The Reserve at The Highlands

Rehearsal Dinner

Hotel Petersburg, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Welcome Party at Hotel Petersburg's Roof Top Bar

Wedding Day

Heron Rock on Lake Chesdin

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

The Field on Lake Chesdin

Reception

The Boathouse at City Point

Morning After Brunch

Our Wedding

How I met Rachel It was a beautiful morning for a workout, so I headed to the top floor of American Family Fitness to run laps and get a quick lift. After cooling down and stretching on the track, I walked into the weight room and passed the squat racks. I instantly notice a tall, good looking girl with a volleyball shirt on in the squat rack and did not intend on wasting any time. The moment Rachel racked her bar, I did a 180, walked right up and said Hi, I'm Ross. Do you play volleyball? She did, but more than that she played and coached volleyball, just like me. I found out she used to play volleyball at Deep Run and then in college at La Salle University. I just so happened to be wearing my black Deep Run Volleyball sweatpants, which are now my lucky sweatpants. Then I mentioned that my sister Claire Madden also played at Deep Run and Rachel knew Claire. Rachel was put at ease because of Claire's friendly, kind personality. Rachel said, even after Claire stopped playing volleyball, Claire would always smile and say hello in the hallways. After our serendipitous encounter, I wandered off to start my lift with a feeling like I had a great opportunity to make a gym friend. My mind kept drifting back to Rachel. Time an time again I walked over to chat between sets to get to know her better. As it turned out we were both going to be coaching at the Monument Avenue Club Tournament in downtown Richmond that January. We agreed that we would exchange numbers and try to reconnect in January to watch the other person coach a match if our schedules allowed. From the very first meeting, I knew that this could be a special person to me. I forget who reached out in January, but we didn't end up watching each other play because we were in gyms at different locations for the Monument Tournament.

How I met Ross Ross and I met over Thanksgiving break at American Family Fitness in Short Pump, VA. It was early morning when I walked into AmFam for a killer leg workout. I quickly grabbed the first squat rack I could find and within two minutes of finishing my first set, a tall dark handsome man came up to me and asked if I played volleyball. At first I was hesitant to start a conversation as I had limited time at the gym, but he was wearing black Deep Run Volleyball sweat pants and something about him put me at ease. We quickly realized our families had crossed paths before, Claire, the youngest Madden, and I had played volleyball together in High School. Claire left a forever impression on me, as even after we stopped being teammates she always said hi to me in the hallway at Deep Run, until the day I graduated. Over the hour and a half gym session, Ross came up to me a number of times and each time we found yet another connection. It started with volleyball and ventured into college in PA, coaching, Deep Run High School, playing college volleyball, a love for nutrition and fitness, and lastly VCU Health. At the end of the session Ross and I swapped numbers and discussed catching up at a future volleyball tournament. Unfortunately we were unable to catch up at the volleyball tournament and our texts went silent. Until COVID. In March of 2020, we were just ending the two weeks to stop the spread when Ross reached out to me about playing beach volleyball with some friends. When I got to the volleyball courts, Ross and I peppered together before sitting down for one of the easiest conversations I've ever had, all of a sudden the sun had set and it was dark. From that day forward, Ross and I saw each other every week to play volleyball throughout the Spring. By May of 2020, I realized I was falling in love with Ross even though we were only friends at the time. I'll never forget driving to volleyball listening to Heat Waves with butteflies in my stomach as I looked forward to seeing Ross. We started dating on June 30th, 2020 after our first official date at the Wesley Lake with Tacos in tow. Since then Ross and I have moved three times, started a beef cattle farm, survived and recovered from a liver transplant, and continue to grow together.

Our Story

Photos

My maid of honor and sister, Ellie, has been a constant in my life for 24+ years.  



Eleanor Carr 

Catie and Rachel met at La Salle University in 2016. Both middles on the La Salle Women’s Volleyball Team, they quickly became friends and have been inseparable ever since. 

Katie Whitney 

Paige Madden is the middle sibling of the Madden three. Paige, Rachel, Ross and Sean are going to a Blink-182 concert in DC this summer. 

Paige Madden

Claire is the youngest sibling of the Madden three. Claire and Rachel played volleyball together at Deep Run High School freshman/sophomore year. This was the first encounter Rachel had with the Madden family.

Claire Madden

Rachael and Rachel have bonded over their love for house hunting via Zillow and their love for animals. 

Rachael Stevens

Johann and Ross roomed together both freshman and senior year of college. Johann joined the coaching staff of the Juniata Men's Volleyball Team. 

Matthew Johann 

Michael and Ross grew up down the street from one another and quickly became best friends.  That friendship has lasted for almost 3 decades. 

Michael D’Alessandro

Sean and Ross have known each other for nearly five years, first meeting when Paige brought Sean home for Thanksgiving. 

Sean Duffey

Mark and Ross grew up down the street from each other, quickly becoming brothers. 

Mark D'Alessandro 

Wedding Party

Q + A

Please use this link to get the block room discount: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=RICHEUP&amp;groupCode=MWB&amp;arrivaldate=2025-05-02&amp;departuredate=2025-05-04&amp;cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&amp;fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT We highly recommend staying at this newly renovated and reopened hotel in Downtown Petersburg! We have a block of rooms that include doubles, kings, and suites. The hotel has a bar, restaurant, speak easy and roof top bar!

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Chester

Contact Ross and Rachel for airbnb advice!

Airbnb Advice 

Travel

Appomattox Park - Appomattox Greenway

Appomattox River Trail - Ettrick/VSU Trail

Trapezium Brewing Co.

Nisa Thai Cuisine 2 (Petersburg)

The owner of Restored Cup, Hannah, is one of Rachel and Ross's friends in Petersburg! Visiting Hannah is a Saturday morning tradition for Rachel and Ross.

Rachel & Ross

Rachel & Ross

Things to Do

Appomattox Park - Appomattox Greenway

Appomattox River Trail - Ettrick/VSU Trail

Trapezium Brewing Co.

Nisa Thai Cuisine 2 (Petersburg)

Restored Cup Coffee Shop

Demolition Coffee

Beaunuts

Buttermilk Bake Shop