city. But he couldn't find a job. Wayne got an offer from a D.C. firm, and in February 2006, he moved back in with his parents, Susan and Jeffrey.
That summer, there was a fire at the Hausfeld home.
"We were all living in a hotel for a few months, and I was going crazy," Wayne said. "I had to look for a new apartment."
During the same week in August 2006, Wayne and Jen moved into apartments across from each other on either side of Rock Creek Park.
In January 2007, Jen's friend Ayelet begged Jen to go to a party - even though Jen really felt like staying home. "There's a friend of a friend you should meet," Ayelet said. Jen wasn't interested in that guy. But she did end up being interested in Wayne, also at the party.
They only talked for five minutes, but Jen felt a little spark.
About six weeks later, Jen and Ayelet went out for coffee. The warm March air invigorated Jen, and she wanted to go out afterward. Ayelet wasn't up for it, but said another friend whom Jen had met once or twice was joining a group for trivia night at a Cleveland Park bar.
Jen walked into the bar looking for that acquaintance. She also saw Wayne - whose eyes lit up when he recognized her.
They left the bar with each other's contact information, and soon met up for sub sandwiches at Potbelly's and a visit to the Corcoran Museum of Art. "It was the best date I'd ever been on," Jen said. Wayne felt the same way.
How does forever sound?
In August 2009, Wayne and Jen took a Maine vacation. A little before sunset, they were walking in Boothbay Harbor when a stranger suggested they check out Ocean Point.
"We get there, and it's gorgeous, like a Norman Rockwell scene," Jen remembered. "There was a lighthouse and an old man fishing with his grandchildren and all of these big rocks."
The perfection of the view inspired Wayne to push his plans up by one day. "Wait here," he said. "I have to get something from the car."
Wayne told Jen he was fetching his sunglasses, but he came back with a ring, and proposed on the spot.
At work
Jen began to miss the teaching she had done in South America. So in summer 2009, she joined a program to become a certified teacher in Washington schools. She teaches English to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at Raymond Education Campus.
Wayne is now a senior project manager with the real estate development company.
The couple, both 28, now live in Cleveland Park.
It was so them
Jen and Wayne considered eloping to Hawaii, but decided to stay local so that their traditional Jewish wedding could be witnessed by about 160 family members and friends. They used orchids to bring a hint of Hawaii to the PSFS building.
The bride and groom were each escorted down the aisle by their parents, who stood with them beneath the chuppah. Jen's mother was joined by Jen's stepfather; and Jen's father, Howard, was joined by her stepmother, Phyllis, for the recessional.
Wayne's best man was his brother, Joshua; Jen's man of honor was her brother, Jason.
Jen's wedding band is a replica of her late maternal grandmother Sylvia's ring, and her bouquet was wrapped with Sylvia's bridal handkerchief. Her late Pop-Pop Norman's tallis - a prayer shawl - was part of the chuppah.
Jen wore the 1940s diamond watch of her paternal Mom-Mom, also named Sylvia, who attended the wedding. The couple used Wayne's late maternal grandfather Gerald's kiddush cup during the ceremony. Wayne's late paternal grandparents, Walter and Ray, were remembered when the couple was wrapped in Walter's tallis for the blessing.
Wayne danced with his Nana Renee, and Jen danced with her grandfather Lee to "You Make Me Feel So Young."
Lee always loved to dance, so one dance with his granddaughter was not enough. They hit the floor for "Dancing Cheek to Cheek" and also did the jitterbug. Lee then joined Jen and her friends to dance to the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil."
"This isn't my music," Lee told Jen, "but I like it."
Those dances were among the last moments she spent with her grandfather, who passed away in November, just two months shy of his 92d birthday. "I'm so grateful for those dances," Jen said.
This didn't happen at rehearsal
Late in the reception, someone stepped on Jen's dress, resulting in a four-inch rip. A friend who has a knack with a safety pin came to her aid.
Awestruck
When Jen recited the vows she wrote to Wayne, "it was one of the clearest moments of my life," she said. "It felt like I was doing exactly the right thing, like everything was perfect." The first time Wayne saw Jen before the preceremony photos, he got so excited, he ran down the hall to meet her.
Discretionary spending
A bargain: At the rehearsal dinner, Jen gave Wayne a cake that looked like one of his very favorite things: a big bowl of pasta. An old friend of Jen's, Cari Cantor, makes fun cakes as a side business, and her cake cost about 40 percent less than most specialty cakes, Jen said.
The splurge: Instead of a DJ, the couple hired a band with many singers. "We wanted a celebration," Jen said, "with everybody on the dance floor."
The getaway
Nine days in Paris and the south of France.
Behind the Scenes
Officiant
Rabbi Shira Stutman, Washington, D.C.
Venue
Loews Hotel, Philadelphia
Catering
Reception: Loews Hotel; groom's cake: Cari and Phil Cantor, Ellen Mirbach, of Chewie Cakes, Dresher
Music
Ceremony and cocktail hour: Romanza Music, South Orange, N.J.; Reception: Rio, EBE Entertainment, Philadelphia
Photography
Roggio Weddings, Philadelphia
Videography
Well Spun Weddings, Ambler
Flowers
Robertson's Flowers, Philadelphia
Dress
Janell Berte, POSH Bridal, Lancaster
Invitations
The Paper Umbrella, Blue Bell