Hello there
Liza led a life many fashion-lovers would kill for: She worked for famous designer brands including Jimmy Choo and Roger Vivier. Her job was dressing celebrities, including Kate Winslet, Uma Thurman, and Scarlett Johansson, for the Golden Globes, Oscars, and other big events. Liza lived in L.A. for four years, and then in New York. But something wasn't right. "I always felt like something was missing in my life," she said.
Then her maternal aunt and grandmother died within three months of each other, and Liza asked herself some hard questions.
"All the free clothes I got, and all the free shoes, and all the movie stars I got a chance to meet, they just weren't as important to me anymore," she said.
Liza, who had grown up in Wynnewood, moved to Philadelphia in 2006. She rented a place in the St. James on Washington Square and got herself a small friend with a big personality: a little black pug named Meatball.
Soon after began a string of very short, very bad blind dates. "Everybody and their Jewish mother was trying to set me up," Liza said. And her own Jewish mother would sometimes give Liza's phone number to women she had just met so they could pass the digits on to their single sons.
Liza and Meatball developed a dating routine: They would meet each date at the outdoor cafe of a restaurant within walking distance of Liza's apartment. "They would all last about five or 10 minutes," Liza said. Her best friend, Brooke, said she too wanted to fix her up, with Jeff. Liza resisted; Brooke persisted: Jeff was good friends with Brooke's friend Jessica, and so Brooke knew he was very nice, funny, and cute.
Jessica convinced Jeff, who dated frequently but did not like to be set up. "Before I met Liza, the best way I can describe it, I was living that bachelor life," said Jeff, who is now 33.
Liza and Jeff met in February 2007. She suggested her usual place, but he wanted to meet for drinks somewhere else. It was not a place where Meatball could go. The first date was not amazing, Liza said, but "I didn't run screaming." Drinks turned into dinner. "I felt like we had a lot to talk about," she said.
More dates followed, and Liza discovered that Jeff, senior director of leasing at the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, could make her laugh until the tears came. He was also the first guy who did things just to show her he cared for her, such as planning special outings or bringing flowers. And from the moment they met, Meatball loved Jeff.
How does forever sound?
In July 2008, Jeff and Liza, who is now the public relations director for the PR firm Neff Associates, took a vacation to Switzerland and France. Before departure, Jeff had lunch with Liza's dad to ask for his blessing, "so everybody knew but Liza, and Liza had a sneaking suspicion," Jeff said.
More than that. She told her nearest and dearest she expected the question would be popped during the trip.
Jeff could think of no setting more beautiful for a proposal than the Swiss Alps, where the couple hiked. But when they arrived, Liza said she wasn't feeling well, so Jeff didn't bring the ring on the hike.
In France, they went to the Louvre and to Normandy. And they went shopping. Jeff had the ring in his camera case the whole time, but no moment felt right. On the last day of the trip, they were climbing the Eiffel Tower. Jeff did not want to propose there - it was too much of a cliche. While they were there, Liza's father, who had received no excited phone call from his daughter, called Jeff. "You're still going to do this, right?" he asked. "Give me a few minutes," said Jeff, who planned to propose at the top.
When they reached the middle level, Liza said the height was getting to her and she didn't want to continue. They began walking down the stairs. By then, Liza had concluded that there would be no proposal on the trip.
"I proposed on the stairwell. Her face went from almost a little bit of disappointment to the happiest I'd seen in a long time," Jeff said. "It was a cliche, but cliches are a cliche for a reason. And in the end, it was our special moment."
It was so them
The couple, who live on Rittenhouse Square, chose a Great Gatsby theme for their wedding. The wedding party consisted of six groomsmen, six bridesmaids, six children age 5 and younger, and one pudgy little dog. Meatball, who was escorted down the aisle by one of the flower girls, wore a tux and top hat.
Bandleader Eddie Bruce led a mini orchestra during the processional ("The Way You Look Tonight" for the bridal party and John Coltrane's "My One and Only Love" for the bride) and the recessional (Dean Martin's "Kick in the Head").
This didn't happen at rehearsal
The couple chose to get married at the Four Seasons so their ceremony could take place in the garden. But by Friday, thunderstorms were in the forecast. "My heart kind of dropped," Liza said. "It had been my dream to walk over the bridge into their beautiful garden." At 3:30 on her wedding day, Liza called a friend who works at a local TV station to see what she thought about the weather, and on her advice officially moved the wedding inside. Florist Brian Capra of Evantine Designs had scattered white, modern-style furniture around a hallway to make a space for cocktails. Brian draped the walls of the wedding/reception space with white fabric and set the simple chuppah beneath a beautiful, old-fashioned chandelier. After Liza saw it, she didn't mind the move. And just as the ceremony started, the skies opened up.
Awestruck
At the end of the night, Jeff and Liza were dancing and singing on stage. Jeff looked out at their guests, who were all dancing, too. "Some people collect cars, some people collect great wine. We collect great friends," he told her.
"I just married my best friend in the world," Liza replied.
Discretionary spending
A bargain: Liza had always dreamed of a white dance floor, one that would be laid over the hard wood. But budget cuts were needed - she couldn't even invite everyone she wanted to the wedding - so the couple did without it.
The splurge: The mini orchestra cost about $1,000 more than a single musician would have, but the couple thought paying a bit more was worth it to set the mood.
The getaway
Two weeks in Moorea and Bora Bora.
Behind the Scenes
Officiant
Rabbi Ethan Franzel of Main Line Reform Temple in Wynnewood
Venue
Four Seasons, Philadelphia
Catering
Four Seasons, Philadelphia
Music
Eddie Bruce, Philadelphia
Photography
Phil Kramer Photography, Philadelphia
Dress
Vera Wang, New York
Invitations
Linda Broder from Pen and Paper, Bryn Mawr
Planner
Eric Allen of the Four Seasons, PhiladelphiaEndText
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