Fells Point, Baltimore, MD, United States

After Party!

Baltimore Museum of Industry

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel

Sunday Brunch

Our Wedding

CJ worked at Dogwatch at the time - a local Fell's Point bar that Jill and her friends frequently spent their Friday nights. Both had a few mutual friends, but we hadn't actually met till later in the fall. One Friday night, November 17, 2012, Jill and a few of her friends were sitting at one of the bar booths when Jill saw CJ outside with a few friends. Emboldened by a bit of liquid courage, and a big push from Alexis, Jill walked outside and asked CJ for a lighter and the rest is history!

How We Met

CJ's parents we're coming up for the week - I think it was flight training for Mr. Clint, something along those lines - and we were meeting them for dinner at Thames St. Oyster in Fells at 6. Of course, I was running late - weekday work, I'm lucky to get out of the office by 6:30-7. Anyone who knows me, my job is...demanding and I had a very rough day that day. I was giving my friend Liz a ride that night too and was flipping out - I had CJ and Terry texting me where I was etc. etc, finally I threw my phone onto my car floor and stopped looking at my phone. Once I dropped Liz off, I sped over to Fell's to stop at Dogwatch for a much needed glass of wine before dinner. Of course, parking took forever. Then the meter didn't work. It was a nightmare and I was ready to cry by the time I got to Dogwatch. I opened the door and it took arguably a few seconds for everything to click after I asked where CJ was. There was all of my closest friends and family, all waiting for me to arrive. CJ had his five groomsmen (now six) lined up with roses to present to me as I walked down the bar aisle. By the time I got to the end and to CJ, we were both a mess! He got out the best line ever - "Jill, this all started with a lighter and you quickly became the light of my life" and then asked me to marry him! It was so fittingly perfect, I couldn't have wished for anything more beautiful!

The Proposal!

The proposal actually started with my decision to ask Jill to marry me. My best friend, Kent, and I were bouncing around Fells Point one night early in the spring and ended up at Leadbetter's Tavern. Many drinks had been downed that night and after a long talk I blurted out that I was going to ask for Jill's hand. The following day, Kent asked if I remembered the night before and I was absolutely sure. The next step was to figure out how to do it and most importantly get the approval from her father.As soon as I mentioned my plans to my boss, Marka, we started planning the engagement and knew that it had to be at Dogwatch Tavern. Dogwatch was where we met, where we spent most of our time, and where all of our friends would come to hang out and it only made sense to me to have the engagement there in front of all of our friends and family. As plans were made at Dogwatch, it was time to start the invites and the most important one was her father's.I called Mr. Vaccaro and sneaked up to New Jersey one afternoon for lunch. We had a long talk and in the end I had the approval I needed and asked him to come be a part of the engagement. For over two months I gathered friends and family, made candles from old beer/liquor bottles, bought flowers and flower petals, and planned a menu for the big night.The final step was to get my parents in on the act. We decided that the best way to get Jill out of work at a decent time was to "plan" a dinner because "they were in town" and have her meet us for cocktails at Dogwatch. I put on a suit, set up my groomsman, organized the friends and family, lit the candles and waited, and waited, and waited. Jill showed up 45 minutes late, the most nervous 45 minutes of my life! The first words out of her mouth were "Where's CJ?" and as she made her way down the bar she was the most beautiful I've ever seen her. My short speech to her started with "This all started with a lighter..." and the rest of the night was a blur. All I know is that she said yes and the night will forever stay in our hearts as the start of the rest of our lives.

CJ's side of the story...

Our Story

Details

Kent Algire

Faith Vaccaro

Guiseppe Speca

Gemma Gibson

Katie Craft

Rich Jondo

Maurico Bohorquez

Kaitlin Pisano

Alex Arthus

Jeremy Delacruz

Alexis Henninger

Mike Williams

Wedding Party

Photos

Registry

Q + A

Book before 9/9 to secure our special $185 per night rate! You can also call the below number to make your reservations over the phone.Reservations Toll Free: <a href="tel:1-877-212-5752" value="+18772125752" target="_blank">1-877-212-5752</a> Reservations Local Phone: <a href="tel:1-506-474-2009" value="+15064742009" target="_blank">1-506-474-2009</a> We look forward to seeing you there!

Travel

National Aquarium

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Things to Do

Jillian & CJ

Jillian & CJ

Photos