James Tomassi
and
Richard Lewis
Please join us for our wedding celebration on
OUR LOVE STORY
HOW WE MET
It all began on Match.com in mid-January 2023. The communication began on the app, proceeded to texting, and subsequently to calling each other by phone. We finally met, in person, on January 30 at Knock Bar and Restaurant in Philadelphia, sparks flew, and we shared our first kiss!
OUR FIRST DATE
Jamie's Version: It lasted four hours. Richard was on time: 6pm, and we sat at the bar for approximately an hour, then ate dinner, and talked until 10:00pm. I was nervous, but when I first saw Richard, I was excited, yet relaxed as we got to know each other. After dinner, we held hands as we walked to each other's cars, and then kissed each other. Richard waited up until I called him to let him know that I arrived home safely.
Richard's Version: Jamie says our first date lasted four hours. I agree, it felt like it lasted for hours! Jamie was at the bar when I arrived. He came to greet me. He was so handsome. From the moment we began talking, everything was so easy. I was smitten from the beginning, but I was trying to play it cool. At the end of the evening, he asked, "Where do we go from here?" I said, "Well, you're going to go to your home, and I'm going to go to mine." I knew what he meant.
ABOUT US
We both enjoy domestic and international travel, Sci-Fi T.V. and movies (Star Trek), and watching short videos on Reels. We also enjoy cooking, baking, making drinks, dining at restaurants on various cuisines. At home you will find us talking, listening to music, working on our latest home improvement venture, or walking or exercising at the gym. Easily our favorite activity is spending quality time with our family and friends engaged in anything!
(from Jamie) Richard is sincere and values honesty. He is compassionate, understanding, and always thinking of others. He exudes confidence, is witty, humorous, intelligent, and he is a perfectionist in all things. Most importantly, he is loving.
(from Richard) Jamie wears his heart on his sleeve, is very passionate, is very loyal to and supportive of our family and friends, is immaculate, is very easy, and tells amazing tales. His open heart means I know I can trust him, and I don't have to guess how he is feeling.
Why I Love Jamie:
I love Jamie's commitment to the people in his life. He's always checking in on someone and helping them to feel comfortable and as though they belong. He makes sure that no one is alone or feels lonely. His sense of humor is disarming and easy. I love that he insists that we say, "I Love you" and kiss each morning and evening. I appreciate his pushes and pulls to check in on me so that I don't check out on him or myself. I think I appreciate his patience the most. I, like life, am not always easy, but he helps me, and life, feel easier.
Why I Love Richard:
I love Richard's confidence in himself, his great smile, and his genuine concern for others. Richard sees me as his equal, that I am truly his partner. I appreciate Richard's honesty in all things, I love Richard's keen ability to make me laugh, even if, sometimes, it is at my own expense. He has a great sense of humor! I love that he is in love with me!
THE PROPOSAL
Jamie: I had wanted to propose to Richard first, but he beat me to it! To say that I knew nothing about the proposal, is an understatement; considering that everyone else seemed to know about it. We had gathered to celebrate his birthday, but it became our engagement. Richard had it all planned out.
Richard: It became apparent very early on where our relationship was heading, so it was no surprise that we would get engaged. Jamie said it was up to me to make the proposal. We were spending $800.00 month on his insurance, so we talked about getting married before the end of the year. As we were preparing to leave for our trip to Toronto, it occurred to me that some of our closest friends would be at our home for my birthday, and that felt like the perfect time to propose, which left me with one day to get the rings. I called Maria and asked her to meet me at the jeweler the next morning. I was in Philadelphia to meet a friend for breakfast, so it was the ideal ruse to keep the engagement a secret from Jamie. Maria and I picked out the rings, identical in style, different in color - one yellow gold and one white gold. Jamie and I flew to Toronto, Maria picked up the rings. At my birthday party, I placed the rings on the counter and began the proposal which was aired on Facebook Live. I spoke to each of our family members and friends who were present, explaining why it was important that they were there, their significance to us, and their role in shaping our relationship as well as our future together. Jamie didn't understand what was happening until I took his hands and began speaking directly to him.
When our dear friends Shannon and Jamal were engaged, they gave each other their wedding bands so the other could have them engraved with something special. We borrowed that idea and tweaked it a bit. Since Jamie and Richard wear the same ring size, the ring Jamie is wearing as his engagement ring will become Richard's wedding ring and Richard's engagement ring will become Jamie's wedding ring. They will have those rings engraved before exchanging them on their wedding day.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Being married to the man with whom I am crazy in love.
Remodeling and updating technology and spaces in and around our home.
Exploring destinations that we have not yet experienced.
Planning for an enjoyable retirement.
It all began on Match.com in mid-January 2023. The communication began on the app, proceeded to texting, and subsequently to calling each other by phone. We finally met, in person, on January 30 at Knock Bar and Restaurant in Philadelphia, sparks flew, and we shared our first kiss!
OUR FIRST DATE
Jamie's Version: It lasted four hours. Richard was on time: 6pm, and we sat at the bar for approximately an hour, then ate dinner, and talked until 10:00pm. I was nervous, but when I first saw Richard, I was excited, yet relaxed as we got to know each other. After dinner, we held hands as we walked to each other's cars, and then kissed each other. Richard waited up until I called him to let him know that I arrived home safely.
Richard's Version: Jamie says our first date lasted four hours. I agree, it felt like it lasted for hours! Jamie was at the bar when I arrived. He came to greet me. He was so handsome. From the moment we began talking, everything was so easy. I was smitten from the beginning, but I was trying to play it cool. At the end of the evening, he asked, "Where do we go from here?" I said, "Well, you're going to go to your home, and I'm going to go to mine." I knew what he meant.
ABOUT US
We both enjoy domestic and international travel, Sci-Fi T.V. and movies (Star Trek), and watching short videos on Reels. We also enjoy cooking, baking, making drinks, dining at restaurants on various cuisines. At home you will find us talking, listening to music, working on our latest home improvement venture, or walking or exercising at the gym. Easily our favorite activity is spending quality time with our family and friends engaged in anything!
(from Jamie) Richard is sincere and values honesty. He is compassionate, understanding, and always thinking of others. He exudes confidence, is witty, humorous, intelligent, and he is a perfectionist in all things. Most importantly, he is loving.
(from Richard) Jamie wears his heart on his sleeve, is very passionate, is very loyal to and supportive of our family and friends, is immaculate, is very easy, and tells amazing tales. His open heart means I know I can trust him, and I don't have to guess how he is feeling.
Why I Love Jamie:
I love Jamie's commitment to the people in his life. He's always checking in on someone and helping them to feel comfortable and as though they belong. He makes sure that no one is alone or feels lonely. His sense of humor is disarming and easy. I love that he insists that we say, "I Love you" and kiss each morning and evening. I appreciate his pushes and pulls to check in on me so that I don't check out on him or myself. I think I appreciate his patience the most. I, like life, am not always easy, but he helps me, and life, feel easier.
Why I Love Richard:
I love Richard's confidence in himself, his great smile, and his genuine concern for others. Richard sees me as his equal, that I am truly his partner. I appreciate Richard's honesty in all things, I love Richard's keen ability to make me laugh, even if, sometimes, it is at my own expense. He has a great sense of humor! I love that he is in love with me!
THE PROPOSAL
Jamie: I had wanted to propose to Richard first, but he beat me to it! To say that I knew nothing about the proposal, is an understatement; considering that everyone else seemed to know about it. We had gathered to celebrate his birthday, but it became our engagement. Richard had it all planned out.
Richard: It became apparent very early on where our relationship was heading, so it was no surprise that we would get engaged. Jamie said it was up to me to make the proposal. We were spending $800.00 month on his insurance, so we talked about getting married before the end of the year. As we were preparing to leave for our trip to Toronto, it occurred to me that some of our closest friends would be at our home for my birthday, and that felt like the perfect time to propose, which left me with one day to get the rings. I called Maria and asked her to meet me at the jeweler the next morning. I was in Philadelphia to meet a friend for breakfast, so it was the ideal ruse to keep the engagement a secret from Jamie. Maria and I picked out the rings, identical in style, different in color - one yellow gold and one white gold. Jamie and I flew to Toronto, Maria picked up the rings. At my birthday party, I placed the rings on the counter and began the proposal which was aired on Facebook Live. I spoke to each of our family members and friends who were present, explaining why it was important that they were there, their significance to us, and their role in shaping our relationship as well as our future together. Jamie didn't understand what was happening until I took his hands and began speaking directly to him.
When our dear friends Shannon and Jamal were engaged, they gave each other their wedding bands so the other could have them engraved with something special. We borrowed that idea and tweaked it a bit. Since Jamie and Richard wear the same ring size, the ring Jamie is wearing as his engagement ring will become Richard's wedding ring and Richard's engagement ring will become Jamie's wedding ring. They will have those rings engraved before exchanging them on their wedding day.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Being married to the man with whom I am crazy in love.
Remodeling and updating technology and spaces in and around our home.
Exploring destinations that we have not yet experienced.
Planning for an enjoyable retirement.