Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Below is the story of our relationship told from our own separate perspectives. Enjoy!

David's Version

Colleen and I first met on the second floor of the Swig Dorm at Santa Clara University. I had moved in early to attend the last session of orientation, and Colleen had moved in early for a retreat. While I was setting up my dorm with my parents, Colleen's mom walked by, noticed how I had arranged my room, and brought Colleen over to take a look. We chatted for a bit, and when they left, my dad turned to me with a knowing grin and said, "Wow, what a pretty girl just down the hall." That’s how we first met. Almost immediately, Colleen and I became close friends. We went out together with friends, exploring the new nightlife of college. After just a few months, I worked up the courage to ask her to a dance. We had a great time, and that’s where we had our first kiss. From that night on, things felt different. There was an unspoken understanding that our friendship had shifted into something more, but we never rushed it. We kept spending time together, going out with friends, grabbing late-night food, and sharing the small moments that made college life exciting. The next year, I grew more certain about how I felt about Colleen. I wanted her to be my girlfriend. So, one day, I told her how I felt and asked if she wanted to make things official. But the timing wasn’t right for her. She told me she wasn’t ready for a relationship, and though it stung, I valued our friendship too much to let it go. We remained close, and finally, after a bit of persistence, we went on our first date to Pizza Antica in Santana Row. I thought the date went well, but as the night ended and I went in for a kiss, she turned away. I took this as another rejection, but again, I really cared about her and wanted to stay friends. The following year, we both studied abroad in different places, experiencing the world apart but keeping in touch from time to time. When we returned, I tried to reconnect, hoping that maybe this time, things would fall into place. But life had its own plans, and once again, the timing wasn’t quite right. Still, Colleen was always there. Our friendship never wavered. Then, finally, after years of near-misses and moments of wondering “what if," everything aligned. This time, when we reconnected, it wasn’t just as friends—it was as two people who had always been meant to find their way back to each other.&nbsp;Our junior and senior years were amazing. We went on all kinds of adventures together. After college, Colleen and I spent years in different cities, doing long distance for a long time. But that distance required effort, and that effort deepened our relationship. It was during this time that Colleen and I developed a true love for one another. Finally, we moved to the same city, and everything felt right. We continued our adventures together—from hiking and backpacking in Jackson Hole to exploring small towns along the shores of England. This was the third phase of our life together—the phase where I realized I couldn't imagine a life without Colleen and knew I wanted to marry her. And now, I look forward to all the next phases of our life.

Colleen's Version

David and I met the weekend before our freshman year of college began. I was preparing to leave for a retreat, and David was moving in early. My mom was helping me arrange my dorm room, but we couldn’t settle on a layout. Frustrated, she walked down the hall and noticed David’s room two doors down. She immediately loved how he'd arranged it, invited herself in, and ended up meeting David and his dad. She excitedly returned, announcing, “I just met a cute boy down the hall annndddd he’s from Chicago!” Her excitement was partly because my sister, Shannon, had lived in Chicago for a few years, and it was already one of our favorite cities. Freshman year began, and David and I became fast friends. From that moment on there was always a spark between us. David asked me out a few times and we attended some formal events together. Despite my uncertainty, I knew we shared something special beyond friendship. Sophomore year came around, and our friendship continued to grow stronger. Near the end of that year, David officially asked me out, and I decided it was time to give us a chance. He borrowed his roommate’s car, picked me up, and we went to get pizza on Santana Row. I'll always remember sitting in that pizza place, excitedly talking about our bucket lists and future adventures, including skydiving (which we have already checked off)! David even convinced me to try calamari, which at the time was unthinkable. Sophomore year quickly ended, and we both headed to Spain to study abroad—I went to Barcelona, while David was in San Sebastian. Though we kept in touch over the summer and during abroad, nothing substantial happened as the timing still wasn’t right. When we returned from abroad, I realized I had strong feelings for David. Initially, I confided in my two friends (Julia and Kristina) and together we decided I should wait and see if my emotions persisted before saying anything to David. After 10 weeks of waiting, I asked David to go on a walk and shared my feelings. Thankfully, our timing finally aligned. We have been together ever since, enjoying an amazing final year and a half of college. David frequently planned fun surprise dates—bungee jumping, trips to the shooting range, exploring new restaurants, and hikes throughout California. After graduation, I moved to San Francisco and started working at Target, while David returned home to Chicago. This long-distance period was challenging due to demanding jobs and the distance. Eventually, David moved to San Jose.&nbsp;Closer, but still far from each other and still long distance. Despite being long distance many times, our bond continued to strengthen.&nbsp; Eventually, we decided to move to Chicago and were finally able to live close to each other. David settled into a place in Gold Coast, while I moved in with my best friend (Julia), just a 10-minute walk away. Together at last! Since then, we've had an incredible time living in and exploring Chicago. We love discovering new restaurants, taking our dog (Tug) on bike rides and walks to the park, seeing plays, and making the most out of every Chicago season. Our relationship has always been built upon friendship, but also has a love more deeply rooted than I could have ever imagined. I am thankful each day that God put David in my life and I can’t wait for forever together.

Our Story

Photos

Bridesmaids

Shannon Brady

Bridget O'Rourke

Alaia Gorostiaga

Julia Ventura 

Katie Arial

Abigail Kloos

Cassie Anderson

Groomsmen

Roberto Medrano

Nick Troiano

Joe Brady

Andrew Brady

Marc 

Nick Zaccagnini

Brian Bachart

Wedding Party

Welcome, everyone! David and I are beyond excited to have you join us for this special celebration in Italy. Your effort to travel so far means the world to us, and we’re so grateful to share this unforgettable experience with you. Let’s make some beautiful memories together!

Weekend Timeline

Transportation will be provided to you for the various events throughout the itinerary. If you prefer to have your own vehicle, we can assist you in renting one locally. A private driver can also be arranged to pick you up at the airport/city you are currently in and bring you to your villa. Please contact Renee if you would like this arranged.*To arrange the transfer, Renee will need your arrival and departure train time, train number (or flight number, time &amp; airport) and the full names of guests in your group. Feel free to look up train options <a href="https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.

Castiglion fiorentino

There are no taxis at the local station, all services need to be booked and arranged in advance.

Travel

Please see <a href="https://online.fliphtml5.com/trrhy/xols/#p=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> for a brochure of activities in the area and neighboring cities. Please reach out to our wedding coordinator, Renee for any additional questions or asks! (Renee.Buccelletti@buccelletti.it; +39 0575-650179).

Things to Do

Q + A

Registry

Out Story

Colleen & David

Colleen & David

Registry