Hello there

Jennifer and Matt, now both 28, grew up in different Chicago suburbs. They met in their second week of music school at DePaul University in 1999. "We were standing in line to take some kind of music theory test," Jennifer said. She plays the flute. He is a percussionist. They were just acquaintances until a party in 2003, where they spent a lot of time talking.

"Toward the end of the night, he just kissed me out of nowhere," Jennifer remembered. "I was really happy about it." Well, about everything except the timing: Jennifer was going to graduate in a month.

But once things got started, Matt wasted no time. He called Jennifer the next day.

After graduation, Jennifer found a job at a Chicago PR firm, and the relationship progressed while Matt took another year to finish his double major in music and music business. Matt wanted to get a graduate degree in percussion, and he auditioned at schools in Pittsburgh, Boston, and his first choice, Philadelphia.

The Temple University percussion professor with whom Matt had dreamed of studying called him. Matt accepted his offer, and then called Jennifer. "How do you feel about moving to Philadelphia?" he asked. "Great!" she said. "Let's do it!"

They moved to Manayunk in summer of 2004 and now live in Germantown.

How does forever sound?

While Matt studied, Jennifer worked, first as a secretary at an architecture firm, then at her dream job: Jennifer is the public relations manager at the Curtis Institute of Music. Matt graduated Temple in 2006, has had a busy freelancing career, and just began his new job as principal percussionist for the Opera Company of Philadelphia.

Life was blissful for this musical duo. And then in December 2007, it got even better. "We went out for a drink, and when we came home, I changed into my pjs," Jennifer said. "He pulls a ring out of his pocket and says, 'Will you marry me?' "

At first, Jennifer's most prevalent feeling was confusion. They had talked about engagement only in the broadest terms, with Jennifer saying she'd prefer that the proposal not involve a Jumbotron. "Are you kidding? Are you kidding?" Jennifer asked repeatedly.

Matt reminded her that what she should actually be saying was "Yes."

She did, and then Matt filled her in: They never discussed her ring preference because Jennifer's engagement ring was predestined. It had belonged to his late maternal grandmother, who was married Aug. 8, 1938. The couple were wed on the same day, 71 years later, to honor her.

It was so them

When musicians get married, music is a very big deal. "We didn't want to use the traditional wedding march or something else that's used typically," Jennifer said. "But we had hundreds of years of compositions to choose from. It was really hard."

Soon after Jennifer started working at Curtis, she heard during a performance the aria "Verdi Prati" from Handel's opera Alcina. "It was so lovely, and I thought I'd like to walk down the aisle to that someday," she said. So she did. Matt arranged the piece for a string quartet. He also arranged Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" for the quartet to play at the beginning of the ceremony.

The bridal party processed to a movement from Borodin's "String Quartet No. 2."

At the reception, the 170 guests sat at tables named for musicians, including Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, John Lennon, Pete Townsend, Dr. Dre, and Hannah Montana.

This was a surprise

Jennifer jumped the gun. As soon as she got to Matt at the end of the aisle, she kissed him. "I thought, 'Did I break some kind of wedding rule?' " But the reverend didn't seem to mind that the bride kissed the groom prior to the official invitation.

Awestruck

Jennifer and Matt were so into their first dance - to "I Don't Care Who Knows" performed by Catherine Russell - that they barely noticed the applause and cheers of their guests. "I'll always remember how fun it was," Jennifer said.

Discretionary spending

A bargain: The centerpieces. Jennifer came up with a simple idea: three glass cylinders wrapped in decorative paper with a candle inside. With her sister's employee discount at an art-supply store, the cost was between $10 and $15 per table.

The splurge: The guest list. The couple came up with a list of people they wanted to invite, and asked their parents to do the same. They made no cuts.

The getaway

The getawayMatt and Jennifer did a pre-wedding honeymoon. Matt's extended family lives in England, and his cousin got married in April. So the couple spent 10 days there.

Behind the Scenes

Officiant
Rev. Bruce A. Otto, Spirited Weddings, Chicago

Venue
Lehmann Mansion, Lake Villa, Ill.

Catering
Bauer's Party Masters Catering, Libertyville, Ill.

Music
A string quartet comprising college friends of the couple; DJ, Style Matters, Chicago

Photography
Ocken Photography, Chicago

Dress
The Bride's Room, Wheeling, Ill.

Invitations
WeddingPaperDivas.com

Do You Have the Date?

Tell us in a short e-mail – at least six weeks before your ceremony – why we should feature your love story. Send it to weddings@phillynews.com. Unfortunately, we can't personally respond to all submissions. If your story is chosen, you will be contacted in the weeks before your wedding.