Tell us how and when you met each other. What was your first impression of one another, and at what moment did you know you’d be together forever?
Amanda and I met while attending the same graduate school, Marywood University in 2018. We became fast friends and our romance blossomed by November 2019. My first impression of Amanda was that she simply lit up the room and people were so drawn to her. Amanda’s first impression of me was exactly the same. After 2 years of being together, moving in together, surviving a pandemic, getting our boys Skipper and Romeo, and creating a solid foundation, we knew it was meant to be. In June 2021, Amanda proposed to me in beautiful Mexico and just 2 weeks later, I popped the question to Amanda in a restaurant in Scranton.
Tell us about the proposal, share some pics, and show us your ring!
Prior to our Mexico vacation, Amanda and I had chosen our rings and we knew the big question was coming. We told each other that we would not propose while in Mexico, and sure enough, Amanda packed my ring. She proposed to me on a gorgeous beach in Tulum, Mexico, staged a photoshoot to capture it all, followed by a candlelit dinner on the beach. I proposed to Amanda 2 weeks later in a restaurant after taking her on a tour to all of our favorite spots in Scranton, where we had met and been living together. She didn’t see it coming!
What led you to Stroudsmoor Country Inn? What inspired you to celebrate your wedding with us?
When looking for wedding venues as a same-sex couple, we certainly had to ensure that the type of wedding we had envisioned would be a possibility. We simply googled LGBTQ+ friendly wedding venues in the NEPA area and Stroudsmoor was one of the first (and only!) place we looked. We were moved to see same-sex couples, people that look like us, as part of marketing material for Storudsmoor and knew that this would be a great fit for us. The stunning views, options for venues, and so much more locked us in!
What is the one menu item that sticks out above all else from your wedding celebration? What about your favorite décor detail?
The prime rib was one of our favorite dishes from the wedding. All of our guests rave about the food to this day, as do we! Our favorite decor detail was absolutely the flowers. Grayson and her team went above and beyond and our flowers, the decor, and the little touches were just dreamy.
What made your Wedding Journey with us most memorable?
Our Wedding Journey was simply wonderful. The entire staff at the Stroudsmoor, our wedding attendant, Belkis, Grayson and the floral and decor team, Colleen in housing, and so many more people assisted us along the way, however one person in particular truly made our Wedding Journey the most memorable. Linda Forte is an incredibly organized, warm, professional who can actually do it all. Linda consistently checked in on us, assisted us with making any changes, and ensured that planning a wedding was much easier than we anticipated. Linda not only gave us a tour of the property, guided us along the way with her incredible experience and natural elegance, gave us tons of options for just about everything, and also wore an apron the night of our wedding to assist staff at the Ridgecrest. Linda, you are one of a kind and your attention to detail and passion for what you do shines through. We thank you so much for everything!
What is one hope you have in celebrating your first anniversary?
We would love to be able to return to the Stroudsmoor to celebrate our first anniversary!
Vendors and Services Provided.
| Photographer/Videographer | Frankie Carll Productions |
| Entertainment | Frankie Carll Productions |
| Florals | Grayson Davis |
| Cake | Stroudsmoor Country Inn |
