To borrow a line for the holiday classic, White Christmas, ‘the best things happen while your dancing- for dancing, soon becomes romancing, when you hold a girl in your arms that you’ve never held before!'. Dancing plays a huge role in Jennifer and Rich’s lives, so it’s not surprising the two met on the dance floor. Jennifer and Rich led parallel dance lives with Jennifer participating in English Country dancing (ECD) in Gainesville and Rich dancing ECD exclusively in the Jacksonville area. Although a small community, their paths failed to intersect for a long time, until Jennifer was encouraged and perhaps somewhat coerced by her friends to go to her first contra dance. And so on a fateful Sunday afternoon in February 2014, Jennifer went to contra at the Thelma Boltin Center in Gainesville, Florida. Jennifer, ever punctual, showed up early for the beginner contra lessons. She paired with a couple of familiar female faces for the lesson and first dance. Jennifer’s second partner, Jolaine Jones-Pokorney, selected a dance angel to guide her through the next dance. Jolaine chose a sweet, patient, and encouraging gentlemen who showed her what a great time you can have contra dancing. Yes, this young man was Rich. Jennifer couldn’t tell you a whole lot more about the details of her first contra dance but she remembered Rich in vivid detail. A person’s kindness and gentle smile when you’re trying new things leaves an indelible impression. And that’s where Rich and Jennifer’s story ended, for a while at least.

With scheduling conflicts and other interests, Jennifer and Rich continued to dance ECD in parallel lines. With summer time and Jennifer becoming a better dancer, she fell deeply in love with all things dance- Irish, Scottish, English, etc. Jennifer was bitten by the ‘dance bug’ and became a dance gypsy and road warrior with her friends. This time period brought Jennifer back to her second, third, fourth, and counting contra dances at the Boltin center, Jacksonville, Interlachen, Tampa, Micanopy, Tallahassee, and many other areas throughout the state. Rich always asked Jennifer to dance when the opportunity presented itself. They became Facebook friends over that summer and chatted every day through Messenger in the coming months. Jennifer started dancing ECD in Jacksonville, as well, and acquaintances developed into friendship and attraction. For months their story only played out on the dance floor, until Rich casually mentioned at an after-contra party in December that it would be nice to hang out. They made plans to see the Book of Mormon, spent time together on Melrose bay, went to a gem and mineral show, and met-up at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. Rich finally asked Jennifer out in late January 2015 after a fun day at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. They spent the following month getting to know each other better. In March, they went on a weekend getaway trip to the Miami Renaissance Festival and music concert featuring Gogol Bordello in Tampa- bucket list items for both. It was a perfect and magical weekend together and the two began dating. Rich took Jennifer on their first official date as a couple to Antonio’s Made in Italy- a sweet little Italian restaurant just outside of McIntosh, FL.

Attraction deepened love as they went to dance weekends, antiquing, Rich sitting without break and watching the entirety of Gone with the Wind including interlude music, and Jennifer going to her first Dragoncon with Rich- a 5 day ‘nerdfest’ (Jennifer’s term) in Atlanta of all things fantasy, Sci-fi, cult TV shows and movies, costuming, gaming, science, literature, etc. They knew that their relationship was special and eventually faced the tough choices couples have to make. Jennifer and Rich lived in two different cities. For over two years, Rich valiantly travelled to Gainesville every single Wednesday for date night and most weekends. On November 27, 2016, Rich took Jennifer back to Antonio’s for her birthday dinner and under the star-painted sky at Paynes Prairie, he dropped to one knee and asked Jennifer the most important question of her life. The answer was ‘YES!’- have you seen the ring? With living in two different cities, they made one of the hardest choices of their lives and decided on a mutual move to a new home. Jennifer received a faculty position with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in pediatric genetic counseling and Rich continues in a remote capacity with his wonderful engineering firm in Jacksonville. North Carolina has quickly become home for the couple and they hope to lay permanent roots by venturing into the world of first time home owners come the fall!

With Florida having been our home for most of our adult lives, we wanted to hold our wedding in Gainesville, surrounded by many of our friends and family. Throughout our ceremony and dance, we’ve weaved personally meaningful elements. Both Jennifer and Rich obtained their undergraduate degrees from the University of Florida. Jennifer, in particular, bleeds orange and blue. The Baughman Center is the crown jewel of UF’s campus and a place Jennifer dreamed of getting married in, since the whole Royal wedding and castle is now out! Rich may not be in line for an actual royal title, but he’s sure to impress at the ceremony! A nod to Rich’s ancestry, he will be decked out in formal Scottish attire, wearing a MacPherson tartan, hand sewn by a third-generation kilt-make we commissioned on a recent trip to London. Our officiant, Annette Merritt, has been Jennifer’s dance mother and wonderfully supportive of the both of us for years. We’re breaking from tradition and there will be no bridal party, but be sure to catch Rich’s beautiful nieces whom will make cameos at the ceremony. The Thelma Boltin Center is where we, of course, met and our contra caller, Jolaine Jones-Pokorney, is the wonderful woman who introduced us. Randy Thorp will call English Country dancing and it was Randy’s wonderful style as a caller and the ECD group he and Annette formed in Gainesville that hooked Jennifer to dance for life. Hopefully we all will remember Randy’s number one rule for dance- smile and have fun! Our killer ECD and contra band is Notorious and they are sure mesmerize you with their exceptional sound. Mary McLeod’s artistic talent will grace the walls of the Boltin Center with her depiction of Eilean Donan- a picturesque 13th century castle in the Highlands. Jennifer will get a castle on her wedding day after all! Jennifer’s mother and godmother are tirelessly making bomboniere, an Italian wedding favor and nod to her Italian ancestry. We cannot thank the rest of our friends and family enough who have provided advice and help us put together our very special day! Be sure to catch our other special touches at the wedding

Whether you are travelling from near or far, first time dancers or experienced, we are so excited for each and every one of you to be a part of our special day! We hope to share with you the joining of our love and our love of dance!