The Engagement:

On September 2, 2023, Christopher and Annalise were vacationing in Hanalei, Kauai for Labor Day Weekend. On the way to dinner, they stopped at the beach to watch the sunset. To Ani's great surprise, Chris had planned an elaborate proposal on the beach of Hanalei Bay. He popped the question in a beautiful, rose and orchid petal circle as the sun was setting, and she said YES!

The Wedding:

On the morning of October 19, 2024 in Rome, Italy, Christopher and Annalise were married in a private, Catholic wedding ceremony at the Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara Coeli.

The day started out rainy, which the couple believes is good luck, and cleared up as the bride arrived at the church. When the doors swung open and the choir began to sing, the sun shone perfectly through the church windows onto Annalise as she walked down the aisle to meet Christopher, making her look like an angel, as he would describe. The two joined hands while listening to the Priest pray over them and their marriage. With the biggest smiles on their faces, the couple vowed before God. They sealed their vows with a kiss and tears of joy in their eyes after officially being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Wessel!

The couple chose this church because of its religious and historical significance, as well as a few familial sentiments tied to it and Rome. The church's name, Ara Coeli, means "Altar of Heaven" and it was built in the 6th century. The church sits at the highest peak of Rome's Capitol Hill, which is 124 marble steps high (that Annalise climbed in a wedding gown)! One of the most significant aspects of this church is the Holy Child, which is a sculpture of a baby believed to be invested with miraculous power. According to medieval legend, Augustus received a vision telling him that Christ was coming. Augustus then built an altar on the Capitoline Hill with the inscription "Ecce Ara Primogeniti Dei," which is Latin for "Here is the altar of the firstborn god". This altar is inside the church.

The Honeymoon:

Christopher and Annalise celebrated their marriage with a five week European honeymoon. Their travels spanned over 2,000 miles witnessing European coast lines, country sides, and metropolitan areas, and included five countries: Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and France. They enjoyed learning about these countries rich histories, exploring different cultures, and trying tasty cuisines, but their favorite part was spending so much quality time together.

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Through the years, Christopher and Annalise have been blessed to share countless remarkable moments together. Now, their greatest adventure is just beginning. Please pray for Christopher and Annalise as they embark on this beautiful new stage of life as a family. May they demonstrate true love, respect, and loyalty to each other forever and ever!