Publick House Historic Inn

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

Saint Patrick’s Church

Ceremony

Hampton Inn Sturbridge

Shuttle Leaves Hampton Inn 

Cocktail Hour

Reception

After Party Drinks @ Ebenezer’s Tavern

First Shuttle to Hampton Inn

Winter

Our Wedding

In 0 AD, Christ was born. Fast forward to 980 AD, Erik the Red discovered Iceland and founded colonies in Greenland. You might be wondering: why is this being shared on a wedding website? Did Kristen write this, or did she delegate it to Rob? All valid questions. In all seriousness, we both grew up less than 20 minutes apart. If you MapQuest the directions (yes, we’re dating ourselves here), the distance between the Grip Manor and the Ekberg Villa is less than a podcast away. While our paths never crossed growing up, the connections were always there, and the foundations of our love were quietly being laid—a shared love for family, religion, sports, the beach (even if one of us didn’t know it yet), Star Wars (which Kristen has grown to love), and more. It wasn’t until after college—and a few “not-so-happy” matches on dating apps—that we finally met. Dating apps, to put it kindly, can be… interesting—or downright awful. While the exact date is up for debate, we matched on Bumble sometime in February 2023. Pleasantries were exchanged: “Hey.” “Hi.” “How are you?” “Good.” And so on. But then we dove into the serious philosophical debates—like whether water is wet or if hot dogs are sandwiches (please note: the latter is hyperbole). At that point, the filtering turned into genuine interest, and we decided it was time to move past the apps and take this situationship (trademark of Gen Z, all rights reserved) to the next level. Our first date was something of legend. Riding in on a noble steed (read: car), Rob sat down at West Newton Brew (RIP), waiting in anticipation for the woman he’d been chatting with online. In walked the most stunning woman. Rob fumbled his jacket and nearly fell over himself. The date lasted much longer than expected—we had to check our watches in disbelief when the conversation finally wound down. There were more dates to follow—and even more endearing (and embarrassing) moments: a hilariously awkward first kiss, meeting each other’s parents and siblings, being introduced to nieces and friends. Love grew. Fast forward a year, and we were apartment hunting in Waltham. Through catching COVID, navigating vacations, and packing up a U-Haul van, we faced it all—and took the next steps together. Up to this point, the story has been pretty whimsical—but in truth, our love is both whimsical and serious. Living together for over a year, we learned and grew closer. Late nights with a bottle of wine or heading out to bars were carefree and fun. But planning trips, managing expenses, coordinating holidays, and preparing for this moment—that required thought, effort, and, sometimes, stress. We’ve learned more about each other in the past year than we did in the one before it. That growth made us stronger—and ultimately, ready for marriage. So when Rob knelt down in the snow and slush of the Botanical Gardens (shoutout to the Asensio’s for capturing the moment!), there was little doubt in either of our minds about what we wanted. We have chosen to love each other every day. Inspired by the marriages of those around us—our parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and friends—we choose love daily. Not just once, but every day, over and over again. If you’ve read this far, we applaud you! We hope you smiled, maybe even teared up a bit. While there are many more adventures we could’ve shared, some stories are best told around a campfire—with marshmallows—or at a wedding reception! We can’t wait to see you on our special day. In the old Viking/Swedish way: SKOL!

Our Story 

Photos

Jess Pinette

Izz Asensio

Shelby Grip

Lynn Iannarelli

Kim Lombardi

Jess Butcher

Mike Iannarelli

Stephen Lombardi

Alex Butcher

Paul Grip

Rob Asensio

Ryan Pinette

Wedding Party

Q + A

St. Patricks Church

Group Name: Grip-Ekberg Wedding Event Date: 1/16/2026 Group Code: 0126GR

Publick House 

Steps to Book:Go to: <a href="http://www.hamptoninn.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.hamptoninn.com</a> In the "Where to?" field, enter: Sturbridge, MAEnter your arrival and departure dates: Arrival: January 16, 2026Departure: (enter your preferred departure date) Click on "Special Rates" In the "Group Code" box, enter: WGE Click "Find a Hotel" The group rate should appear as:$109 + 11.7% tax per night (for up to 2 guests per room) Additional guests: $10 per person, per night Important Notes: This wedding block rate expires on December 1, 2025 (45 days prior to arrival). Guests must cancel at least 72 hours before arrival to avoid charges.

Travel

Things to Do

Registry

Kristen & Robert

Kristen & Robert

Q + A

Will there be transportation provided to and from events?

Can I bring a plus-one?

Can I bring my children to the wedding?

What is the dress code?

Can I take pictures during the ceremony?