Anne Bonny's Bar and Grill

Rehearsal Dinner

128 South

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

July 16, 2022, we were both at a wedding between two of our childhood friends (shoutout to Andrew and Anna, now groomsman and bridesmaid). We didn’t know each other, had never crossed paths, and both of us would have been perfectly content to just party the night away. We were seated at the same table for the reception. There were six other people around us, but as the night went on they seemed to fade away, and it became more and more like our first date.&nbsp; Neither of us knew then that we had just met our future husband, or wife, and that both of us had just met our new best friend; and as it turns out, we wouldn’t know for quite some time after.&nbsp;

HOW WE MET

We hadn’t spoken in nearly a year when Matthew decided to reach out to Elizabeth one Saturday morning the next July. We couldn’t have timed a text any more perfectly as Elizabeth and her family were headed up to Norfolk to go on a cruise on the ship Matthew could see from his apartment window. After a year without contact, the anticipation for the first date quickly built as we texted back and forth throughout the cruise. When we finally met at the pier, one year to the day from our chance encounter at the wedding, we could hardly believe our luck. Our first date, for real this time, started a weekly tradition of Mexican and margs. After lunch, we hit the mini golf links and Matthew earned his nickname amongst our friends as “putt putt boy.” We jammed out to all of Elizabeth’s dank early 2000s hits on the three hour ride from Norfolk to Benson, to prepare us for much longer rides of nonstop Taylor Swift. When we finally arrived and had to say our first painful goodbye, Elizabeth’s roommate - Brooke, promoted to bridesmaid- called it after one look: “you guys are going to end up together.”

THE “ACTUAL” FIRST DATE

The summer months flew by like a dream, and by mid-August, we had already fallen for each other, even though neither of us were quite sure when the relationship started in earnest or how to categorize it. With each date, we grew closer and closer together - a beach weekend and concert with our friends, and several 5K races. Our first “I love you” and “I love you too” came with plenty of tears and kisses in the car one cloudy November day. By the time the holiday season came, we couldn’t bear to spend any time apart, and we knew that this was built to last forever.&nbsp; We decided to start our forever together in our backyard one Saturday morning in February, sealed with a ring and a kiss, surrounded by our dogs. The video, shot clandestinely on Matthew’s iPhone and nearly toppled by our Shih Tzu Minnie, is ours to keep, but our story is now yours as well.

THE PROPOSAL

We are so excited for you to join us on this momentous day. You each hold a special place in our lives and in our hearts, and we want to thank you for being part of this celebration of our faith, love, and new life together.&nbsp;

OUR FOREVER

Our Story

Engagement Pictures 

WRAL Azalea Gardens- Raleigh, NC

She Said "YES"

Wilmington, NC

Our Favorite Memories

Photos

Jack Romano

Andrew Zaleski 

Katie Fairchild Schiller

Amanda Lavere

Anna Zaleski

Brittney Fike

Brooke Robertson

Hannah Wells

Kaitlyn Hall

Paige Goldbach

Wedding Party

Q + A

Near Battleship North CarolinaMake yourself at home in one of the 12 guestrooms featuring refrigerators. Your memory foam bed comes with premium bedding. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have designer toiletries and hair dryers.With a stay at Front Street Inn in Wilmington (Wilmington Historic District), youll be a 3-minute walk from Riverwalk a

Front Street Inn

Near RiverwalkMake yourself at home in one of the 124 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with bathtubs or showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, as well as phones with

Courtyard by Marriott Wilmington Downtown / Historic District

Near RiverwalkMake yourself at home in one of the 92 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and LCD televisions. Your bed comes with down comforters and premium bedding. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and premium TV channels provides entertainment. Private bathrooms have deep soaking bathtubs and rainfall showerheads.With a stay at Hampton Inn by Hilto

Hampton Inn by Hilton Wilmington Downtown

Wilmington International Airport

Albert J Ellis Airport

Myrtle Beach International Airport

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Travel

Stroll along nearly two-miles of scenic walkway alongside the historic Cape Fear River. Stretching from Nunn Street to the Isabella Holmes Bridge, lined with an assortment of markets, unique boutiques and art galleries, the Riverwalk is home to outdoor cafes and narrated tours. The marina at the north end accommodates larger vessels, with an outdoor concert venue as well as a restaurant featuring spectacular river and sunset views. One hotel with a roof top view has opened and there is another one currently under construction nearby. The Riverwalk is open year-round, featuring over 200 close-by shops, restaurants and attractions. Conlon Pier is a popular spot for catching views of the river, and is the only spot along the Riverwalk where fishing is allowed.&nbsp;

Wilmington Riverwalk

Battleship NORTH CAROLINA participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II, earning 15 battle stars. This authentically restored National Historic Landmark proudly serves as her State’s World War II Memorial to the 11,000+ North Carolinians who made the ultimate sacrifice. Moored across from historic downtown Wilmington, the Battleship welcomes visitors daily. Plot your own course as you explore nine levels, climb inside gun turrets, marvel at early computers, and see where the crew ate, slept, and worked. Crew stories throughout the Ship introduce you to the 2,000 young men who called the Showboat home.

Battleship North Carolina

Airlie Gardens’ history dates back to the early 1700’s. The gardens you see today are the vision of Sarah and Pembroke Jones. The Jones purchased the property in 1884 and transformed it into a picturesque garden.&nbsp;In 1999, a commitment from the New Hanover County Commissioners, along with a grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the support of local residents, made possible this county’s purchase and restoration of Airlie’s 67-acres of gardens.

Airlie Gardens

The Cameron Art Museum (CAM) provides a cultural gathering place that enriches the lives of museum visitors and the community through high-quality exhibitions, lifelong learning in the arts, dynamic public programs, and stewardship and interpretation of the collection.

Cameron Art Museum

The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher connects visitors with the wonders of nature and aquatic wildlife. The Aquarium and its sister facilities, the N.C. Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores, the N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke Island, and Jennette's Pier in Nags Head are dedicated to inspiring appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments.&nbsp;

Elizabeth & Matthew