The Forest Lodge

Wedding Day

Ceremony

The Maple Grove

Reception

Let's Try This Again! Despite the many challenges 2020 brought us Artie and I would love to celebrate our Marriage with you all in June 25, 2021Artie and I will partake in a ceremony of the renewing of vows followed by our celebration.We understand times have been rough and there are still some concerns. We will be updating all guests if there are any changes to our wedding celebration via email.Looking forward to celebrating with you all! Love, Becca &amp; Artie

Our Wedding

Our&nbsp;story&nbsp;begins&nbsp;quite&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;years&nbsp;ago,&nbsp;Artie&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;grew&nbsp;up&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;same&nbsp;church&nbsp;and&nbsp;my&nbsp;family&nbsp;and&nbsp;Artie&nbsp;spent&nbsp;some&nbsp;time&nbsp;canoeing&nbsp;together&nbsp;and&nbsp;going&nbsp;on&nbsp;various&nbsp;hikes&nbsp;and&nbsp;other&nbsp;outdoor&nbsp;adventures.&nbsp;&nbsp;But&nbsp;we&nbsp;lost&nbsp;touch&nbsp;for&nbsp;quite&nbsp;some&nbsp;time&nbsp;but&nbsp;reconnected&nbsp;in&nbsp;September&nbsp;&nbsp;of&nbsp;2018.&nbsp;Artie&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;were&nbsp;both&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;mall&nbsp;one&nbsp;day.&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;with&nbsp;my&nbsp;two&nbsp;nieces&nbsp;passing&nbsp;the&nbsp;time&nbsp;by&nbsp;after&nbsp;getting&nbsp;their&nbsp;ballet&nbsp;attire&nbsp;and&nbsp;shoes&nbsp;and&nbsp;Artie&nbsp;was&nbsp;there&nbsp;to&nbsp;fix&nbsp;his&nbsp;phone&nbsp;screen.&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;fifteen&nbsp;more&nbsp;minutes&nbsp;of&nbsp;extra&nbsp;time&nbsp;left&nbsp;before&nbsp;we&nbsp;needed&nbsp;to&nbsp;leave&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;girls&nbsp;really&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;Disney&nbsp;store&nbsp;so&nbsp;I&nbsp;decided&nbsp;why&nbsp;not&nbsp;and&nbsp;we&nbsp;went&nbsp;inside.&nbsp;No&nbsp;more&nbsp;than&nbsp;thirty&nbsp;seconds&nbsp;had&nbsp;passed&nbsp;by&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;felt&nbsp;a&nbsp;tap&nbsp;on&nbsp;my&nbsp;shoulder.&nbsp;I&nbsp;turned&nbsp;around&nbsp;and&nbsp;to&nbsp;my&nbsp;surprise&nbsp;I&nbsp;saw&nbsp;Artie.&nbsp;He&nbsp;said&nbsp;he&nbsp;thought&nbsp;he&nbsp;recognized&nbsp;my&nbsp;profile&nbsp;as&nbsp;I&nbsp;passed&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;phone&nbsp;kiosk&nbsp;and&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;see&nbsp;for&nbsp;sure&nbsp;if&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;me.&nbsp;Again,&nbsp;we&nbsp;both&nbsp;had&nbsp;not&nbsp;seen&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;for&nbsp;quite&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;years.&nbsp;This&nbsp;serendipitous&nbsp;interaction&nbsp;turned&nbsp;into&nbsp;a&nbsp;ten&nbsp;minute&nbsp;conversation.&nbsp;One&nbsp;thing&nbsp;led&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;next,&nbsp;we&nbsp;exchanged&nbsp;numbers&nbsp;and&nbsp;met&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;series&nbsp;of&nbsp;dates,&nbsp;coffee,&nbsp;sushi,&nbsp;short&nbsp;walks&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;woods…From&nbsp;the&nbsp;beginning&nbsp;interactions,&nbsp;I&nbsp;knew&nbsp;Artie&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;one,&nbsp;Artie&nbsp;however&nbsp;needed&nbsp;some&nbsp;convincing….&nbsp;;)&nbsp;but&nbsp;only&nbsp;time&nbsp;would&nbsp;tell!&nbsp;On&nbsp;Valentine’s&nbsp;day&nbsp;of&nbsp;2019,&nbsp;we&nbsp;decided&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;time&nbsp;to&nbsp;“go&nbsp;steady".As&nbsp;we&nbsp;spent&nbsp;more&nbsp;time&nbsp;together&nbsp;and&nbsp;in&nbsp;prayer,&nbsp;our&nbsp;love&nbsp;grew&nbsp;and&nbsp;became&nbsp;more&nbsp;sure&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;my&nbsp;future&nbsp;husband.	Now,&nbsp;as&nbsp;I&nbsp;said&nbsp;before,&nbsp;I&nbsp;knew&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;one&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;beginning.&nbsp;Shortly&nbsp;after&nbsp;going&nbsp;steady,&nbsp;I&nbsp;mentioned&nbsp;I&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;marry&nbsp;him&nbsp;and&nbsp;we&nbsp;moved&nbsp;forward&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;relationship&nbsp;with&nbsp;great&nbsp;intentions.&nbsp;We&nbsp;grew&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;each&nbsp;other&nbsp;in&nbsp;deeper&nbsp;ways&nbsp;and&nbsp;found&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;opposites&nbsp;in&nbsp;various&nbsp;ways,&nbsp;but&nbsp;a&nbsp;complete&nbsp;compliment&nbsp;to&nbsp;one&nbsp;another.&nbsp;&nbsp;Artie&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;morning&nbsp;person&nbsp;and&nbsp;those&nbsp;who&nbsp;know&nbsp;me&nbsp;can&nbsp;attest&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;am&nbsp;most&nbsp;certainly&nbsp;not.&nbsp;I’m&nbsp;an&nbsp;extrovert,&nbsp;he&nbsp;is&nbsp;an&nbsp;introvert.&nbsp;On&nbsp;a&nbsp;more&nbsp;serious&nbsp;level,&nbsp;he&nbsp;thrives&nbsp;off&nbsp;of&nbsp;(enjoys)&nbsp;structure&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;tend&nbsp;to&nbsp;flow&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;wind.&nbsp;But&nbsp;we&nbsp;use&nbsp;our&nbsp;differences,&nbsp;talents&nbsp;and&nbsp;gifts&nbsp;to&nbsp;grow&nbsp;the&nbsp;other.&nbsp; Artie&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;the&nbsp;proposal&nbsp;special&nbsp;and&nbsp;a&nbsp;surprise&nbsp;for&nbsp;me.&nbsp;And&nbsp;what&nbsp;better&nbsp;way&nbsp;to&nbsp;do&nbsp;this&nbsp;than&nbsp;to&nbsp;do&nbsp;it&nbsp;surrounded&nbsp;by&nbsp;my&nbsp;closest&nbsp;family&nbsp;and&nbsp;friends.&nbsp;I&nbsp;am,&nbsp;forever&nbsp;the&nbsp;party&nbsp;planner&nbsp;and&nbsp;the&nbsp;past&nbsp;two&nbsp;years&nbsp;I&nbsp;have&nbsp;planned&nbsp;and&nbsp;prepared&nbsp;a&nbsp;fancy&nbsp;Christmas&nbsp;dinner&nbsp;party-&nbsp;A&nbsp;black&nbsp;tie&nbsp;event.&nbsp;Artie&nbsp;decided&nbsp;this&nbsp;is&nbsp;the&nbsp;perfect&nbsp;time&nbsp;to&nbsp;ask.&nbsp;He&nbsp;thought&nbsp;I&nbsp;wouldn’t&nbsp;suspect&nbsp;a&nbsp;thing,&nbsp;even&nbsp;though&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;secretly&nbsp;hoping&nbsp;(well,&nbsp;maybe&nbsp;not&nbsp;secretly)&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;would&nbsp;pop&nbsp;the&nbsp;question&nbsp;before&nbsp;new&nbsp;years!&nbsp;After&nbsp;dinner,&nbsp;the&nbsp;group&nbsp;gathered&nbsp;to&nbsp;play&nbsp;a&nbsp;game,&nbsp;but&nbsp;Artie’s&nbsp;mind&nbsp;was&nbsp;elsewhere,&nbsp;looking&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;perfect&nbsp;moment&nbsp;to&nbsp;gather&nbsp;everyone’s&nbsp;attention&nbsp;and&nbsp;while&nbsp;also&nbsp;figuring&nbsp;out&nbsp;where&nbsp;to&nbsp;set&nbsp;up&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;to&nbsp;capture&nbsp;the&nbsp;eventful&nbsp;moment.&nbsp;He&nbsp;stood&nbsp;up&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;circle&nbsp;and&nbsp;stopped&nbsp;the&nbsp;game.&nbsp;For&nbsp;a&nbsp;moment,&nbsp;I&nbsp;thought,&nbsp;this&nbsp;is&nbsp;it,&nbsp;this&nbsp;is&nbsp;the&nbsp;moment,&nbsp;but&nbsp;he&nbsp;started&nbsp;explaining&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;would&nbsp;like&nbsp;to&nbsp;read&nbsp;a&nbsp;letter&nbsp;that&nbsp;my&nbsp;friends&nbsp;had&nbsp;written&nbsp;for&nbsp;me.&nbsp;This&nbsp;distracted&nbsp;me&nbsp;momentarily.&nbsp;The&nbsp;letter&nbsp;explained&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;meant&nbsp;so&nbsp;much&nbsp;to&nbsp;them&nbsp;and&nbsp;for&nbsp;bringing&nbsp;everyone&nbsp;together&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;party&nbsp;my&nbsp;friends&nbsp;wanted&nbsp;to&nbsp;present&nbsp;me&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;gift.&nbsp;Everyone&nbsp;looked&nbsp;around&nbsp;at&nbsp;one&nbsp;another&nbsp;wondering&nbsp;who&nbsp;had&nbsp;written&nbsp;the&nbsp;letter&nbsp;and&nbsp;why&nbsp;they&nbsp;weren’t&nbsp;included&nbsp;in&nbsp;this&nbsp;gift&nbsp;giving,&nbsp;but&nbsp;then&nbsp;the&nbsp;tone&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;letter&nbsp;shifted.&nbsp;He&nbsp;explained&nbsp;that&nbsp;there&nbsp;was&nbsp;no&nbsp;gift&nbsp;but&nbsp;instead&nbsp;a&nbsp;poem.&nbsp;A&nbsp;poem&nbsp;that&nbsp;was&nbsp;obviously&nbsp;from&nbsp;him,&nbsp;and&nbsp;what&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;doing,&nbsp;suddenly&nbsp;became&nbsp;clear&nbsp;to&nbsp;everyone.&nbsp;THIS&nbsp;WAS&nbsp;THE&nbsp;MOMENT,&nbsp;I&nbsp;thought.&nbsp;People&nbsp;were&nbsp;gasping,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;held&nbsp;my&nbsp;breath.&nbsp;Artie&nbsp;patted&nbsp;his&nbsp;pockets&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;ring&nbsp;and&nbsp;when&nbsp;he&nbsp;retrieved&nbsp;it,&nbsp;he&nbsp;went&nbsp;down&nbsp;on&nbsp;one&nbsp;knee.&nbsp;The&nbsp;room&nbsp;went&nbsp;wild.&nbsp;I&nbsp;started&nbsp;crying,&nbsp;I&nbsp;heard&nbsp;my&nbsp;younger&nbsp;brother&nbsp;Jonny&nbsp;yell,&nbsp;so&nbsp;many&nbsp;exclamations&nbsp;of&nbsp;joy.&nbsp;He&nbsp;asked,&nbsp;Rebecca,&nbsp;will&nbsp;you&nbsp;be&nbsp;my&nbsp;wife?!&nbsp;I&nbsp;said&nbsp;YES,&nbsp;the&nbsp;room&nbsp;went&nbsp;ecstatic.&nbsp;Artie&nbsp;had&nbsp;successfully&nbsp;surprised&nbsp;not&nbsp;only&nbsp;me&nbsp;but&nbsp;EVERYONE&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;room.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;night&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;remembered,&nbsp;12/21/19,&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;we&nbsp;both&nbsp;could&nbsp;not&nbsp;be&nbsp;happier.So&nbsp;I&nbsp;guess&nbsp;you&nbsp;could&nbsp;say,&nbsp;I&nbsp;walked&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;Disney&nbsp;store&nbsp;and&nbsp;found&nbsp;my&nbsp;Prince&nbsp;Charming.&nbsp;;)&nbsp;Artie&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;are&nbsp;looking&nbsp;forward&nbsp;to&nbsp;spending&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;lives,&nbsp;side&nbsp;by&nbsp;side,&nbsp;hand&nbsp;in&nbsp;hand&nbsp;through&nbsp;the&nbsp;ups&nbsp;and&nbsp;down&nbsp;as&nbsp;companions.&nbsp;With&nbsp;God&nbsp;guiding&nbsp;our&nbsp;steps,&nbsp;we&nbsp;are&nbsp;believing&nbsp;for&nbsp;an&nbsp;exciting&nbsp;time&nbsp;as&nbsp;we&nbsp;start&nbsp;our&nbsp;lives&nbsp;as&nbsp;husband&nbsp;and&nbsp;wife.

Artie and Becca

Our Story

We have blocked rooms for this hotel. Please select the website icon to reserve online or call 1 (908) 542-0300&nbsp;using code WCVS and ask for the Cooney Veale Wedding . You must reserve your room(s) before JUNE 4, 2021. The rooms will be open to the public after this date. Free self parking is available onsite.There will be no shuttle service to and from the venue but it is a 9-12min drive to and from The Forest Lodge, in Warren, NJ

Courtyard by Marriott Basking Ridge

We were unable to block rooms at this hotel but guests most certainly can book rooms on their own.

Rebecca & Arthur

Rebecca & Arthur

Photos