Local Love: Sharon and Coleman

August 12, 2021

THEIR LOVE STORY

This one time at band camp... Yes, that's how the story begins. We first met through band camp at Mansfield University the summer of 2013. We'd like to say our eyes met across the field and the rest was history, but in reality it took us 3 years before we finally began dating. Sharon was in her final semester when Coleman finally "slid into her DMs" on Instagram and asked her to dinner at our favorite college brewery. At our first date, our server (who also happened to be town Mayor) and knew us both, was ecstatic to see us together and was the first say it was meant to be! A few weeks later, Sharon was offered a job traveling the country and Coleman realized he didn't want to let her go without making things more serious. The next two years truly solidified our relationship when Sharon was traveling and living on the West Coast and Coleman was finishing his degree in Pennsylvania. There were times in which it was tough, but from those experiences we learned that the best thing about our relationship was learning how to be each other's best friend first. There were plenty of LATE nights and long video chats until Sharon ultimately got a permanent in Pennsylvania only an hour from where Coleman was employed.

After about two years, Sharon began getting hopeful that Coleman would propose. Coleman was secretly planning and asking her parents for their blessing all the while throwing Sharon off the scent of the proposal. It was even to the point that Sharon broke down to her mom only minutes after Coleman had asked them for their blessing on Thanksgiving. Coleman picked the date, booked a bed and breakfast, and drove with Sharon to Cape May, NJ, her favorite vacation spot, the week after Christmas in 2018. Sharon still having no idea what was about to happen, convinced Coleman to go engagement ring shopping with her, all the while he had his grandmother's engagement ring in his pocket to give her later that day. As the sun set on the beach he finally got down on one knee and asked her to spend forever with him. Sharon's response was a punch in the arm and asking "are you serious!?" After a good 10 seconds of emotions pouring out of her, she eventually was able to say YES!

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THEIR INSPIRATION

When we first began planning our wedding and figuring out how to mesh both of our styles (Coleman hoping for something modern and Sharon aiming for something magical) the one thing they both agreed on was prioritizing live music. Between the two of them, they had been to over a dozen weddings and had never been to one with a live band! Music has played a big role in their relationship; from their days in marching band together, jazz records on Sundays at home making brunch, to live bands at their nights out. From there, the goal was to throw an elegant affair - not quite Gatsby esq but something that evoked classic charm with a modern feel.

They were inspired by their venue, Excelsior in Lancaster, PA to really let the natural beauty and history of the space speak for itself. Sharon wanted the ceremony to feel intimate and romantic, so she walked down the aisle to a live pianist, and they wanted cocktail hour to feel lively and animated, so a jazz trio kept guests entertained. The most exciting part of the night, however, was the seven-piece live band that kept the reception energized and dancing the whole night away. Our one other inspiration was that of our baker, Blayre of Flouretta Sweets. Her creativity and vision brought to life our desire to have not just a wedding cake, but a groom's cake reflective of Coleman's percussive talents and their equal love for all things sweet and decadent. So just like their relationship, the wedding really centered around the food and the music.

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THEIR FAVORITE PART

Many parts of the day come to mind with this question. From Sharon FINALLY getting to wear her dream wedding dress, to having our first look with each other and even one with our wedding cake, to riding in a lit Cinderella carriage through the streets of downtown Lancaster. However, one of the most memorable and highly talked about moments from the evening was when Coleman and his best man, Joe, sat in with the live band and performed a song. This came as a total surprise to Coleman and he was just hoping to remember all of the words to Stevie Wonder's Superstition as Joe and him made their way toward the band. We are sure the band gets asked all of the time to have people play with them, but from the moment Joe started playing drums, you could tell the band was pleasantly surprised that this was no joke! When Coleman started singing, the whole dance floor erupted with screams and shouting, with Sharon leading the charge as the loudest groupie. We think that all of our friends and family will continue to talk about that moment for a long time.

THEIR ADVICE

Our favorite and most sage piece of advice we received upon our marriage was, "if you're going to argue, at least do it naked." It's hard to be mad in those circumstances!

In all seriousness, we cannot say enough how much we recommend hiring a Day of Coordinator. For those other couples who are planning their wedding amidst a global pandemic (and may have had to reschedule twice like we did), we really learned to lean on our Coordinator Danielle Boyer from Planned Perfection through all the highs and lows. She saw to every little detail in the months leading up to our day and kept us on track and truly helped bring our vision to life! The best part was, we didn't have to lift a single finger the day of our wedding which meant we truly got to savor each and every moment.

And if we've learned anything from 2+ years of planning a wedding, there will be hiccups along the way and maybe even on the big day. But how you handle those little stresses will make all the difference in your relationship and as you think back on your engagement. Your partner, your best friend, should be your biggest support - just as you are for them. And because we had each other and could rely on one another, that is what truly made our wedding and now our marriage special.