The Meet Cute : They met in July 2016 , when Jenn E . ( left ) came in for an interview and Jenn P . ( right ) was chairing the search committee . Jenn E . describes it as one of the worst moments in her life , claiming that she bombed the interview , but Jenn P . can confirm that Jenn E . was a shooin for the job . They were strictly colleagues for a year . ( Technically , one was the other ’ s boss .) They also shared an office space and , on occasion , would meet for dinner and drinks after work . These outings became more frequent after a year of knowing each other , and soon enough , they found themselves both single . “ We realized that when we were apart from each other for too long , even a few days , we missed each other tremendously ,” Jenn P . says . It was during one night out with friends that Jenn P . ever so courageously went in for a kiss , and they have been inseparable ever since .
The Engagement : Jenn P . surprised Jenn E . on her thirtieth birthday by flying her to San Francisco , CA . During the trip , they took a photo by the heart statue at Fisherman ’ s Wharf . A year later , Jenn P . took Jenn E . back to the spot to recreate the photo , but little did Jenn E . know that the person taking the photo would lead a flash mob proposal . “ Toto ’ s ‘ Africa ’ has always been a meaningful song in our relationship ,” Jenn P . says . “ It used to play in the office when we worked together and then when we started dating and traveling , it seemed like the song would travel with us : the cab ride in Aruba , a musician singing an acoustic cover in Nashville and on the elevator in Memphis , just to name a few random places .” When the flash mob started to dance to “ Africa ,” Jenn E . thought it was just the universe speaking to them . It was not until the flash mob pulled Jenn P . in to perform a choreographed dance that Jenn E . realized what was happening . Leading up to the proposal , Jenn P . “ practiced the routine in the bathroom and even on the elliptical at the gym .”
The Intimate Setting : The wedding was at Jenn P .’ s family beach house in Warren . This was the first home that they lived in together for more than a year before renting an apartment near Boston and buying their first home , an old schoolhouse , in Middleboro .
The Details : The couple splurged on a band , Clockwork New England , and requested that the band learn and perform Toto ’ s “ Africa .” The wedding guests joined in the dance that Jenn P . learned for the flash mob proposal . Because both Jenns are educators and live in an old schoolhouse , they rented a yellow school bus to take the wedding party from the hotel to the venue .
86 | ENGAGED IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND 2023