~ "Wedding" Productive April Vacation ~

Ch. 5

Dear Family & Friends,

Matt and I are well on our way to planning our big day. Which is 105 days away, but whose really counting anways?! During April vacation, Matt and I were busy being the Head Coaches of high school Baseball and Lacrosse teams. Matt coaches in Reading, and I coach in Watertown. However, we did get a lot of our big Wedding "To-Do" items completed!

With high recommendations from my dear friends Jill, Tanya and colleagues from work - we decided on Aruba as our tropical honeymoon destination. What's not to love about a beachfront resort, swim up pool bar, resort casino, horse back riding on the beach, shopping, and restaurants? This much-needed vacation gives us both something amazing to look forward to after a very busy Spring and early summer!

Matt, Lela, Shin and I traveled down memory lane last Saturday, April 16th. Where Matt and my story began over 10 years ago, at a small college campus, overlooking the north shore, on Hale St. in Beverly, Ma... Endicott College! As sophomores in college (2001), Matt and I were introduced to each other through a mutual friend. The rest is history right? Shin kindly offered to take our Engagement Photos, and Lela was a wonderful assistant that carried my wardrobe bag, fixed by wild hair from the windy day, lip gloss touch ups, and gave pose suggestions. The campus was very quiet, sky was grey, air was chilly, and wind was blowing. Our first stop on the photo shoot was Tupper Hall, my freshman dorm. This dorm is just outside the main campus. At Tupper Hall, I had an enormous 2nd floor dorm room, 3 other roommates, and a fire place (that was quickly adorned with family & friends picture frames). Lela had a triple dorm room here as well, on the 3rd floor. As a freshman, Matt lived in a small dorm on the main campus. Since our graduation in 2003, our Field Hockey field in front of Tupper Hall has been renovated and updated with a beautiful water fountain, benches, and new dorms/ alumni center around it. Our Photo shoot also involved driving to the Main Campus and walking around the grounds, stopping at bridges, Endicott College signs, benches, and ocean view look outs. Matt & I had a great time that day, and it was practice for our big day when the "paparazzi" (photographer) follows us around for 8 hours. The above 5 pictures are from our Engagement Photo session :)

For our Wedding Bands, we returned to the family owned jewerly store that Matt first picked my beautiful white gold, princess cut ring. Matt works with the owners wife in Arlington Public Schools. Matt quickly chose the perfect band for him, it was probably the 2nd one he tried on! It is a two-tone silver band with gold edging, simple and durable for his active lifestyle. Me on the other hand, would have purchased every band I tried on if I could have. They were all beautiful in their own way! What is a girl to do? I slowly narrowed my choices down to a white gold band with diamonds in a channel seting... and chose a beautiful band that compliments my ring perfectly. I'm learning a lot about jewelry from this experience that's for sure.

• Book our honeymoon to Riu Palace Resort in Aruba - Check
• Engagement Photos - Check (* A special thank you to Shin & Lela for taking them!)
• Purchasing our wedding bands - Check (Love them!)


• Lucille also bought the most beautiful Mother-of-the-Bride dress in early April, in a summery violet color. While Mario is busy looking for the perfect tie to match our wedding colors.

We wish you a wonderful Easter Sunday ahead! Hope to see everyone soon!

XoXo, Lisa & Matt