Riverside on the Potomac

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Our Wedding

The story of us started on the worst day of my (Kristen) life, or so Mike likes to remind me over and over again this is how I start our story when people ask. It was Halloween Day in NYC and there was a freak snow storm and it was ungodly cold. So in this weather, what does Kristen, the one who hates, let me repeat that, HATES the cold have to do? I had to play touch football with my team out in this horrible cold and snow. Long story short, one teammate got a bad concussion and had to be taken away by the EMS, another guy on another team had a compound fracture, and the least extreme by far, but I am pretty sure I was very close to getting frostbite (i got back to the apt and my toes were purple and i was shaking uncontrollably) and almost fainted on the bus home. Needless to say I did not want to go out that night anymore for Halloween even though it is my favorite holiday and Yukiko and I had planned on going to a party my friend was throwing downtown. But after warming up, and Yukiko doing some convincing, I decided to follow through with our plans, and thank goodness I did as that night I met this guy I now refer to as my fiance. It was a party thrown by a rugby squad one of my grad school friends &amp; one of Mike's high school friends played for. Yukiko and I got there dressed as the Pink Ladies from Grease and started mingling. Maybe an hour into the party Mike and I ended up in same group of people and started talking. Oh, Mike was dressed as Hulk Hogan proudly showing off his self grown mustache which he had dyed blond (how could I not fall for him?) We talked and danced, and yes we have pictures from that night of 1. Yukiko and I hanging from a bicep each &amp; 2. me ripping his shirt off like Hulk Hogan does on his entrance since Mike was having a difficult time doing it himself when it was brought to his attention, that if he wanted to be authentic then this had to be done. Then fittingly the night ended at a pizza parlour with me stealing his hulk wig and taking some ridiculous pictures together which was only the start to a plethora of ridiculous photos over the next 3 years. Well ladies &amp; gentleman, so started the infatuation that lead to a poke on Facebook, that turned into a relationship after Mike was very patient &amp; would surprise meet me after work just to give me a hug or walk me home more then a mile out of his way. So, it may have started as the worst day ever but ended as the best as I got a costume &amp; dance partner for the rest of my life.

How the worst day became the best day

Our Story

Details

Photos

Erin Duck

Mark Wagner

John Bentley

Yukiko Matsuzaki

Erin Quassa

Brett Heritage

Ashley Rosecrans

Darci Bentley

John Spatz

Erik Spatz

Michelle Simpson

Jessica Spatz

Chris Duck

Ben Chervin

Wedding Party

Q + A

Registry

There is no shuttle service from the hotels to the airport &amp; the closest airport to the hotels is Dulles (IAD). However, you can also fly into Reagan National (DCA) and spend some time in DC if you have never been there or want to see more of it before heading out west to the venue area! We recommend taking a cab, uber or renting a car if flying into one of the DC airports as Leesburg is about a 45 min drive west of Dulles Airport.

Travel to and from airports

*Make sure to mention the "Spatz-Bentley Wedding" to get the wedding rate on the room*Shuttle service will be provided to the wedding venue from this hotel King Studio Suites $1391BR King $149*If you get a message saying, "The requested rate is not available. View other available rooms and rates below" when using the link below please contact the hotel directly!personalized group page booking link: <a href="http://homewoodsuites.hilton.com/en/hw/groups/personalized/W/WASLGHW-SPA-20160923/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG" target="_blank">http://homewoodsuites.hilton.com/en/hw/groups/personalized/W/WASLGHW-SPA-20160923/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG</a> PLEASE book ASAP as there are only a few hotels in the area &amp; weddings are very popular in Loudon County and they are already starting to book for that time !!!

Homewood Suites Leesburg

*Make sure to mention the "Spatz-Bentley Wedding" to get the wedding rate on the room* Shuttle service will be provided to the wedding venue from this hotel King, Standard or Suites for $125/night*If you get a message saying, "The requested rate is not available. View other available rooms and rates below" when using the link below please contact the hotel directly! Personalized group page booking link: <a href="http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/groups/personalized/W/WASLBHX-SPA-20160923/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG" target="_blank">http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/groups/personalized/W/WASLBHX-SPA-20160923/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG</a>PLEASE book ASAP as there are only a few hotels in the area &amp; weddings are very popular in Loudon County and they are already starting to book for that time !!!

Hampton Inn & Suites Leesburg

Shuttle service will NOT be provided to the wedding venue from this hotel This place is a little pricey but it has a nice golf course as an option for those out-of-towners who want to play a round. And if you choose to take the shuttle you can drive over the one of the other hotels to catch it day of the wedding.

Lansdowne Resort

Shuttle service will NOT be provided from these accommodations <a href="http://loudounbandb.com/member-profiles/">http://loudounbandb.com/member-profiles/</a>Finds lots of B&amp;B options if that's more your style!

Bed & Breakfasts

Travel

Things to Do

Spentley