Wedding Day

St Lucy's Roman Catholic Church

Ceremony

Nanina's In The Park

Reception

Winter

Our Wedding

Kristen and Max met their freshman year attending Middletown High School South through mutual friends. At first, Max found Kristen "cute and quirky," but Kristen thought Max was "a little immature" and that "his hair was too long!" Then, on the first day of Junior year, Kristen and Max found themselves in the same first period gym class. Kristen hardly recognized Max - his hair was shorter and he was taller! The two got to talking, and found that they were both auditioning for the school musical that year - Kristen as a cast member and Max as the drummer in the pit band. They were both cast, and a romantic connection came shortly after. The two began dating on February 26, 2013.

Cabaret Cuties

Kristen and Max attended their Junior Prom together on May 17th, 2013. While they had only been dating for three months at that point, Max marks this as "the night I fell in love." The two danced to their song, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith, and attended an after-prom party with their friends. A few weeks later, Max told Kristen how he was feeling. Kristen was so happy, but wanted to wait a little longer to reveal her feelings to make sure she was on the same page. It only took a week or two for her to repeat the words "I love you," and they haven't looked back since!

Love is In the Air

The college years were tough for Kristen and Max, but they persevered and grew closer than ever before. Kristen studied English Literature at The College of New Jersey, and Max went on to study Finance at Monmouth University. The two maintained a long-distance relationship for 4 years, seeing each other on special occasions and some weekends. Through it all, they never lost sight of their relationship or wavered in their love for one another. Now, Kristen writes out the holiday cards while Max handles the yearly spending budget—a win-win!

The College Years

One thing about the Jacintos: They know how to Disney! Both Kristen and Max have been attending the Disney parks since they were children, and went together for the first time back in 2018. On their second trip together in May of 2021, the family booked a dinner at Belle's Castle in Magic Kingdom. Kristen's favorite Disney movie has always been Beauty and the Beast, and she was looking forward to dine in the castle. Max decided last minute that he would never have an opportunity like this again; so three days before he proposed, he enlisted the help of his grandparents and had the ring, which he had been saving since November of the previous year, shipped overnight to the Disney resort they were staying at! On May 29th, 2021, the family attended Magic Kingdom for the day, where they ended up seeing three separate proposals! Kristen, not knowing Max had a ring with him and wanting to make him feel better, made the comment "You know, its a lame day to get engaged anyway. Everyone's doing it!" Poor Max still decided to go through with it, and the two were engaged later that evening!

Where Dreams Come True

In March of 2022, Max landed a job with the Pittsburgh Steelers, his favorite football team of all time! While Kristen was initially apprehensive of being so far from their families in New Jersey, they both knew that this would be a wonderful opportunity for growth in their relationship. Both Kristen and Max moved to Pittsburgh in the Spring of 2022, and have loved every second of living out there! While they’ll never forget their roots in New Jersey, Pittsburgh has proved to be a wonderful home away from home 💛

Pittsburgh Bound!

Our Story

Photos

From the water fountain on the first day of preschool to present day, Sammy and Kristen have remained the best of friends through it all. When they're not taking embarrassing selfies together or laughing over some inside joke, they can be found explaining to strangers that they are not, in fact, sisters!

Samantha Ridgway

Alex and Kristen soon realized they had more in common than just their love for Max--they both loved to tease him as well! Alex has quickly become the older sister Kristen never had, and they are excited to celebrate their weddings in the same year (only 7 months apart)!

Alex Jacinto Bonforte

Daniella and Kristen quickly became close friends, bonding over their love for Bo Burnham, Disney movies, Prosecco, and the Jacinto's dogs Sophia and Guinn. Max and Kristen are quick to call Daniella with any physical ailments they may be facing--the general consensus is always, "Daniella will know what to do!"

Daniella Jacinto

After over 14 years of friendship, three high school musicals, two different states and one same engagement day, Steph and Kristen have been through it all. They have always allowed each other to be their authentic selves, and never get tired of talking to each other, whether about wedding prep, books, their theater club memories or their favorite show, FRIENDS. In other words, they're each other's Lobster!

Stephanie Romanelli

When it comes to friendships, Jess and Kristen go together like Punk and Pop. From their days driving home from theater practice in high school blasting Jasey Rae, to attending each other's college festivities, to dancing the night away down in Seaside, these two are always up to something slightly insane and always fun. Through the good times and the bad, Jess and Kristen will always be there to hold each other up, pun intended.

Jess McGovern

They say you never forget your college days, and with Rachel and Kristen, this rings true, mainly because of each other. Between Kristen's antics and Rachel's dark humor, it's not hard to see why they consider themselves friendship soulmates. From their interesting beginning Freshman year, to living together Sophomore-Senior year, these two were practically inseparable throughout their time at The College of New Jersey, and lived through some of their best and worst years together. They can often be caught starting sentences with "remember that time when...", bonding over their love of literature (and love/hate relationship with Twilight,) and dissecting their latest tarot reading.

Rachel Miller

Justina and Kristen met attending the same Tae Kwon Do studio, and eventually earned their black belts together. Since those initial years, these two have gone through the highs and lows of life with each other close at hand. No matter how long they are apart, they can easily pick up right where they left off, and get right back to making each other laugh until their sides hurt. Despite what life throws their way, Justina and Kristen have a friendship that will stand the test of time!

Justina Martino

Kristen remembers holding Lucia when she was just an infant. Since then, many things have changed, but their love for each other has only grown. Despite their ancestry, Lucia and Kristen have always been more like family. They often called each other cousins growing up, and know that they can always be their true selves around each other. They love spending time with the rest of their dysfunctional family and making fun of their mothers' Brooklyn accents, which they have almost perfected! 

Lucia Goumas

Max and Tom met playing on the diggers on the first day of kindergarten.  A truly enlightening discussion that would change the course of history ensued:
"Hi I'm Max."
"I'm Tommy, I like your (dinosaur) shirt." 
"Thanks, dinosaurs are my favorite. I like to pretend the digger is a dinosaur."
"That's cool."
"Want to be best friends?"
"OK."
They have been inseparable ever since! 

Tom Slook

Max still remembers the eventful night 16 years ago at Carrabba's when it was revealed to him and his sisters, that they would be welcoming a little brother into the family. From being the first sibling to hold him to showing him how to annoy his sisters, Max has always been grateful for the little brother he always wanted, even though Leo didn't get the same good looks.  

Leo Jacinto

Max and Sean  are a perfect example of how not even the biggest disagreement can rattle a true friendship. If they're not absolutely roasting each other, they are usually arguing about something that, at the end of the day, doesn't really matter (because 90% of the time Max is right). Even so, Max and Sean would go to war for each other and would never let anything get in between them.  

Sean O'Neill

Even though Taylor is the most recent addition to the bridal party, he and Max have become fast friends. His goofy demeanor and huge personality is always welcomed with a laugh, even if he may take the joke a bit too far some times. Max is forever grateful that his older sister found such a good man to call her husband!  

Taylor Bonforte

What is there to say about Tony, or as his friends like to call him, Tony Bag O' Doughnuts. Tony is more Italian than DaVinci eating spaghetti and meatballs on a gondola in Venice while sipping limoncello. This is no more obvious than when he greets you with a sly "How ya doin'?"  While Tony and Max only met in high school, they have a friendship that would usually take decades to build. 

Tony Arena

Max has always looked up to his older cousin Rich ever since they were kids, acquiring both his taste in music and love of drumming. Max could not be more proud of the man Rich has become serving his country in the U.S. Army, and can't wait to have him by his side on the most important day of his life.

Rich Frunzi

Max and Allan became friends in the third grade and were always together in school. Unfortunately, after the 7th grade Allan's family had to pack up cross country due to his father's Coast Guard service. However, this was just a hiccup to Allan and Max and they continue their friendship to this day. They are constantly busting each others chops on sports and other topics and while Allan's Eagles seemingly always have Max's Steelers number, Max's Yankees will always have a ring from 2009 that just slipped through the Phillies fingers. 

Allan Kniffin

Max and Jordan's story started with a simple "I like your dinosaur shirt!" Now, over 20 years later, their families have become intertwined to the point where they are basically cousins. Jordan plays the important role of being the adult in the room keeping Max, Tom, and Sean in check when they start acting like knuckle heads. And while she loves them all like family, Max knows, of the three of them, he is Jordan's favorite. 

Jordan Conway 

Don't be fooled by their size - these three peas-in-a-pod have an important mission the day of the wedding: to deliver the wedding rings to the bride and groom! Max and Kristen could think of no better posse to protect and deliver these valuables than the three most loveable boys they know! 

Alex, Connor and Aiden

Wedding Party

Q + A

Please book your hotel by November 3, 2023. On the website link below, be sure to scroll down to input your correct overnight dates and receive our courtesy room price!

Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel

Travel

The American Dream Mall is not just a mall--it is an entertainment complex! The mall comes complete with retail stores, the largest indoor waterpark in North America, an ice skating rink, a ski and snow resort, the Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, indoor mini-golf, escape rooms, an aquarium, and more! Definitely plan on spending your whole day here if you want to see it all!

The American Dream Mall

Kristen and Max will be getting married on a Sunday during football season (yep--we're the worst) but visitors can still check out Metlife stadium in the days before the wedding, or even attend an NFL game the morning of depending on the schedule!

MetLife Stadium

Feeling old-fashioned? Check out Medieval Times for a jousting tournament, horsemanship &amp; falconry plus a 4-course, utensil-free meal served in a castle-like space. Eat like royalty used to in the days of yore!

Kristen & Max

Kristen & Max

Travel

Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel