Love | DANIELLE NICOLE DUGARY &JEFFREY ROSS PATTERSON

Married

March 17 at St. Rose of Lima Church in Haddon Heights, with Rev. Tom Kiely presiding. About 175 guests gathered at Paris Caterers at the Palace in Blackwood for the reception.

They met

In February 2002, while rolling deli meat and prepping rotisserie chicken at ShopRite in Marlton. "He was so adorable," says Danielle; Jeffrey, who goes by J.R., felt the same. "He always got yelled at for talking to me," she says. They had their first date March 23, 2002, the day after she broke up with her then-boyfriend. When she arrived at J.R.'s Marlton house to watch movies, he opened the door clutching roses and a stuffed rabbit. They shared a first kiss that night.

He asked

Nov. 20, 2005, at her sister's house, after a pre-Thanksgiving dinner. With her whole family - and his Mom - looking on, J.R. asked Danielle to pull the wishbone. She scored the larger piece and J.R. told her, "I know what you wished for," then got down on one knee to ask for her hand.

9 to 5

Danielle, 29, of Barrington, is lead caterer at the Marlton ShopRite. J.R., 25, of Roxborough, does deliveries and warehouse work for Kitchen Kapers in Marlton.

Making a home

The newlyweds live in Deptford.

First steps

To "The Book of Love," sung by Peter Gabriel.

Doing it their way

St. Patrick himself couldn't have dreamed up a more festive Irish celebration. The bride, in a strapless corset-style gown with pick-ups, chose a tiara with a Claddagh design and carried an Irish flag-inspired bouquet of bells of Ireland, green hydrangea, white rhinestone-centered stephanotis, and peach and orange roses. J.R. coordinated in a green vest and tie. An Irish blessing was read at church, and Danielle's father surprised the couple with a bagpiper, who played them out of St. Rose's.

There's more: an entrée choice of corned beef and cabbage, homemade Irish potatoes at the dessert table, glittery shamrocks in the centerpieces, favors of small black pots o' gold (almond Hershey's kisses), and a larger black pot for the wedding cards. Then there's the shamrock-stamped sugar cubes, "lads" and "lassies" restroom signs, and orange and green glow bracelets and light-up shamrock necklaces for the dance floor. Danielle and J.R. also arranged for the big screen TV at Paris Caterers to show Darby O'Gill and the Little People and The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

And what's St. Patrick's Day without a leprechaun? Enter the bride's brother's best friend - who was introduced with the bridal party and emerged in full costume to toss chocolate gold coins to the crowd.

Not a dry eye

"I held onto my Dad close," says the bride, who got teary walking down the aisle.

Bloopers

The night before, sleet and snow prevented the groom from attending his own rehearsal. He only made it to dinner, at Francesca's Room in Haddon Heights.

J.R. says

"Don't get married in the winter." Danielle adds, "Take things as they come. Don't get stressed out."

The honeymoon

The newlyweds spent the night at the Colonial Inn at Historic Smithville, then hoped the luck o' the Irish would follow them to Atlantic City. On Monday they flew to Disney World for eight days.