Rosecliff

Wedding Day

Our Wedding

I first saw Matt on Friday, May 13th, 2016 in Northampton, MA. I still remember the first time I laid eyes on him. It was raining, and he was walking out of the parking lot close to our chosen restaurant. I saw him walking down the hill, and the world stood still. The sounds, sights, and feelings of that instant will be with me for the rest of my life. Even now it seems like a cliché meet-cute, but that single moment hinged on a number of coincidences. We had first connected several days earlier via an online dating app. I had logged on to delete the app, and it was his first day using it. He had kind eyes and an infectious smile, and I messaged him without realizing we lived in two different states. Our personalities immediately clicked, and we quickly arranged a date for the following Sunday. After a few days of talking, even Sunday was too long to wait to meet this incredible person, and I asked if we could move our date up a bit. We both agreed, and what transpired has truly been a life altering event. Everything seemed to fall into place, and we haven’t been apart for more than a few days since.Fast forward a few years, and we’ll hit October 23rd, 2021. Matt has known he wanted to be married at Rosecliff since he was a child, and after seeing it for the first time, it wasn’t hard to see why. Rosecliff is a timeless example of American ingenuity and beautiful architecture. It has a sense of grace and nobility which Matt inherently embodies every day of his life. Style and presentation matter, and Rosecliff makes an excellent first impression. I can think of no better place to start the next chapter of our lives together, surrounded by our loved ones, beautiful scenery and beautiful memories. We look forward to sharing this special day with all of you, just as you have shared a part in our story along the way.-Jim

Our Story

A little advice...

Below are a few hotels we have stayed at and I can vouch for their quality and location. The closer the hotel is the downtown Newport the more expensive it will be. I tend to look for hotels in Middletown, RI, it's the town next door. It would add maybe 3 miles to the trip to the mansion but the prices are usually almost half as expensive. If you have any questions feel free to contact me at (603)-546-8549 or arnott.matthew@gmail.com. We can't wait to see you there.

One of the most beautiful hotels in town, less than a mile from the mansion.

Hotel Viking

Jim and I have stayed here a couple of times. Within ten minutes of Rosecliff and downtown Newport it's very convenient.

Wyndham Newport Hotel

Another great hotel choice, affordable but a little further from the Newport/downtown area.

The Wayfinder Hotel

Travel

Newport Mansions 

Downtown Newport 

Things to Do

(Matthew) - Well let's just say the person that made college just as amazing as it could be. The most creative and talented person I know. I may never toast a bagel properly, but, because of her I know how. Haha! The absolute best travel companion that has, at times, thrown me into the deep end away from my comfort zone. And I couldn't thank her more. She was the perfect competition in school, which has definitely made me the chef I am today. I can't wait to see where we travel to next. You make life an adventure Jess...

Jessika Yealy

(James) - Will was one of the first people I met when interviewing for Williams Middle School, my first thought was "tall". I would soon discover that he was also intelligent, funny, and one of the best friends a person could ask for. It's a rare delight when a "work-friend" becomes a true friend,  but that is precisely what I was lucky enough to have happen with will; and a short time later, with his amazing wife Laura...

William Sullivan

(James and Matthew) - After meeting Laura it's immediately apparent just how lucky Will is. A truly exceptional person we are so grateful to have met. She exhibits all of the same qualities as will with the lovely addition of the ability to plan, haha! Like the thought that hmm maybe we should call a restaurant during a pandemic to see if they're open before driving an hour to said restaurant, you know things like that...
P.S. from Matthew - Seriously if it weren't for Laura I'm not sure what would happen to Will, but I know Jim and I would be missing out on one of the kindest and most compassionate people we know...


Laura Sullivan

(Matthew) - One of my best friends from all the way back in Kindergarten! We've gone from "girls have cooties" to "damn he's cute". When you have someone like Malissa in your life for as long as I have you can't help but think of her as family. There isn't anything I wouldn't trust this crazy lady with. We've been through it all. It's been a crazy quarter of a century here's to the next...

Malissa Lones

(Matthew) - What can I say about this wonderful woman. She came into my life when I needed her most, I'm not much for fate or destiny but this was as close as it gets. From a few incredibly humid,  but spectacular hikes to a trip to Broadway that has started a rather expensive addiction to theater we have been through a lot together.  Its been a rollercoaster over the years and I know I will always want to ride with one of the strongest people I know... 

Chelsea Lynch

(James) - Tony and I both started at Williams Middle School around the same time. I was initially glad they had a new band teacher, because he was significantly taller than his predecessor, with whom I'd been confused with often. As I got to know Tony better, I found we have a similar sense of humor; something needed in a colleague and especially in a friend...

Tony Ohannessian

(James and Matthew) - I first met Chris during a writing seminar at WSU. It was a pretty personal class due to the nature of the writing, and the class as a whole got to know each other pretty quickly. I was immediately struck by the raw honesty and emotional resonance of Chris’ writing. As a result of a writing exercise, I mentioned that I was running a tabletop campaign, and he mentioned he and his wife had been looking to get back into tabletop gaming, and our friendship deepened from there...  P.S. from Matthew - I have to second the sentiment about Chris' writing. I was lucky enough to read some of the papers Jim brought home from class and the depth and emotion Chris could write with  truly blew me away. I felt I knew him before I ever met him...

Christopher Ladue

(James and Matthew) - We were lucky enough Chris wanted to join our tabletop group let alone his lovely wife. Meeting Maggie made it immediately clear we were adding another great couple to our group. And we watched as that couple turned from two to four with the addition of two wonderful boys. The love and warmth in their family is readily apparent to any observer, and we are lucky to count them among our friends... P.S. from Matthew - I have never learned so much about training dogs, showing dogs, or picking some pretty awesome names for dogs until I met Maggie. It's true the way people interact with animals is a perfect window into how warm an giving they are; and this was no more true than with Maggie...

Margaret Ladue

(James and Matthew) - I met Nicole during my first week of freshman year in college, and we were largely inseparable for the better part of the four years that followed. We were often confused for being either related or dating, which speaks to our near-ubiquity of being a form of long distance conjoined twins. There is more than a chance of me having been lost in a foreign city, never to be heard from again, if it weren't for Nicole. Some connections stay as strong as ever, despite time and distance, and I'm lucky that this one made that list...

P.S. from Matthew - Nicole was the first "Friend Test" I made it through when I began dating James. Hopefully I've passed, haha! I knew the way in which Jim cared for his friends was an indicator to just what an amazing guy he is... 

Nicole Godard

(James and Matthew) - Kevin and I first met as part of an internship at the WSU Reading and Writing Center. After getting to know each other, we realized we had been tangentially interacting for years, Sliding Doors style. We had attended the same parochial school and the same public high school within years of each other. It also eventually came to light I had unwittingly made him an accomplice in convincing a bunch of nuns I was in fact colorblind. I mean really what else are friends for...
P.S. from Matthew -  If Nicole was "Friend Test #1" Kevin was definitely "Test #2". The fact that I met them on the same night wasn't nerve wracking at all; just one heck of an exam...

Matthew & James

Matthew & James

Things to Do

Newport Mansions

Downtown Newport