Ceremony and reception Location  : Ceresville Mansion, Frederick, MD

Wedding date : July 10, 2010

Photographs by Jennifer

Julie and Jon (or Epstein, as the bride refers to him by his last name) met at my alma mater — the University of Maryland. He helped her fix her computer. She lost a bet with him that resulted in a dinner date. Many dates and IT sessions later, they were married on a not-too-humid Saturday evening at the Ceresville Mansion in Frederick. The rain that threatened the forecast all week came early, allowing their outdoor nuptials to go off as scheduled. Their day was filled with the kinds of personal touches that make me love my job: Julie honored the memory of her late mother with a purse fashioned out of fabric from her mother’s wedding dress and with a heart-shaped pendant holding her mother’s photograph pinned within the layers of her own wedding gown. Guests couldn’t help but laugh when she modified her wedding vows, ignoring the traditional wording offered by the cantor and saying instead, “I, Julie, take you, Epstein ….” And the best man had the crowd roaring with his toast, including when he asked anyone in the room who had ever called the groom for IT support to raise their hands. Dozens of hands around the room went up, including, obviously, the bride’s. Congratulations, Julie and Jon! It was a pleasure to be with you on your wedding day.