Rehearsal Dinner

 Brendan and Grace

Shower

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Our Wedding

On a hot morning in June, they woke up and Josh asked to go for a walk or a hike. Jordan agreed and suggested going to Benson Animal Farm in Hudson, NH. They were then jostled out of bed when Brendan came home (from his station in CA). After talking with him for a bit, they got dressed and headed out. Their departure was delayed only by Josh forgetting his water bottle inside (on purpose). 

After they arrived, they looked briefly at the trail map and decided the best route was to wing it. After all ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE and they were excited to find it. They hiked for about 5 miles, switching off picking lefts and rights. Josh navigated them to a beautiful spot near the water where Jordan tried to feed the fish (unsuccessful as fish do not care for apple jacks). 







There were many people coming and going, but once this happy couple was alone Josh asked Jordan a very important question, "Do you want to take a selfie by the water?" Being vain as she is Jordan agreed, and after taking a couple shots Josh asked for one more, but this one was going to require Jordan to hold Josh's&nbsp;infamous water bottle. 







"Why" questioned Jordan.







"Because I have an important question for you. Would you like to spend the rest of your life with me?" These magical words from Josh inspired instant tears from Jordan.







He proceeded to kneel down in the grass and pull out a small brown box. Inside this box was the most dazzling piece of jewelry that Jordan could have imagined. 







"Will you marry me?'







More tears and a garbled "YES!"







One last selfie to capture all the tears, and they continued their adventure now with a different title.







We are beyond excited to continue our story and to involve all of you.

The Proposal: The Wilderness Must Be Explored

As the autumn was in full foliage this couple planned several adventures to look into potential wedding venues. We discussed likes, dislikes, and needs. We made spreadsheets and came up with several drafts of guest lists. Then it was time to set forth from the comfort of our shire and explore the unknown mountains.

Our first stop was a gorgeous botanical setting in York, ME; there we found lush greenery, playful wildlife, and indoor comfort that would rival any grandparents den. This was gorgeous, but it was only our first stop and the journey was not likely to end so quickly.



We made plans to visit several barn settings to gain a different type of feel. Again we took to the mountains, this time in New Hampshire (in several towns). Each setting was more and more beautiful. And then we found one that we loved! It came with cows, yard games, and a cozy hay ride. The barn was set for a magical wedding, and we truly felt this was as great a venue as anyone could hope for.



So we went home and broke out the binder (yes the binder). We pulled out all of our venues with their packages and offers, and we planned around what each one had to offer. We even called in our wedding consultants (Joe & Steph) to discus what we thought was our final decision. But then something magical happened; an old magazine clipping (thank you Knot mag) slipped out of the binder.&nbsp;



This clipping was for a venue in Sturbridge, and promised to be the perfect combination of historic and elegant. Josh, being the prince that he is, agreed to tour one last venue, and Jordan, being the, um, what word&nbsp;is best, well type-a that she is, agreed to finally make a decision after this one.



The morning came for our final adventure. We left with an open mindset and the agreement that we knew we loved the barn, so it was going to take quite the tour to sway us away from it. Upon walking through the entrance to the Publick House, Josh could see that Jordan had a new favorite venue. While we tried to remain unbiased, the house kept offering more and more of what we were looking for. It had history, coziness, elegance, and so much more!



Sitting down with our coordinator that day was one of the best meetings either of us had attended. The entire day was wonderful. When we got home Josh looked Suz and told&nbsp;her that Jordan had found her dream, and thankfully he was equally excited to continue our story there!



We can’t wait for everyone to see the gorgeous setting&nbsp;for our &nbsp;next chapter...

The Venue: an Unexpected Journey

As winter was in full affect and post-holiday cabin fever began to set in, we decided to plan a new engagement adventure. Josh and I called up two of our best friends (Joe and Steph) and planned a photo excursion. Steph is a talented and artistic photographer, and Joe is the world's best assistant/way-finder/fashion consultant.We picked a frigid yet sunny Saturday, packed up the car, and headed north to find a snow covered back drop. Joe and Steph knew the perfect setting: Cathedral Ledge in North Conway, NH. They knew it was perfect because a few short yeas ago this was where Joe asked Stephanie to be his wife (our men really love to make us work for those rings).&nbsp;The day was perfect! We got an early enough start; there was light traffic; we took a beautiful, scenic route to the mountains. Steph even had cookies for when I started getting hangry. Josh drove us effortlessly up the unplowed, winding hill sides. Once we reached our destination we saw that the remainder of the road was blocked, and we would need to continue on foot. Unfortunately my choice of footwear would not allow me to trek a half mile in the snow.Back into the car and down the side of the mountain we drove, knowing Joe had a back up setting in mind. This spot did not disappoint in the slightest. We drove down to Echo Lake at the base of the Ledge, and the entire thing was frozen solid. Now despite my empathy towards the ice queen, I do not share her opinion about the cold never bothering me. Atop that opinion, I am also not trusting of a solid body of water (too many cartons getting swept away on broken ice pieces). But my friends were patient and kind and so I ventured out on the lake for some stunning photos.Steph did an exceptional job at capturing this couple's quirky relationship. Josh did not kill me for being giggly and picky. Joe was a wonderful addition to our fun filled day. And we got to wrap it all up with a trip to The Red Fox Inn for a delicious dinner. This adventure made for a perfect chapter in the story of GettinBucked!

Some People Are Worth Melting For

Our Story

Details

#GettinBucked

Kyle Ann has been my best friend since high school. We have been on teams together, coached together, vacationed together. A few years ago Kyle asked me to be her maid of honor, and I couldn't wait to repay the gesture. Then she blessed me even further by giving me a gorgeous god daughter! She has been more than a friend to me; she has always been my soulmate, and I could never imagine this day without her. She will provide me with endless patience, love, and Bride Wars quotes through this process!

Kyle Ann

The broskie; been there since day one.Having a brother gives you an automatic bestfriend, best man, and best role model. Luckily for me Eric is the best of the best, and I couldn't imagine having anyone else handle this day with me.

Eric Buckland

Hhhhhiiiiiggghhhhhhh school!!!!!!We are beyond blessed to have Brendan as part of our lives. Wherever he is at anytime, we know he is a big part of our story.

Brendan O'Connor

Ali is my middle sister, and she is going to be my voice of reason through this entire process. She is a bigger part of our relationship than she realizes. Thankfully, Ali was the "gentle" hand Josh needed to help him start looking for an engagement ring. Not only will she continue to help us with future planning and decisions, but I know she is going to be the best nurse to have around when I am stressed or you know hung over...

Cassidy is my youngest sister, and she is an ever-welcome presence in our relationship. She was invited on our hike that ended in a proposal (and now I know why she turned us down). Cassidy is a great addition to all of our adventures, she loves all of our nerdy habits, and she is always up for a fun song and dance. We are excited to have Cass there to add some fun to our planning and to put everyone to shame on the dance floor.

Cassidy

Run Joe Run!Joe has been more than a friend to both of us! He invited us to be part or his friends, his family, and his life. We love our Joe, and it only feels right to have his style, charm, and laugh as a part of this day!

Joe Valdez

TommyHulahula! I have known Tommy since elementary school. He has been an amazing friend to the both of us for many years. Having Tommy as part of our story promises to make for a good time!

Tommy Fabiano

Stephie is my number one blonde friend (seriously we hang out with a lot of brunettes). She has come into my life a few years ago, thanks to Josh, and has been my amazing girlfriend ever since. Steph is such a calming person to have around, and she is always there to brighten up any situation. We are so lucky to have the Valdez couple to make our day that much more amazing.

Stephanie

Kendra is a perfect addition to round out our side of the aisle. She is such a fun, energetic friend, and she knows how to get things done. Thankfully Kendra is never afraid to speak up for herself and her friends. We became friends through Kyle, and I am so excited that we have become so close over the years. I know that she will help keep me in shape before our big day, and I'm sure she will help keep everyone on track come wedding day.

Kendra

Bradley! We are beyond lucky to have Brad as one of our closest friends! We can always count on Brad to know every movie, song, or celebrity that we can’t remember, and he is always there when we need a friend. . Thank you Brad for joining us on our big day!

Brad Turner

Can’t imagine what our lives would be like without this guy! Kyle has provided us with endless amounts of food, fun, and laughter. He is going to make a perfect groomsman and party supporter!

Kyle Buonocore

Lindsay is a great addition to our wedding dream! She has been a part of both our lives for a while now (thanks to Joe and Steph), and she is such a fun friend to have around. We share a love of country music, cute pictures, and sweaty dance classes. I know Lindsay will make our story so much more special (and beautiful). Looking forward to standing next to her on our big day!

Lindsay

Wedding Party

Q + A

Registry

Our onsite room block code is 0119RUPlease feel free to book your room/rooms as early as you can. There are pubs and activities on site, and we are close to the downtown area. The wedding party will be encouraged to be there Friday and Saturday and we have options for breakfast on Sunday, so make a fun mini getaway out of it : )

Publick House Historic Inn

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sturbridge

Hampton Inn Sturbridge

Travel

Old Sturbridge Village

Rapscallion Brewery

Just under 10 minutes away from the venue is a well-known New England brewery. Mark out some time in your weekend to check it out.

Josh & Jordan

Josh & Jordan

#GettinBucked