On a cold winter's night in 2006, Chris Lang knew precisely what he wanted for his 38th birthday. Under the guise of a night out for dinner and drinks, Chris's girlfriend, Jessica Edreich, was not suspicious when he suggested a quick pit stop to the courtyard behind the couple's church, St. Cecilia's, in the heart of Boston's Back Bay, "so I could say a quick birthday prayer," says Chris. After a reverent pause in front of the statue of Mary, Chris reached into his pocket and read a poem to Jessica, the last line asking, "Will you marry me?"
"My proposal didn't quite register with her; she looked at me with wide eyes and asked, 'Are you serious?'" says Chris, to which he promptly confirmed that yes, indeed, he was quite serious. Jessica quickly agreed to be his bride, and the birthday boy's wish had come true.
Jessica, daughter of David Edreich of Ball Ground, Georgia, and Stephanie Mancuso of Bellows Falls, Vermont, arranged to have her sisters Lisa and Stephanie by her side during the search for the perfect wedding gown. The fourth time was the charm, when Jessica donned a satin dress with a lace overlay and a mermaid silhouette. "It was perfect in every way," recalls Jessica. "The way the beading on the lace caught the light was like the enchantment of A Midsummer Night's Dream. My sisters' reactions confirmed my feeling, especially when I tried on the veil."
Chris, son of Ed and Irene Lang of Middletown, shared his Aquidneck Island roots with Jessica, a high school English teacher from Bellows Falls, Vermont, throughout their courtship, and the two booked their ceremony at St. Joseph's Church, Chris's family's parish. After exchanging vows on a warm summer afternoon, friends and family migrated to the nearby Newport Yachting Center. "When looking for venues to hold the reception, we really wanted to be by the water," says Chris, who notes the site was exactly what they were looking for and fell within the couple's budget.
The intimate guest list of about 50 sipped refreshing libations on the terraced patio during cocktail hour as sail and motorboats slipped in and out of the harborfront marina. As the dinner hour approached, the spirited crowd found their assigned seating at tables named after the couple's favorite local spots: Elephant Rock, Narragansett Bay, Newport Bridge, Second Beach, Third Beach, Beavertail Lighthouse, Clarke Cooke House and Forty Steps. Following dinner, Chris and Jessica's guests gathered 'round for the ceremonial cutting of the cake and a traditional garter and bouquet toss.
The newlyweds, who now reside in Waltham, Massachusetts, took a mini-moon to Provincetown immediately following the wedding and are planning a trip to Europe next summer.-AM