Emma & Joe
out of the shower ,” Emma shares . Sat on their couch in a giant robe with soaking wet hair , she happily agreed to marry him .
The Vision : Emma opted for simplicity from the start . “ I was not the girl who dreamed about her wedding day from a young age . The thought of planning a wedding seemed very overwhelming to me , an introverted tomboy at heart ,” she admits . The result ? “ Lots of neutrals , lots of greenery , some twinkle lights — it felt very dreamy against the wintry , February backdrop ,” she says .
The Venue : Years prior , Emma and her mom had come across the Squantum Association while walking on the East Bay Bike Path and wondered what the beautiful building on the water was . In fact , it made enough an impression that her mother suggested it once Emma and Joe got engaged . Clearly , mother knows best : “ It had a great feel , and the staff were all laid back and accommodating ; everything worked out seamlessly from the start and I only have good things to say about the venue ,” Emma says .
The Timing : The couple originally set their date for May 2020 , even sending out their save-the-dates the summer prior , but things did not go according to plan . And for once , the pandemic was not to blame . “ In a surprising turn of events , I found I was pregnant and due in early June 2020 ,” Emma explains . They weighed their options and , after talking with all involved , agreed on February 1 , 2020 . Many would call it a double blessing . “ One month later , the world shut down and our original May wedding would not have happened ,” Emma says . “ I will say , having a winter wedding was awesome and I felt pretty glamorous rocking that sweet fur coat . I also think the February timing gave everyone something to look forward to in the dead of winter .”
The Meet Cute : “ We met while working at Whole Foods in the prepared foods department … slicing deli meat ,” says Emma . “ As my sister , Tess , said in her wedding night toast : ‘ It was love at first slice !’”
The Engagement : Fast forward three years to the spring of 2019 . Joe initially hoped to propose during a hiking trip , but a few consecutive weekends of rain forced the couple to cancel their plans . “ He had already had the conversation with my parents and , fearful that my mom would spill the beans , he got antsy and asked me one rainy afternoon in our apartment after I had just gotten
The Highlights : “ I ’ ll always look back fondly on how our family and friends really came together to make everything wonderful ,” Emma says . “ All the work my parents put in ; my uncle arranging the flowers ; getting ready with my sister ; our officiants writing and delivering the heartfelt ceremony ; friends helping with decorating , hair and makeup ; my sister-in-law making the cake ; our niece playing the piano for our ceremony ; and the list continues . Seeing everyone ’ s work come together that day was touching .”
The Advice : “ I know everyone has different opinions and styles when it comes to weddings , but try not to lose sight of the reason why you ’ re planning a wedding in the first place , which is to marry the person you love . Don ’ t stress over minimal details , keep the ultimate goal in mind and have a nice day celebrating ,” Emma says . “ Oh , and if you can wear a fur coat on your wedding day , do that .” ( Fun fact : Emma ’ s mom thrifted hers for just $ 0.99 . “ The owner ’ s name was embroidered on the inside — thanks , Bernadette !”)
106 | ENGAGED IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND 2022