Marisa: “Jeff was so patient and understanding.”

Marisa and Jeff 

Aug. 5, 2017

Chicago 

Jeff and I met at Paris Club in downtown Chicago on a Wednesday night in the summer of 2012. We were both out with friends, and he approached me. We like to say we met the old-fashioned way! Our first date was at Piccolo Sogno on Aug. 11. We have been there every Aug. 11 since then!

I knew Jeff was the “the one” because he was so patient and understanding. About four months after our first date, I was looking for a pair of fuchsia skinny jeans. Jeff spent the day walking Michigan Avenue with me until we found them. Patient and supported my irrational shopping habits? Sold!

Jeff proposed to me while on a family trip celebrating my dad’s 60th birthday in Puerto Rico. We were out shopping for the day, and Jeff got down on one knee in the middle of Old San Juan. It was so perfect. My dad was the only one who knew it was going to happen!

We got married at Old St. Pat’s Catholic Church and had a reception at Moran Manufacturing, in Chicago’s West Loop. I think the best part of planning a wedding is the extra time spent with my fiance and my girlfriends. There were a lot of mini celebrations along the way. The worst part about planning a wedding is all of the stress! However, the stress is temporary and very much worth it.

Our wedding song was “Treasure” by Bruno Mars sung as a ballad live at our venue by a friend who also played the piano. It was one of my favorite details.

The advice I would give to future brides is to stay with your new husband all night. It is so easy to get separated in a room filled with people that want to spend time with you, and once you lose one another, it’s difficult to reunite! It was great advice and made for a very enjoyable evening.