Photos from Joe and Nicole’s summer wedding in Lawrence, Kansas at Maceli’s Banquet Hall by Lawrence Kansas wedding photographer Jerry Wang Photography.
Title | Our Story
Tell us how you first met? Who what when where why? Give us the dirty details.
We first met at Pittsburg State University during our last semester in 2016. Our student teaching class met on campus about 8 times that semester. Joe’s booming laugh caught my attention, so I decided to find out where the laughter was coming from and who it belonged to. As it turned out, we had a mutual friend who introduced us outside of class. After some casual conversation back and forth on Facebook, we decided to try this thing called dating.
When did you know he / she was the one? Was there something he / she did?
Nicole: I can’t think of a specific time or moment when I knew he was the one. It wasn’t just one thing he did. It was everything. The first time we ever hung out, we watched a movie at my place and he waited until the whole movie was finished to kiss me. That surprised me. After that it was just how respectful and patient he was with me. Whenever I would get stressed or emotional, he was always so calm and never made me feel like less of a person for being so overwhelmed. When he said he loved me, that’s when I knew he was really serious about me… because I didn’t say it back! And he was so unbelievably okay with it. He’s always made me feel like we’re a team.
Joe: It was just something about her that made everything easy. Also, because I have never really gotten annoyed with her. Even when she says her really dumb/terrible dad jokes, they don’t annoy me. So that’s pretty much how I knew she was it.
What is the most memorable date you’ve ever had?
Nicole: Well, on our very first date he put a tortilla chip in the salsa and said, “Hey, look… salsa shark.” And then continued to hum the Jaws theme song… so that was pretty interesting. It’s a tradition now anytime we go out to eat. I’ve met queso shark, guac shark, buffalo chicken dip shark… you name it, he’s done it.
Joe: Totally Salsa Shark. It continues on and at this point I can’t stop it.
Tell us about the proposal (did you see it coming, how long was it in the planning? How did you feel? Nervous, excited, freaking out?)
Nicole: I had my suspicions that he might propose around our two year anniversary, but then I had psyched myself out and changed my mind. I figured he’d do it around Christmas (even though that was SO cliche and I didn’t want him to propose at Christmas). So, no, I didn’t really see it coming, not until right before he proposed. We were walking by the pond at Pitt State and he fell back and let me walk in front of him. I was just SURE that I would turn around and he would be on a knee. But he didn’t do it that way. He talked to me about how glad he was that we were dating and that we met at Pitt State… this really, super sweet speech, and I didn’t know he was proposing, so I did what I always do: said whatever came to my mind at the moment. So as he’s saying all this sweet stuff, I’m asking if people can go fishing in the pond. Typical me. When he did get down on a knee, I exclaimed, “Are you proposing?!” Again, typical me. Somehow he chose me still and I said yes!
Joe: Well I wanted to do it somewhere special to both of us, and what better place than where we met? As always, I had a plan, but changed it and winged it essentially. We went to a football game at Pitt State, and even before going she wasn’t sure if we were going to make it on time. I had quite a lot to do for football that week, and she didn’t want to be rushed. Anyways, we make it to the game and watch Pitt win. I wanted to propose to her on the football field as that is what essentially got me to PSU, but there were still a lot of people on the field and I didn’t want to wait around. Nicole would have gotten suspicious at that too. While we were walking out, I said why don’t we walk through the lake just because. I was pretty much winging it at this point. As we start walking on the lake I just start talking about how glad I was we met, and Nicole was well being Nicole. Eventually I got down to ask her, and she, again, was being Nicole and asked if I was proposing. I just asked her as my response which she said yes to, obviously since we are here today.
Tell us the one thing you love most about each other.
Nicole: I don’t know that I can pick just one thing, but I guess if I had to choose only one thing I would say I love that he loves me for me. He loves who I am and doesn’t judge me, and he supports me in everything. He’s always made me feel comfortable to be myself.
Joe: I really love her smile and how she supports me in everything I do. She could just as easily resent that I work so much in the fall and spring with my sports I coach, but she doesn’t. She actively wants to be at all of the games. To me that’s very important because it’s a part of who I am.
If you feel comfortable, share with us something silly or quirky the other person does.
Nicole: He likes to hold our dog, Patton, like a baby and then say, “Babe, look” and I have to act surprised every time like I haven’t seen it before. It’s definitely cute, but half the time Patton looks like he’s terrified because his eyes are so big.
Joe: If there’s a letter missing in any sign or something, she’ll say it how it looks. EG: If Hobby Lobby’s sign was missing the H; she would say “Obby Lobby”. The damn thing caught on and I’ve found myself doing it now.
Describe the theme or décor for your wedding.
Our colors are royal blue, silver, and light blue. I don’t know if we really have a theme. Classy and sophisticated, maybe? Modern? We’ve tied some of our interests in with it. For example, our champagne glasses are Star Wars, our wedding cake is a bundt cake because I don’t like regular cake (too much icing), and our cake topper is Star Wars too.
Vendors List:
Photography | Jerry Wang Photography
Hair & Makeup | Bride’s Hair & Mother of Bride’s Hair: Mindy Kasten; Bridesmaids: Katie Harrington
Ring | Shane Co.
Ceremony Venue | Maceli’s
Reception Venue | Maceli’s
DJ / Entertainment | Curt Benelli
Catering | Maceli’s
Cake | Bride & Groom’s Wedding Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes; Cake for guests: Costco
Dress Designer | Maggie Sottero
Dress Salon | Sara Loree’s
Bridesmaid Dresses | Azazie
Groom and Groomsmen Attire | Men’s Wearhouse
Wedding Planner / Coordinator: Lesa Cloke
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