Bridal Shower

Lochstead Manor House Club

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Baby Shower

Spring

Our Wedding

We first met in the summer at church at a 20+ event (that Shanna had to be talked into going to). At the beginning of the event, there was an awkward ice-breaker activity, where everyone had different color wrist bands and had to talk to someone with their same color band about a certain topic. We basically walked into each other and sparked up a conversation about the topic given. Given the rounds of the activity were quick, our interaction was only a few minutes.&nbsp;After the event, Shanna's close friend Steph asked if she met anyone at the event that might've caught her eye. She mentioned Neehmias, and investigations began. :) Steph assigned her husband Matt to find and befriend him. It almost wasn't needed, because at the next Remnant night (Awakening Church's men's ministry), God aligned them and they just so happen to sit right next to each other and met. Throughout the next several weeks, we didn't see each other again around church. Neehmias was able to get connected to other men in the church, develop new friendships, and dive into serving in the men's Workforce (construction crew that meets weekly to help renovate the church). During that time, Matt began leading a co-ed running crew with his wife Steph, that he invited Neehmias to. Steph had been plotting with Shanna to get her there too.&nbsp;

Our Story

Throughout the running crew season, we had really brief interactions and conversations that allowed interest to spark. The first meetup was basically a triple date (two other married couples and us lol), and Neehmias (claimed) he didn’t even remember meeting Shanna that summer-- which was humbling for Shanna haha. During the crew season, Matt and Steph invited us to a weekend 5k/10k event. Neehmias didn't know Shanna would be there....but Steph and Shanna had been plotting again. Steph and Matt were running the 10k, and we were running the 5k (although, not together-- Neehmias was much faster lol). At the finish line, Neehmias was waiting and when Shanna finished, we had 20 minutes or so to have a 1 on 1 convo before Steph and Matt finished their race. This convo really opened our eyes to one another and our interest in each other grew. There were several God-winks. For example, Neehmias mentioned how much he loves his nephew and Shanna is obsessed with her nephew. Also, Neehmias mentioned his niece with autism and how he worries about his family being prepared for her to transition to adulthood. This is exactly what Shanna's career expertise is in! After Steph and Matt finished their race, during the awards ceremony-- Neehmias made a joke about The Office, which of course, Shanna loved.

Soon after the 5k, there was another Awakening 20+ night. Shanna was away in Atlantic City at a conference, and at the last minute decided to take an earlier train home to make it to the event. At the event, after the message and worship, they announced that the afterparty would be at a bowling alley. We each were talking to our friends, all deciding if we were going to go. Neehmias asked Shanna if she was going, and we chatted briefly before deciding that we'd all go. At the bowling alley, there was a pre-party in a private room for food and drinks. Once we both arrived, we gravitated to one another and ended up talking with just each other, basically in our own little world. In that convo, another major God-wink happened. Neehmias asked Shanna when her next work trip was. Shanna said I'm going to Brazil in November for a conference. Neehmias' eyes perked up, as he said No way, I'm going to be in Brazil the whole month of November visiting my family!. We teased that would have to meet up there, and also jokingly accused each other of stalking one another. The night continued, but the thought of the potential meaning behind us both having pre-planned trips at the same time, in the same place was on both of our minds. It definitely felt like God was in the midst.

As the countdown began before Neehmias was leaving for Brazil, we were both curious if we were going to meet up and make plans to see each other there. Neehmias had yet to ask for Shanna's number, despite the sparks at bowling and seeing each other again at running crew. There was one more Wednesday worship night of the season at church, and Neehmias knew it was his last chance to make a move. At the end of the service, Shanna was with Steph inching out towards the door. Neehmias was stuck in a deep conversation and noticed Shanna leaving; he thought he had missed his chance. Steph noticed Shanna looking towards Neehmias and joked, Are you waiting to talk to someone? (lol). Shanna denied it, and they both laughed. Steph forced Shanna to come with her towards where Neehmias was stuck in a convo to go spark a different convo with a mutual friend nearby. Neehmias turned around and noticed Shanna was there, and knew that this was his chance to make a possibility a reality. He approached Shanna and conversation began. Again in our own little world, we stayed in the church sanctuary chatting until they basically were turning the lights off. We finally exchanged numbers walking out of the sanctuary, continuing our conversation to the parking lot. Plans had begun to meetup in Brazil.

Since we now had each other's numbers, it didn't take long for us to get to texting. Shanna had shared that she had nothing planned yet for the trip, and Neehmias sent along a full itinerary of ideas, plans, and even pictures on a map of things they could do and see in Rio. Being the ultimate planner, Shanna loved this. In the midst of texting about planning for Brazil, Shanna began overthinking and was hesitant about our first date being in another country. We both agreed to get coffee first. Our first date was at Coffee Connection in Smithfield-- that lasted 3+ hours. Shanna was late to the family's annual “Pie Party”. Like all first dates, it had its awkward moments, but gave us a better understanding of one another and sparks continued to fly. We had two follow-up dates before our trip, which made us closer, more comfortable with each other, and that much more excited for Brazil. Our final date before the trip was on Halloween, after Awakening's “Fam Fest” -- we went out for tea and then went to the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular.

Brazil was a dream! Three days in Rio felt like three months. It gave us an atmosphere to date without social pressure and truly be in our own little world. The fact that Shanna didn’t speak Portuguese allowed her to get comfortable with letting someone else lead and take care of her -- something she was never used to. Everything felt so easy and so natural. We slowly opened up and got more and more comfortable with each other. Full days of sight seeing, taking in the beauty of Rio, enjoying amazing food...everything flowed so easily. Before leaving Rio, we had become boyfriend and girlfriend. We ended up deciding to spend an additional three days together in Sao Paulo, where Shanna was presenting at a conference. Before leaving Sao Paulo, we were already talking about marriage. :)

After an amazing week together in Brazil, Shanna returned home, while Neehmias had another week and a half to spend there with family. He got home in the beginning of December, and we've been inseparable ever since.

The fact that we are older and independent, we both knew early on that we didn't want to waste each other's time. Everything has lined up so perfectly, that we know God has been at the center of it all. Our paths aligning at just the right time has been nothing short of answered prayers. Our story has been fast, but not rushed. The cliché when you know, you know is apparently a real thing.

Photos

Lindsay Azulay

Jazlyn Monteiro

Andrea Mason

Stephanie McKinnon

Jayde Monteiro

Samantha Bahry

Gerry Manzo

Maressa Sales

Craig Desmarais

Matthew McKinnon

Ben Bertrand

Luke Bahry

Wedding Party

Q + A

Getting There Falmouth is only about an hour from East Providence, RI. However, please take into consideration Cape summer traffic. We recommend giving yourself an extra hour for travel time, just in case! When guests arrive to the Lochstead community, they'll follow signs to the Lochstead Manor Club House. Vehicles can be parked on Lochstead Drive, Manor Lane, and Coonamessett Circle, as well as in posted parking areas. We encourage carpooling as much as possible to help limit everyone's walk to get to the house.

Staying There For our family and friends local to southeast MA and/or RI, we don't imagine there'd be a need to spend a night in the Cape for our wedding. If you're from out of town, the following are a few hotel recommendations!

Shanna & Neehmias

Shanna & Neehmias

Wedding Party