Love: Elizabeth Braden & Denine Gorniak

There she was again.

Whenever Denine catered a Choral Arts Society event, a certain woman caught her eye. One spring night in 1999, Denine saw her at a reception at the Academy of Music, the flash of her movement from one group of important people to another momentarily distracting Denine from keeping up with the buffet.

"There was an aura about her," Denine remembers. "I liked her looks, but it was more than that. It's like I was star struck." She wanted to talk to her but didn't know how to make it happen.

How turned out to be quite simple: Liz, then the Choral Arts Society's assistant conductor, walked up to the food table.

"Is this vegetarian?" asked Liz, who was filling a plate for close friend Donald Nally, then Choral Arts conductor now conductor of the Crossing.

Just like that, the women were talking.

Their chat was less than five minutes long, and it centered mostly on a scheduled Choral Arts trip. Then Liz was back to the reception guests, and Denine was replenishing dishes.

Liz was so consumed with her party responsibilities the talk with Denine did not make much impact - until the next day. "I sort of had this aha moment, this 'wait a second,' There was definitely something about even that brief conversation," Liz said. "I wanted to talk to her more.'"

So she emailed Neil Walker-Neveras, then Choral Arts' executive director: "I talked to this girl. Do you know her?"

He did, and he offered to assemble a group so Liz and Denine could get better acquainted. Neil called Denine with news that Liz from Choral Arts was interested. Denine did not know her love interest's name, so she searched the program for her face. The name beneath her photo was Elizabeth - but two others had the same name. "I didn't know if she was the right one," Denine said.

When 10 days had passed without the getting-to-know-you drinks, Liz asked Neil for Denine's number.

Denine knew it was the right Liz. They talked for half an hour, then met the next day for beer and French fries at the now-defunct Potchean at the former Sheraton Rittenhouse hotel.

"We sat on bar stools and talked and laughed. We were there for hours," Denine said. "At one point, I noticed our knees were touching."

"We met up again the next night," Liz said. "We've been together and exclusive ever since."

About six months later, Liz and Hamlet, her Jack Russell terrier, left her Center City place to move into Denine's house in South Philadelphia. In 2002, the couple bought another South Philadelphia home together.

Liz is now 43 and chorus master at Opera Philadelphia. She is also music director at Wallingford Presbyterian Church.

Denine, now 48, is bookkeeper at Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel. She also gives private cooking lessons and recently became a cooking instructor at Sur la Table.

In late 2007, the couple were on a long car drive when a familiar conversation began again: Should they become parents? Liz never had any doubts; Denine had on previous occasions. This time, things were different. In 2009, Liz gave birth to their son, Nate. Six months after he was born, Denine legally adopted him. "His birth certificate," she said, "has both of our names."

With Nate's arrival, Denine and Liz needed more space. It wasn't just Collingswood's charms that led them to buy there. Same-sex marriage was not yet legal on either side of the Delaware River, but in 2011, New Jersey offered civil unions, and having a son made them want all the legal recognition, rights, and protections they could get. Having a son also made them exceptionally busy, and a few years slipped by without their civil union taking place.

When New Jersey legalized same-sex marriage, Collingswood held a multicouple, simultaneous wedding ceremony. "Let's do it!" Denine suggested. "I want a real wedding," said Liz. That would take more time, to plan and save.

In February, Liz said she couldn't wait much longer. June, their anniversary month, would be perfect, she and Denine agreed. A few phone calls to confirm the availability of friends, family, and venue, and all was set.

They wed at Treno Pizza Bar. Liz was escorted down the aisle by her dad, Paul, and stepmom, Paula. Liz's mom, Maggie, and stepdad, Keith, escorted Denine. Wallingford Presbyterian Pastor Francois Lacroix officiated. Paul and Maggie, who are both pastors, said a prayer.

The women personalized their traditional ceremony by including many friends and family members and infusing everything with music. A dozen members of the specially assembled Liz and Denine Wedding Choir are friends of the couple, including conductor Donald Nally. Nate was the ring bearer for Mommy and Momma Neeny. Rather than tossing flower petals, he and his cousins Dylan and Jaxson filled the air with bubbles from the bubble guns they carried.

The letter tiles on the Scrabble-inspired cake spelled out brides and son and family and love and I do, and every guest table had actual board games the couple bought at thrift stores, including Nate's favorites: Sorry, Monopoly, and Candy Land.

The couple's first dance was to the Turtle's "Happy Together." Liz and Denine made forays into the crowd of 100 guests; at every chorus, they brought someone from the family up to dance with them. This inclusive choreography continued through "Sweet Caroline" and "We Are Family" - songs chosen for their sing-a-long irresistibility.

"It was kind of like a ball, with all that dancing," said Nate, 5½. "Everybody had fancy dresses on - they were ready for a big day at a fancy wedding - and everybody looked beautiful and had fun."

"Right before we walked through the doors to the ceremony, there was this rush of emotion," Denine said. "The room was full of our friends and most-cherished loved ones. The deep meaning of the day really came to me. It was a big deal. Here was my beautiful bride with me, and this was not a civil union. We were really getting married."

No matter where Liz looked, she saw someone she loved. "It was me and Denine and Nate, and everyone just beaming with joy or crying with joy. It was such a special moment."

A bargain: Small flower arrangements from the Cherry Hill Wegmans, already in vases, made perfect centerpieces for $10 each.

The splurge: The couple planned a buffet and a limited bar, but then Liz's dad and stepmom announced that the reception food and beverages would be their wedding gift. Paul and Paula insisted on a sit-down dinner and open bar.

A weekend at a Cape May B&B, thanks to Oma and Opa, who helped pay for the trip and watched Nate.