Hello there
In August 2005, Erin arrived at the first day of new-teacher orientation at Cheltenham High, where she was going to teach Spanish. She took an empty seat next to Rob, a business teacher.
"Our friendship began during that first week of induction," Erin said.
As the school year began, all of the dozen or so new teachers formed a support system, so Erin didn't think anything of it when Rob would stop by her classroom and ask how things were going.
Even Rob's wanting to play 20 Questions to get to know her better didn't set off any alarm bells for Erin, who was in a state of near-singular focus on her new job. "What's your favorite store?" Rob asked during the question session. "Wawa," Erin said. "Particularly for the coffee, which helps me get through the day."
A few days later, Rob sent one of his students to Erin's classroom with a small gift: A $5 Wawa gift certificate. Erin finally caught on.
The new teachers had a tradition of going to a local pub after work on Fridays, and Erin and Rob found themselves hanging out long after everyone else left. Then on winter break, Rob asked Erin to join him at an Italian BYOB in Philadelphia - their first real date.
Their relationship proved great right from the beginning. But it was during a crisis about 18 months later that Erin realized how much Rob meant to her.
It was June 15, 2007 - the final day of school. Erin lived in Philadelphia, but went to her parents' house in Cheltenham to pick up her mother, Ellie, for a celebratory afternoon of shopping and manicures. "When we came home, my father said he was not feeling well, that he had pains in his chest," Erin remembered.
Terry Zegestowsky had felt ill all day, but he wrote it off as the flu until the pain traveled down his left arm, just before his wife and daughter got home. Ellie said she was taking Terry to the hospital immediately. She told her daughter to go to a party at Rob's house that evening but promised to call with a report later.
Erin was in the car about a block away from Rob's house in Hatboro when her cell phone rang. It was her brother. "You have to come to the hospital," Nick said. "They think Dad's having a heart attack."
Erin went to Rob's to say she had to go to Holy Redeemer and could not be at his party. He didn't attend the party, either, leaving his roommates to host. Rob drove Erin to the hospital, and then on to Temple later that night, where Terry had a quadruple bypass. Rob was with Erin and her family "every minute" of the two weeks that her father was hospitalized, Erin said.
It wasn't just the time that meant a lot to her. Rob's emotions showed how much he cared about Erin's parents. "He wanted to be there to support me and my family," she said. "He put his life on hold for me and my family."
The surgery went well and within a few weeks, Terry was exercising. He's healthier now than he was before the heart attack, Erin said.
How does forever sound?
Erin and Rob, now a technology teacher at Wissahickon Middle School, always launch the holiday season in the same way: They spend the Friday after Thanksgiving at Longwood Gardens. Their Nov. 28, 2008, trip started out in the usual, wonderful way. They walked through the main conservatory and out onto the large patio, en route to see an ice-skating show. "Why don't we go sit down?" Rob said, pointing to some benches. With Erin's OK, Rob nudged her to sit at the very end of the row, away from everyone else. "He started saying sweet things, and then he reached into his pocket and brought out a ring," she said.
It was so them
The couple, who live in Hatboro, were wed at the Talamore Country Club on Erin's father's 60th birthday. "I was so happy he was going to be there to walk me down the aisle," she said.
It took Erin's father and her Aunt Carolee a month to bake about 50 dozen cookies, which the couple gave as favors to their 100 guests.
Erin, 28, and Rob, 29, invited their guests to donate to Compassion International, Make a Wish, the Dave Thomas Foundation, Guide Dogs of America, or Disabled Veterans instead of giving gifts.
This didn't happen at rehearsal
On Christmas Eve - two days before the wedding - Erin realized her veil was missing. She left frantic messages at her dress shop, the Bridal Garden in Marlton - but did not hold out much hope of reaching anyone because of the holidays. The morning of her wedding, her cell phone rang. The shop was open. Erin's father and brother made the pickup in Marlton, and dropped off the veil at the hair salon.
Awestruck
"Our first dance was one of the best moments of the day," Erin said. She and Rob danced to Kenny G's instrumental version of their favorite Christmas song, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
Discretionary spending
A bargain: The venue. Because the couple married at a slow time, the Talamore Country Club gave them a sweet deal. "We saved about half the usual cost," Erin said.
The splurge: Erin's dress. She didn't see many that fit her criteria - all lace, with straps. But she loved the one she found enough to pay twice as much as originally planned.
The getaway
Four days in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Behind the Scenes
Officiant
Trevor Steenbakkers of Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia
Venue
Talamore Country Club, Ambler
Catering
Talamore Country Club
Photography
Sharyn Frenkel Photography, Warrington
Music
East Coast Entertainment, Philadelphia
Dress
Bridal Garden, Marlton
Flowers
Beth's Flowers Inc. of Horsham
Invitations
DIY with supplies from Michaels
EndText
Do You Have the Date?
Tell us in a short e-mail – at least six weeks before your ceremony – why we should feature your love story. Send it to weddings@phillynews.com. Unfortunately, we can't personally respond to all submissions. If your story is chosen, you will be contacted in the weeks before your wedding.
EndText