Jeannette always had considered herself blessed. With celebrated Chef Jean-Jacques of Jean-Jacques’ Culinary Creations in Pleasantville as her dad, an equally wonderful and devoted mom, and a terrific brother to boot, any joy that life brought her way was indeed a cherry on an already generously adorned sundae. Add to this a fulfilling career within her family’s French gourmet catering business and Jeannette truly couldn’t imagine feeling any more fulfilled.
While she took none of these blessings for granted, she never took the time to picture her future, nor worry about finding that special someone within it. As she saw it, just as everything else seemed to fall into place somehow for her,why not continue to allow destiny to take its course? Sure, Jeannette always dreamt of being swept away by her very own knight in shining armor, but even so, she always had the confidence that fate would do the searching for her and, when the time was right, everything would come to pass as it should.
But there’s nothing wrong with giving fate a little shove in the right direction, is there?
One day, while in a heart-to-heart talk with her brother, the matter of finding the right one came up. He delicately suggested that Jeannette might consider taking a more active role in her own romantic destiny. When he realized he had her full attention, he suggested something completely out of character for his sister’s consideration: a matchmaking website. With a little hemming and hawing, Jeannette decided to give it a shot. At the very least, she says, “It was another ball that I could have up in the air!” With this she drafted a solid profile, carved out some time from her bustling schedule, and registered on eHarmony, maintaining her que sera sera attitude all the way. Before long, Jeannette was put in touch with several potential matches and went on a few dates. Though she was admitedly meeting some pretty interesting gentlemen, nothing really seemed to click. Then she was matched up with Paul.
Surprising even herself, not only did Jeannette find herself clicking with him, but actually could envision a future together pretty much from the get go. So happily ever after and all of that jazz, right?
Not quite.
Just as things were heating up, in typical Jeannette fashion, her life got very busy again and, between juggling commitments at work and planning a trip to Europe with her mother, one of those proverbial balls she had juggled in the air simply got lost in the shuffle and dropped. She stopped responding to Paul’s emails—for two months and one day (he counted).
Disappointed, Paul took what he figured was a hint, thinking someone else had come along and stolen Jeannette’s heart. “After weeks of sending emails back and forth through eHarmony, Jeannette just stopped,” Paul says. “When she finally did write me, my subscription had expired and I would have to sign back up—for sixty-five dollars—just to reply to her one e-mail. But I did, we met, and the rest is history. It was the best sixty-five dollars I ever spent!”
By the second date, they both knew they had found their match. “During that dinner, we had an astonishingly open and honest conversation about ourselves, our goals, and desires,” Paul recalls. “I felt a tumbler click into place, as if everything was exactly how it should be in my life. This woman sitting across the table from me was everything I was looking for in a mate.”
Jeannette concurs: “I felt a warmth and a genuineness from Paul that I had never felt before. It was then that I knew what we shared was something extraordinary and that our connection was very special. I wanted more!”
From that point forward, things were in full swing—the two shifted into high gear, the birds began to sing, the violins to play….literally, that is. Jeannette and Paul were wed in formal European style at the Castle on Hudson in Tarrytown. Upon arrival, 150 guests were greeted and serenaded by violinists accompanyed by a classic string quartet. Fuscia ginger blooms and bold, vivid sunflowers adorned the trellis under which the couple stood, exchanging personally scripted vows to each other. The dining was grand and opulent, served regally in the ballroom. The atmosphere was magical and, naturally, the desserts were all made with love by the bride’s dad, Chef Jean-Jacques.
When asked what makes for the magic between these two, Jeannette replies: “Paul is my angel. He is one of the most genuine and true people I know. His love is pure.” As for the groom, he appreciates Jeannette’s “roots and wings. She is completely dedicated to family, yet is an amazing free spirit with lofty ambitions.” And with this, may they live happily ever after.
August 22 2009
Photography by Martha
RESOURCES
CAKE AND DESSERT BUFFET
Jean-Jacques’ Culinary Creations in Pleasantville
(914) 747-8197
CEREMONY OFFICIAL
Maureen Orfino
(845) 353-4769
ENTERTAINMENT
Craig Scott Entertainment
(866) 587-1066
FLOWERS
Petals by Alice
(914) 788-1081
HAIR AND MAKEUP
Blush
Samantha Ponce De Leon
(914) 276-2340
PHOTOGRAPHY
Martha Dickinson
Photography by Martha
(973) 338-1723
VENUE
The Castle on Hudson
400 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown
(914) 631-1980
WEDDING GOWN
Paloma Blanca Gown
Fontana’s
678 Post Rd, Scarsdale
(914) 472-1441
