They met in October, 2002, in Newport, VT. Jennifer was visiting her family during a four day weekend. At that time Jennifer lived in Burlington. Her grandfather was having surgery and the results were good. On Friday, Jennifer and her cousin had made plans to go out that night. Well, as evening drew closer Jennifer and her cousin didn’t feel much like going out. Jennifer’s aunt encouraged them to stick with their plans and they did. In the meantime, Armand and his friend had also made plans to go out but as evening came they also did not feel much like doing so. However, Armand had this strange suspicion that the girl of his dreams might be there. As fate would have it, Jennifer walked in and Armand took notice immediately. Armand knew Jennifer’s cousin so he came over and introduced himself to Jennifer. The two conversed at a table for several hours- they’ve been together ever since. It was love at first sight. Fate is a wonderful thing.
How they got engaged
It wasn’t long before Jennifer decided she wanted to move back to her hometown. She began looking for a teaching job and as fate would have it once again she landed a job in the same school that she went to as a child. During the spring of 2003 Armand and Jennifer started to talk about building a house together. They got started on plans right away. It was a dream come true for both of them. Everything went so smoothly with the building process and the two of them knew they were meant to spend the rest of their lives together. They got engaged February 23, 2004. A couple’s engagement date is a special thing, however, what made this particular date even more special is that February 23 is Jennifer’s late uncle’s birthday. She spent a lot of time with him when she was a child. Her uncle passed away when he was thirty years old. Armand had not picked the date for any particular reason. Jennifer’s family made them aware of the significance of that date later in the week. It was just yet another sign of how fate has drawn the two together.
Length of engagement: February 2004 – July 2005
How they decided upon their wedding date:
They knew they wanted a summer wedding because it would give Jennifer ample time to plan since she is a teacher and has the summer off. July 16 fell during the middle of the summer- so they went with it.
Ground work:
Armand and Jennifer chose St. Mary’s Church in Newport for the ceremony. The church overlooks Lake Memphremagog and it has beautiful architecture. There was no question about where to have the reception. The Elks Lodge in Derby could comfortably accommodate their 300 guests. They then chose to have a band to play at their reception. Armand drummed in that particular band up until he decided to give it a break while their home was being built. Armand and Jennifer, along with friends and family, decorated the reception hall.
Most Memorable Details
Jennifer and Armand’s wedding had many memorable moments. At the reception, Armand got up to perform on the drums along with his father who played bass and his Uncle Marcel who sang. The entire roomful of guests crowded the dance floor. “It felt like we were at a concert.” The crowd kept cheering on the band. This is a memory that Armand and Jennifer will cherish. It was a very touching moment seeing them all up on stage together. It was a fun crowd; the guests danced well into the night.
Armand and Jennifer took a short vacation to Maine after their wedding. They are planning their honeymoon to the Caribbean for late winter. “It was relaxing to be by the ocean. We had beautiful beach weather. It was a much needed, long overdue vacation for both of us.”
Update:
Since their special day, Jennifer and Armand have returned to their normal lives. They spend a lot of time outdoors, expanding their lawn and on getting their house to how they want it. They still have two weddings within the family in September. Jennifer’s sister is getting married on September 3 and Armand’s twin sister is getting married on September 17. The couple is looking forward to this winter when life will calm down a bit and they can enjoy their beautiful home as a married couple.
Some Planning Advice to Future Brides and Grooms
“Planning a wedding can be very stressful and overwhelming. It’s important to remember why you’re getting married and what it is all about. There will be times when it seems like everything is going wrong but the problem is only as big as what you make it. You’ll find that on your big day those things weren’t anything to worry over. Miraculously, everything comes together.” “Everything that day happens so quickly. Remember to take a moment to take it all in and take a look around to see that your hard work was well worth it.”
Best wishes to those of you that are in the process of planning your special day.
The Particulars
Ceremony………..….St.Mary Star of the Sea Church,Newport,VT
Ceremony music......Organist - Marie Bonneau, Soloist - Cindy Couture
Floral Design…….....Spates the Florist
Entertainment……....Band - Last Call
Reception/Catering...Elks Lodge, Derby, VT
Cake………………....Berthe Patenaude
Photographer ……..... Award Winning Photography (www.awardwinningphotography.com)
Bridal Gown…….......Fiori’s Bridal
Bride’s Maid Gowns..Fiori’s Bridal
Tuxedos………….....The Landing Clothing Co.
