Love: Cynthia Anne Valonis & Steven Harvey Bohner

March 15 at Elam Methodist Church in Glen Mills, Pa. Pastor Clyde Flaherty officiated, and a reception for 110 followed at Springhaven Club in Wallingford.

They met

In 1979, in fifth grade at Amos Land Elementary school in Ridley School District. By sixth grade, "I thought he was really cute. His guy friends said, 'Hey, he likes you!' and I kind of liked it, but I was a very shy person." Alas, so was he. All through school, the two had near-misses at coupledom.

In sixth grade, he asked her to the school fair. She said yes, but backed out when his friends began to tease. Steve always asked Cindy to dance at the seventh- and eighth-grade dances, and when he wasn't around, she hid in the bathroom to keep other boys from asking her. But they never even held hands when not dancing. "We were both just not socially advanced enough," said Cindy.

Senior year at Ridley High, Cindy wished hard that Steve would ask her to the prom. But as the big dance approached with no invitation from Steve, Cindy asked another boy - one who didn't make her nervous.

Ten years later, Steve was on Cindy's mind when she attended the Class of '87 reunion, but he wasn't there. And she learned that he was married.

Then in March 2007, Steve contacted Cindy through classmates.com. It was a difficult time for Steve. His first wife, Denise, with whom he had two young sons, had died the year before. Steve found himself reaching out to old friends. As they e-mailed and talked on the phone, the old feelings returned. But this time, neither was afraid to pursue them.

He asked

In November 2007, Steve took Cindy to a waterfront restaurant in Wilmington. Afterward, they walked down to the river, and Steve said: "I have a question for you, and this is the best place for it. Will you marry me?"

9 to 5

Cindy, 39, is a teacher's assistant at Wayne Elementary, but will soon receive her certification to teach. Steve, also 39, is vice president of finance for the AmeriHealth Mercy family of companies.

Making a home

The couple lives in Garnet Valley.

First steps

Remember the prom that Cindy and Steve did not attend? Steve was working up the nerve to ask Cindy when he found out she had asked someone else. They made up for it at the wedding, dancing to the prom's theme: Chicago's "You're the Inspiration."

Doing it their way

Steve's son Zachary, 3, was ring bearer. Ethan, 1, and still new to walking, went down the aisle in the arms of his uncle. The wedding colors were Ridley High green and white. The DJ's playlist was packed with '80s music. Steve's parents, Kathy and Harvey, who also met at Ridley, joined the couple during their first dance.

Not a dry eye

Everyone was moved when the pastor told the story of Denise's passing and of Steve and Cindy's reunion, and said that God meant for Cindy to help care for the boys.

Bloopers

Steve had laryngitis. He croaked his way through the vows, but was silent from then on.

Cindy says

It's not always easy looking for the right mate. "You sometimes just have to wait for it to come."

A few days in the Poconos, and a July trip to Hawaii.