Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Our Wedding

The story of our beginnings as a couple are akin to that of your typical every day romance novel. Boy meets girl. Boy likes girl. Girl is confused by strange boy, and might even like him. Girl starts to fall for boy. Girl gets on a plane and moves 3,000 miles west to San Francisco. Boy chases girl west. Girl and Boy go on adventures all around the country. Boy falls in love with girl, and she with him. Girl cries a lot, boy makes girl laugh. Boy still wants to be in college, girl civilizes him...somehow with his consent. Boy knows there is no girl, East or West, who is more beautiful, adventurous, kindhearted, fun, and compatible with him. Girl continues to be confused and intrigued by strange boy, and thinks she might enjoy trying to figure him out for quite some time. Boy proposes to girl. Girl says yes! Girl cries....boy makes girl laugh. They live happily ever after.

Love at first flight

Our Story

Details

Photos

Dana's oldest friend and pseudo sister. On the very first day of nursery school, Amy took a terribly shy 3-year old named Dana under her wing and became her protector and voice. It was not until later on that Dana became the social butterfly that she is and she has Amy to thank for that. Childhood adventures include Barbie monsters, boogie boarding in Block Island, lemonade stands and generally laying around sucking their thumbs. Luckily neither of them still suck their thumb but they still enjoy hanging out every chance they get and giggling like silly school girls.

Amy Biancuzzo

Matt's roommate (until Dana steals him), longtime open Mic night/karaoke co-pilot, moral compass, emergency bank account, and heterosexual life mate.  Often mistaken for such heartthrobs as Jason Biggs, David Schwimmer, and Ray Romano, you'll learn quickly when you meet Mezz that he is even more pathetically cuddly, kind-hearted and genuine than his Hollywood doppelgangers.  Have you ever had a favorite blanket? Sweet elderly neighbor? Lucky rabbit's foot?  Yup, those things are Mezz.  And do you remember that kid you knew growing up that was so hilarious to make fun of --- not because he sucked, but because it was just SO easy?  That's Mezz too.  Eat your heart out, wedding guests, the gettin is good.

John Mezzanotte

As if one Amy from childhood weren't enough, Dana was lucky enough to have two. Amy Landis came into Dana's life a few years later and was her constant companion and partner in crime. Who better to be with when sneaking out of the house, throwing parties when parents were out of town or simply having a dance party in the living room.  Amy is still first on speed dial if Dana needs bail money or a friend in the middle of the night.

Amy Landis

Early relationship with the groom include being head videographer, director and star of all childhood movies, provider of the latest fashion tips, adolescent relationship advice, and reciter of any quote originally spoken by Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, or Randy Quaid.  Holds the title of 'most unfaltering and dependable ally to Sage', as well as 'most likely to drive 2+ hours to play a round of golf'.  Connoisseur of short brimmed hats, monochromic Puma golf outfits; drives a Fiat, proudly.

Dave DeFusco

Dana's friendship with Stacey dates back to elementary school and lucky for Stacey she still looks like the young fox she was back then. That innocent face got her out of trouble on many occasions in high school and was most likely why she received "Best All Around" in the high school yearbook superlatives.  A sweeter friend would be hard to find. She is also a kick ass dancer and hostess extraordinaire. 

Stacey Beltrami

Matt's youth sports rival turned childhood acquaintance, high school friend, college soulmate, and consummate role model of adult life.  Trailblazer and conquistador of many intimidating feats such as marriage, home-ownership, and childbearing (ouch!).  Known to be skilled and possibly deadly with the following items: frisbee, ping pong ball, bottle of Jameson, and knowledge of grammatical accuracy.

Brian McVety

Those who know him understand that he is the only Ed Sullivan who has and ever will matter in the history books.  An affinity for strange music, potty humor, driving terminally ill motor vehicles, and borderline offensive wardrobe choices united Ed and Matt during the early college days.  Over time, Ed's thirst for life (and rum-tea), and his uncanny ability to detect and laugh in the face of any signs of tool-baggery have earned him a permanent seat in Matt's inner circle.  Spends free time listening to Bono and drawing portraits of Nick Cage and Keanu Reeves.

Ed Sullivan

Dana and Meegan formed a long lasting friendship over pints at Richmond College in London and knew their fate was sealed when they discovered they both went to URI. Many years later that friendship blossomed into roommates in Boston. 7 Central Terrace was the greatest apartment for Christmas parties, cookie swaps, Chinese on New Year's Eve and a revolving door of frogs for Dana.  Many roommates later, Meegan is still the best one around (even though she now has 4 new ones in the form of little people).

Meegan Finn

Matt is lucky to call Meagan his sister and now Dana is just as lucky to soon call Meagan sister-in-law.  Dana feels she hit the jackpot with the Sage family and could not have picked a better sister if she tried.  Dana also enjoys the fact that Meagan has all sorts of good dirt on Matt and accompanying bad photos. When the three of them are together, Matt is outnumbered for sure. Dana proudly holds the title of the only girlfriend of Matt's that Meagan has ever liked.  :)

Meagan Sage

In the summer of 2002, Mother Fate gave birth to a pair of sons.  Randomly designating the two Matt's to be roommates freshman year at Quinnipiac University, Fate pushed forth the proverbial 'first domino', setting off a cascade of events which lead to them both becoming awesome at life (and humble).  Together, they spent the next 4+ years living together in collegiate bliss, encouraging one and other to experiment with all the fixings post-secondary academia had to offer while avoiding major bodily injury or expulsion.  They nurtured each other during their lows (there were many), and relished in their shared triumph (they graduated).  Chella is a rare breed.  Unpredictable yet unflinchingly reliable; traditional while utterly unique; cerebral, yet mostly nasal (Shabatt shalom).  The man standing at the front of the aisle on July 24th would be altogether different if it weren't for Chella...for better or for worse.  Definitely much worse though, without Chella. 

Matt Chella

Mary Frances is the daughter of Dana's dear friends Kate &amp; Carter. Fondly referred to as one (like Sonny and Cher or Johnny and June), Kate and Carter are the greatest couple around and have gone on to procreate and give birth to the cutest child around. There is a good chance she will steal Dana's thunder when walking down the aisle.  :)

Mary Frances Richardson

Much to Dana's protest at the time, Carrie is responsible for introducing Matt and Dana.  Lucky for Dana, fate swept in and steered her on a better path; one of happiness and love. How Carrie knew that two very different people would be such a match is beyond us but we are grateful every day.  Even a move to California couldn't keep Dana and Matt apart. For this reason, Carrie holds the honor of officiating the impending nuptials. After a quick online order, Carrie is now the proud owner of a clergy placard, badge, book and many certificates.  She is for hire if you know of any loved ones looking to tie the knot.

Carrie Appel

Max is the son of Dana's oldest friend Amy Biancuzzo and her husband Mark. Dana was in the delivery room when this cool guy was born and is thrilled he will be a part of their special day! With two older sisters Max has had to form a thick skin and tough demeanor. Dana has no doubt he will rock his big debut.  He will definitely be the most stylish and handsome guy in the wedding party but whether we give him the actual rings or not is another story.

Max Biancuzzo

Wedding Party

Q + A

Registry

We have reserved a small block of rooms for the night of Friday, July 24th at the RWU Conference Center located a mile down the road from Blithewold. The building was originally a Hotel, but Roger Williams University purchased it several years ago to serve as an off-campus housing option for students during the academic year. After graduation it opens back up as a regular hotel. The location is about as close as you can get to the wedding venue, and accommodations are clean, simple, and cost-effective. Save a few bucks and relive your College days!Please reference the Devoe/Sage room block when making your reservation. All rooms must be reserved by June 24th and the rate is $89.

Roger Williams Residence & Conference Center - Baypoint Inn

The Good news: Blithewold Mansion and Gardens is a beautiful venue for this party we're throwing.....picturesque waterfront, immaculately manicured, off the beaten path.The Bad news: NOTHING is around Blithewold. Due to the "off the beaten path" location of our venue, there aren't any big chain hotels where the two of us and all of our guests could stay together. Additionally, 200 people sleeping inside the mansion itself is apparently not an option (clearly Blithewold has misjudged the VIP status of their clientele).What we're left with are a variety of smaller Boutique Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, and the like which tend to book up quickly due to the reduced # of rooms available. It is ultimately up to each of you where you prefer to stay, so here are a few things to consider which we hope might guide your search.-How long are you planning to stay?-What is your price range?-How many people are you travelling/lodging with?-Do you prefer a bustling city, simple/antiquated suburb, or rural retreat environment? -Are you visiting from out of State and have some "RI bucket-list" items you hope to check off while you're here?After considering the points above, hopefully you've narrowed down the type of environment you're looking for. Below you'll find a variety of options that we've tried to categorize based on what we anticipate our guests will likely be most interested in.A. Local Area Hotels (10-20 mins drive from wedding venue)*Most from this list are your standard, moderately priced, reputable hotels in the towns surrounding the venue. At the time this website was created, all of them still had availability for our wedding dates....but they'll book up fast! Depending on location, some may offer shuttle service to Blithewold.Ramada Middletown: Phone #: (401) 846-3555 Web: <a href="http://www.ramada.com/hotels/rhode-island/middletown/ramada-middletown/hotel-overview?hotel_id=45288">http://www.ramada.com/hotels/rhode-island/middleto...</a>Towneplace Suites North Kingston (Marriott): Phone #: (401) 667-7500 Web: <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pvdts-towneplace-suites-providence-north-kingstown/">http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pvdts-townep...</a>Holiday Inn Express Newport/Middletown: Phone #: (401) 848-7128 Web: <a href="http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/middletown/mwnri/hoteldetail">http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/...</a> B. Area Bed &amp; Breakfasts (5-30 mins from venue)*These options are more cozy, quaint, and occasionally more pricey, but would be a great option for families, small groups, or couples looking to stay together in a more intimate setting.The Inn at Mount Hope Farm (Governor Bradford, North Pasture, and South Pasture Houses) - Bristol, RI: Phone: (401) 254-1745 Web: <a href="http://www.mounthopefarm.org/the-inn/governor-bradford-house">http://www.mounthopefarm.org/the-inn/governor-brad...</a>Nathaniel Porter Inn - Warren, RI: Phone #: (401) 245-6622 Web: <a href="http://nathanielporterinn.com/">http://nathanielporterinn.com/</a>Touisset Waterfront Inn - Swansea, MA: Phone #: (508) 676-9560 Web: <a href="http://www.waterfrontbb.com/">http://www.waterfrontbb.com/</a>William's Grant Inn - Bristol, RI: Phone #: (401) 253-4222Web: <a href="http://www.williamsgrantinn.com/">http://www.williamsgrantinn.com/</a>Bradford-Dimond-Norris House - Bristol, RI: Phone #: (401) 253-6338 Web: <a href="http://www.onlinebristol.com/business-directory/accommodations/inns-bed-and-breakfasts/bradford-dimond-norris-house/view-details.html">http://www.onlinebristol.com/business-directory/ac...</a> C. Newport area Accomodations (25-35 mins south of venue)*For those of you visiting from afar who'd like to spend time in this beautiful, exciting, and historic town near our wedding. These options include a mix of non-chain hotels and B&amp;B's that range from charming and quiet, to Gatsby-esque royal treatment.Hotel Viking - Newport, RI: Phone #: (401) 847-3300 Web: <a href="http://www.hotelviking.com/">http://www.hotelviking.com/</a>Marshall Slocum Inn - Newport, RI: Phone #: (401) 841-5120 Web: <a href="http://marshallslocuminn.com/">http://marshallslocuminn.com/</a>Newport Harbor Hotel &amp; Marina: Phone #: (401) 847-9000 Web: <a href="http://www.newporthotel.com/">http://www.newporthotel.com/</a>Pelham Court Hotel - Newport, RI: Phone #: (401) 619-4950 Web: <a href="http://www.pelhamcourthotel.com/">http://www.pelhamcourthotel.com/</a>Reed Rose Cottage - Newport, RI: Phone #: (401) 418-9940 Web: <a href="http://www.reedrosecottage.com/">http://www.reedrosecottage.com/</a>Castle Hill Inn - Newport, RI: Phone #: (401) 849-3800 Web: <a href="http://www.castlehillinn.com/">http://www.castlehillinn.com/</a> D. Providence, RI and Seekonk, MA options (20-30 mins north of venue)*These accommodations are mostly 20-30 minutes North of the wedding venue. If you'll have your own car, these will be a great option since they aren't as highly sought after in the summer due to their proximity to the beach. That said, Providence is awesome...talk to Matt (DEFINITELY not Dana) for recommendations and reasons why Providence is the best kept secret in New England.Courtyard Providence Downtown - Providence, RI: Phone #: (401) 272-1191 Web: <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pvddt-courtyard-providence-downtown/">http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pvddt-courty...</a>The Dean Hotel - Providence, RI: Phone #: (401) 455-DEAN Web: <a href="https://thedeanhotel.com/">https://thedeanhotel.com/</a>Providence Biltmore Hotel - Providence, RI: Phone #: (401) 421-0700 Web: <a href="http://www.providencebiltmore.com/">http://www.providencebiltmore.com/</a>Ramada Seekonk Providence - Seekonk, MA: Phone #: (508) 336-8700 Web: <a href="http://providenceramada.com/">http://providenceramada.com/</a>

Dana & Matt

Dana & Matt

D&M

Wedding Day

5:30 PM

Wedding

Reception