On August 25, 2024, Bianca Crespo and Elijah Sam pledged their forever, igniting an eternal flame of love that first sparked amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bianca, a natural storyteller, shares the enchanting tale of her and Elijah’s journey—a love story that culminated in a breathtaking wedding at Stroudsmoor Country Inn.
'QuaranTwin Peaks' - A Real Life Love Story Told by Bianca Crespo
It was Friday, February 28th, 2020. Before the world went mad. The rain drenched the busy streets of Philadelphia as overworked waitresses emerged from their last shift and raced up the sidewalk to catch the next Septa commute. Orange light poured onto the cobblestones from the wet bulbs lining the blocks. A tabby alley cat slinked down a tight corridor next to the Ritz Theater, and reappeared behind a historic building that we all know and love…well, at least Philly locals.
The City Tavern was a historic, and occasionally haunted, edifice that stood tall and stubborn in a town that would always collide with oppressive skyscrapers piercing the Pennsylvania landscape.
This is where the love story began.
When Elijah slammed his gloved hand into the steering wheel, he considered turning back. His eyes grew weary behind his glasses, strained from the nearly one-and-a-half hour drive that he had commenced upon exiting the warehouse at Wakefern. Both rain and traffic seemed to be working in unison to deter him from attending yet another online app date, where yes, the girl of the hour could be yet another tornado to sweep him off his feet, and not in the way you’d like to imagine. He was considering a cancellation text. The worst kind.
When Bianca had felt that her makeup was suitable, as suitable as she could muster in such a nonchalant mood, she hopped into her car and paused. She did not know if she felt up for another gamble on such a cold, dark night. Maybe she should bail. Despite the fact that these wintry evenings never ceased to invigorate her cozy Poe soul, she wasn’t so sure that she wanted to spend it on a potential regret. Post-Hollyweird whirlwind, she was not quite ready to dive into the deep end of bedlam again, at least, not without a straight jacket.
After much consideration, Bianca sailed down I-95 in her ’09 Chevy Malibu. When she entered the tavern, she was greeted by a woman in tiered colonial attire. Had Bianca been truly insane, she might have thought her a ghost, but, to Bianca’s dismay, the woman was merely a hostess.
At 10 minutes past the reservation time, Elijah walked in. Bianca was waiting between the tall entrance doors, considering a quick sprint to her car if he was a Catfish (this was a Bumble date after all) or worse, a Furry. Alas, he was neither. In that very moment, Bianca felt static. It is a common belief that most hopeless romantics feel that inevitable bolt when this moment finally occurs, but for Bianca, it was something more. An electric pulse that shocked her into a new beginning.
“I’m so sorry I’m late,” he said. “It’s awful out there.”
Bianca smiled, not caring about punctuality for one of the first times in her life. “It’s okay.”
“Let’s eat, shall we?” He opened the door, grinning ear-to-ear, as handsome and happy as Agent Dale Cooper stepping into the Double-R Diner. “After you.”
Bianca nodded and walked through, and she never looked back.
When the world did in fact go mad, Elijah and I refused to do the same. Upon learning of this “new normal” at the time, after our romantic second date at the historic Salt House in New Hope, PA., we decided that nothing was going to stop us from meeting. Our bond was far too strong.
I would drive about an hour from my parents’ home in Bucks County to see Elijah almost every week, enjoying the clear highways to reach my welcoming destination. We had double-feature movie nights, listened to Elijah’s latest vinyl records, and I even let him properly introduce me to Twin Peaks, a show that I had always wanted to watch, but for some odd reason, never had the chance. When I realized my growing obsession with this bizarre, and yet bizarrely cozy, neo-noir show, which was Elijah’s favorite, I knew that we were truly kindred creative spirits, and so, I named our intimate time together “QuaranTwin Peaks.”
As we adjusted to a strange country in 2020, I did not wish to see us fear each day. And instead, I gathered an incredible cast and crew to shoot my debut feature film at haunted warehouse in Philadelphia, which happened to be where I spent 14 years of my childhood. Long story short, my father had immigrated to the United States from Portugal in his twenties, landing in Fall River, Massachusetts first, before he ventured to Philly and started his construction business.
While searching for investments, he saw a turn of the century carpet warehouse in vast decay, tucked into the dead end of Stella Street in the middle of Kensington. But he saw this place in a way that was not relatable to many; he was a man of big dreams, big vision, and an even bigger heart, and so, he completely gutted the old building. Four floors, a massive Otis elevator, and a spooky basement that transformed under his unwavering guidance and sheer grit.
My father established his construction workshop on the first floor, alongside the front reception area and conference room for my mother’s property management business, then created five offices on the second floor, and situated our living quarters on the third floor, complete with a beautiful film-noir bar in our small penthouse on the roof. And yes, he even handcrafted the bar. My family and I have so many happy memories in that house. Growing up, I really appreciated the self-starter skills that my family instilled in me, just by living and working in this environment. It was always so inspiring and really taught me how to be independent.
Fast-forward to filming my first feature in a panic-demic at said warehouse: Elijah was there from day one, whether helping on set or providing moral support when he had to work back at Wakefern in the Lehigh Valley. I remember when he left a sweet and encouraging note on my bathroom mirror before one of our shoot days. That is just the kind of person he is, and the kind of person I love.
After filming, we congratulated everyone involved for a job well-done: no one had gotten sick, and we were able to wrap and get our psychological horror movie FREAK distributed via Bayview Entertainment and Amazon Prime. I had Elijah to thank, as well as my amazing parents, for their support throughout all the twists and turns.
Elijah’s uniquely thoughtful and caring nature had always struck me as rare in my life, especially after emerging from working in Hollywood for nearly a decade. He continued to showcase his admirable tendencies as we approached four years of courtship: it was October 25th, 2023. Elijah had brought me to the lovely small town of Milford, PA, with our white-haired blue-eyed Husky/Pitbull rescue Zelda Fitzgerald.
We were roasting giant marshmallows over the bonfire in the backyard of our rented cabin, nestled deep in the quiet Pocono woods. Zelda was running around, sniffing the traces of deer, while Elijah was sitting on the lawn chair beside me, talking about how he appreciated me and our life together. That’s when he pulled a white-and-red ring box from his pocket, and bent down on one-knee to open it. I asked him, “Are you joking? Is this happening right now? Is this for real?” because he had always played little tricks and pranks on me throughout our dating history. “Oh no, this is real, honey,” he replied. I was in such a state of shock that I didn’t realize that I had pushed my stick with the giant melted marshmallow into my hair. I said, “Oh, yes, of course then!” And we kissed. Elijah then began to gently pull apart the marsh goo stuck in my hair as we laughed, giddy in the moment.
Bianca & Elijah's Wedding Journey at Stroudsmoor
When it came time to find a venue, as fate would have it, Tina Alvarado of Bon Appetina Catering, a caterer extraordinaire and one of the truly dedicated women at my gym, the fantastic 1 Cor 6:19 Fitness in Trexlortown, actually recommended that we all visit Stroudsmoor in the Poconos. I had never hear of it before. “I just went to this wedding, and I kid you not, it had the best food I have ever had at any wedding! So good! You have to go.” And after that rave review, it was decided: we travelled to Stroudsmoor for lunch one day.
Upon entering the grounds, we were enamored by the beauty of the property; from the impeccable landscaping, Old Hollywood edifices, and overwhelming “this feels like we’re living in a 1950s movie” vibe. When we had finished our delicious meal and interacted with the friendly longtime staff, we knew right then and there that this was a very special place. I communicated with Linda Forte, the Director of Events at the venue, and we had a wedding on the books! Her professionalism was flawless. I adored working with her.
From the organized larger-than-life sampling event with my parents and Elijah, to the wedding day itself, our vision was truly brought to life: 2000 farm-fresh red roses, several thousand yards of red drapery, gold and white accents throughout, all mixing so gorgeously with the historic 200-year-old lodge at Woodsgate, just below the stunning Woodland Chapel. It all fit into our Old Hollywood / Twin Peaks style, while also embodying the spirits of Elijah and I. We felt so at home. The staff, the cuisine, the cinematic atmosphere. All wonderful. The Stroudsmoor team even assisted me as I planned a surprise for my wonderful father, the extraordinary John Crespo: I edited all of our home movies together to create one film for our father-daughter dance. There wasn’t a dry eye in the reception room when they hit PLAY. The entire day was perfect, and truly gave us a memory we will never forget.
When we hopped off to Oahu, Hawaii for our honeymoon the day after our wedding, we could not stop talking about it with Elijah’s family, who were in awe at the details of the event while they sifted through our photos, and who, yes, live in paradise, so they know quality when they see it.
The Crespo Checklist for the PERFECT Wedding Day:
If there is any advice that I can give future couples, here it is:
- Always keep a checklist handy (both on your phone and computer for access anywhere at any time). This helped me significantly in the planning process.
- Make sure to arrive on site at Stroudsmoor the day before your rehearsal in order to discuss any last minute items (such as which items you brought/what they have) with the staff. Double check everything! Additionally, it’s good to have a day to breathe before the busy days ahead.
- Staying on site is a must! It creates less room for error when it comes to traveling delays, gathering supplies, and the stress that comes along with it.
- If you are able to have a first look at the reception room before the guests arrive on your special day, mark your checklist again and make sure everything is accounted for in that moment. The lovely staff at Stroudsmoor is always there to assist with whatever you need. They truly go above and beyond.
- Have fun! The day goes by so quickly. Remember to enjoy and go with the flow. You cannot control everything, only your reaction to it. This is a special celebration for you and the person you love, so everything else is just icing on the cake! And yes, our strawberries and cream wedding cake was unbelievable.
Overall, I am beyond happy that we chose Stroudsmoor. It is a remarkable venue, like our second home now, and the perfect bookend to Friday, February 28th, 2020, before the world went mad. Because that insanity, despite its crippling severity, created a love that will last forever, against all odds. I thank Stroudsmoor for showcasing this love in a unique, all encompassing way that we will always cherish. We are forever grateful.
Vendors and Services Provided.
| Photographer | Valor & Vine Photography |
| Entertainment | Weddings by Paris |
| Florals | Stroudsmoor Floral & Décor Team |
Cake | Stroudsmoor Bakery & Café |
