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Love: Lauren Moore & Charles Concodora

Their first flirting came in cups of Wawa coffee they brought to each other, a warm gesture with a jolt of caffeine that prepared them for shared general surgery rounds at Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

Bride Lauren Moore and groom Charles Concodora  on their wedding day, Feb. 6, 2016.
Bride Lauren Moore and groom Charles Concodora on their wedding day, Feb. 6, 2016.Read moreRebecca Barger Photography

Hello there

Their first flirting came in cups of Wawa coffee they brought to each other, a warm gesture with a jolt of caffeine that prepared them for shared general surgery rounds at Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

Lauren, raised in Bel Air, Md., a recent graduate of the Temple School of Podiatric Medicine, was a podiatric-surgery resident at Crozer. Charlie, a native of Brick, N.J., and graduate of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - now Rutgers New Jersey Medical School - is a Temple University Hospital urology resident. But residents must do stints in many disciplines, and they were assigned to the same small general-surgery team at Crozer for one month only: December 2010.

On her first day in the rotation, Lauren, so comfortable in podiatry, felt a little newbie nervousness at first. Charlie did, too, but didn't show it. "I was taken by how easygoing he was, how calm, reassuring, and helpful," she said. She instantly wanted to be his friend.

Charlie knew exactly who Lauren was, and he was a bit irked with her. Lauren's first day was actually the second day of the program, and her previous absence did not go unnoticed.

For the record: Lauren said she tried to connect with her team the first day. "No one would answer their pages," she said. "We were too busy working," said Charlie.

But as the morning rush subsided on her first, his second, day, Charlie did talk to Lauren - and warmed up to her quickly. "She was always smiling, and she made me laugh, and it was enjoyable to talk to her and work with her," he said. "She was delightful."

Soon after, the morning coffees started, which led to synchronized lunch breaks. Lauren realized Charlie was sticking around the hospital after his work was done.

Surgical rotation includes overnight shifts, and the first one is a big milestone for residents. The morning after hers, Lauren found a note from Charlie on her car: "Congratulations! You did it! I knew you could!"

A few weeks later, they went to the Fado Irish Pub to watch football. "I paid attention to the Ravens. He paid attention to me," Lauren joked.

Luckily, there are lots of commercials during football games. By the end of night, both were hooked.

They admire each other's minds, desire to help others, and strong family bonds - and they make each other laugh.

Lauren was disappointed to learn she would be on call at the hospital on Christmas Eve and would miss her family's annual tradition. Charlie, who was also scheduled, decided to fix it as best he could. He found a Chinese restaurant that delivered to the hospital, and downloaded National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation onto his laptop.

By New Year's, they were serious, and a few months later, Lauren moved in to Charlie's place in Chinatown. She then convinced him that they should adopt Baci, a chocolate-brown mini-poodle, whom both adored.

After finishing her residency two years ago, Lauren accepted a position at Podiatric Medical & Surgical Associates in South Philadelphia. Charlie finishes his six-year residency in June.

Now both 31, the couple and their poodle live in Queen Village.

How does forever sound?

In February 2015, Charlie and Lauren vacationed with her family in Punta Cana. On the return route from a family walk on the beach, Lauren spied a bottle sticking out of the sand. "Look, there's something in it," she said. It was a note.

As she yanked on the cork, she wondered aloud about who might have sent that note out into the sea. Opening it, she saw Charlie's unmistakable handwriting. The end of the short love letter asked a question: Will you marry me?

As Lauren's parents, Carleen and David, looked on, and her brother-in-law snapped photos, Charlie knelt in the sand.

As they resumed their walk, an entire pod of whales began breaching just off the beach. "Cue the whales," said Charlie.

It was so them

The couple's traditional Catholic ceremony featured readings by Charlie's grandfather William; Lauren's godfather, Albert; and her Uncle Steven.

Their Cescaphe Ballroom reception for 215 featured the couple's signature drink, the Tipsy Poodle. (The actual poodle didn't attend the wedding but took part in preceremony pictures.) Charlie and Lauren both have Italian heritage, so cocktail hour and dinner were accompanied by the sounds of some classic Italian crooners, including Sinatra and Dean Martin. Lauren's dad stocked the bar with some fine Italian wines.

Awestruck

"I'm not one to get really emotional," Charlie said. Even when walking to the altar, he didn't. Then the violins started, which meant Lauren was about to enter. "When the doors opened, and I saw her coming down the aisle with her dad, I started to get a little teary-eyed. I almost lost it," he said. "Everything was perfect."

Lauren knew she'd have to fight off tears. When she and her dad walked into the church, her strategy of staring straight at Charlie worked.

During the Mass, she nudged the groom. "Did you ever think it would turn out this well?" Then at the reception, the bride sat next to her groom at their sweetheart table, and her eyes wandered from his face to the beautiful room, to the faces of so many relatives she hadn't seen in forever, all there to show their love and support. "That's when I started crying, and I ran over to my parents' table, and I said, 'It's the best day ever!' It was just pure joy."

Discretionary spending

A bargain: A February wedding's offseason prices meant a $10-per-person discount for the reception, a two-night-for-the-price-of-one deal at the hotel, and other bargains. Lauren also rented a Kate Spade handbag from RenttheRunway.com. It was hers for four days for less than $50. "I'm just saying it changed my life," she joked.

The splurge: Rather than rent, Charlie bought a custom-made black tux from My.Suit.

The getaway

A two-week spring trip to Italy is planned.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Officiant: The Rev. James Oliver, St. Philip Neri Parish, Philadelphia.

Venue: St. Augustine Church, Philadelphia and Cescaphe Ballroom, Philadelphia.

Catering: Cescaphe Event Group, Philadelphia.

Photo: Rebecca Barger Photography, Jenkintown.

Dress: Maggie Sottero, K&B Bridals, Bel Air, Md.

Flowers: Beautiful Blooms, Philadelphia.

Music: Nick DiGiulio, White Label DJs, Philadelphia.

Do you have the date? Email us - at least six weeks before your ceremony - why we should feature your love story: weddings@phillynews.com. Unfortunately, we can't respond individually to all submissions. If your story is chosen, you will be contacted.