In this ever-changing world of uncertainty and chaos it’s refreshing to believe that true love does truly exist. On Saturday September 27, 2003 Humberto Jose Sanchez Jr. (Joey) and Jennifer Angenese Perry were wed at an intimate ceremony in company of cherished friends and family.
Even as a little girl Jennifer always knew her outlook on life was different. While other little girls were going on about bigger than life weddings, Jennifer never shared their enthusiasm for the overtly dramatic. “I’ve always wanted a small, cozy ceremony, surrounded by the people I love…nothing fancy or over the top…I would have to say simple elegance is what I’m looking for.” “I don’t need the perfect wedding; I’d rather aim for the perfect marriage with the right guy”. Jennifer’s search for Mr. Right ended when she met Humberto Jose Sanchez Jr. (Joey) in 2000 when she started work at Gallagher Benefit Administrators. Joey recalls their first meeting “ I remember it was a Friday the day Jenn started at Gallagher…I normally look forward to my weekends off and counting the hours when they welcomed Jenn to my team; that was the first time I couldn’t wait for Monday to come.” Joey and Jennifer laugh and smile at each other remembering the day. Jennifer looks lovingly at Joey and gently kisses his cheek as if hearing this for the first time. Jennifer then blushes and admits “ He has this little saunter when he walks, I don’t know, but I thought he was sexy.” After a year of being just friends Joey got up the courage to ask her out on a real date. Joey admits, “ I remember being very nervous thinking she’s going to shut me down, she’ll be ladylike, but she’s going to say no”. Well, much to Joey’s delight she gleefully accepted. “ I couldn’t believe he finally asked, I had been hoping, but I thought he just sees me as a friend, although I always liked him,” reflects Jennifer.
Even though it took Joey almost a year to ask Jennifer out, it wasn’t
very long after Joey popped the big question. Knowing they both loved the beach and found it romantic, Joey thought what better a place to do it. After a seemingly perfect dinner on the beach precisely at sunset Joey dropped to both knees with the sun setting at his back and asked the love of his life to do him the honor of becoming his bride with a stunning ring he had chosen for her at Helzberg Diamonds. Jennifer was awe struck “We had talked about it, but I really wasn’t expecting anything…at first I said ‘no’ jokingly, but I guess the crying gave me away” she laughs.
Knowing the couple agreed on a small ceremony made wedding decisions a lot easier. And all of their planning paid off. Jennifer decided on Lavender and Lilac as her primary colors with white accents. The Little Wedding Chapel was the perfect background for a picturesque candlelit ceremony complete with the delicate aroma of fresh lavender which set the tone for the arrival for Jennifer in her A-line white, pearl infused wedding gown, and bridesmaids in lilac. As the wedding party made their way down the aisle, Allegretto Violin Music played arrangements of Vivaldi and a breathtaking rendition of the Wedding March.
After the exquisite ceremony it was off to a brief reception at Riverwalk Arbor in The Havana Riverwalk Inn where each table was hand decorated with a beautiful assortment of Irises, Livia roses, white hydrangea and fresh lavender for fragrance. Each place setting had a carefully folded purple napkin with a lilac sitting on top of a white pressed tablecloth. Each chair was gently fashioned with a sheer lavender sash tied in a bow. The Havana started the evening off with a salad of fresh greens, Parmesan cheese, grape tomatoes, red onions, and cucumbers in a raspberry vinaigrette dressing. The entrée was a savory pork tenderloin swimming in a mushroom demi-glaze accompanied by delicious garlic rosemary potatoes with a touch of basil and a pan seared vegetable medley.
Following dinner, guests enjoyed scrumptious wedding cake by Jennifer’s mother Ruby Perry. The wedding cake itself was a 3-tiered white cake topped exquisitely with lavender and lilac. The Grooms cake also courtesy of Ruby Perry was Joey’s favorite a simple German Chocolate covered with pecans. Before being whisked away to their honeymoon suite upstairs in The Havana the lovely couple danced to their song “Love Is In The Air”, thanked all who attended and explained they had an early flight to catch for their very own Honeymoon in Vegas courtesy of Joeys’ mother Shirley Ann Sanchez. Jennifer and Joey always dreamed of an intimate ceremony “where everything they loved could fit into one room” and they got their wish; when the minister asked, “Who is giving this bride away?” Her entire family arose proclaiming “We Do.” Love truly is a many splendored thing and with role models such as these the possibilities are endless!
