Wedding Location

This is the farm of my dreams, a large part attributed to the fact that the most wonderful people live here. I am so grateful that my Aunt Karen and Uncle Don are allowing us to use this as both the ceremony and reception location. I promised I wouldn't be one of those brides, but I can't resist a little Eeeeeeeeeee!

Theme

Bob and I decided today, in honor of our shared heritage, to incorporate some PA Dutch elements into the wedding. We are thinking patchwork quilts, hex signs, hearty farm food, beer and soft pretzels.

The symbol of the triple star, pictured above, symbolizes good luck, success and happiness. The ring of brown is associated with the cycle of life making this particular sign a wish for a lifetime of happiness. Blue is my favorite color, and yellow is his...we might be incorporating this symbol somehow. We'll see!

Our Registries

Bob and Hil are delighted with the huge gift of your presence at our wedding, and really don't require a thing more. The problem is, Hil just has too much fun with the little scanner gun they give registrants at those big fancy stores....

Functional: Target http://target.com/
Heirloom-able: Pottery Barn http://potterybarn.com/
Pretentious Artiness: Home and Planet http://homeandplanet.com/
Home and Planet is an art gallery and boutique with some really intense prices, but everything in the store is recycled, earth-friendly, and sustainable. The store is also located in a struggling art district in Bethlehem, so it is excellent to buy local and support the neighborhood guys. They do have a website, but they don't have a web registry. You have to call or visit them, old skool style.
Home and Planet, 25 East Third St, Bethlehem, Pa 18015 610. 866. 7370
hours: mon,tue, wed 10-6, thur 10-7, fri 10-8, sat 10-6, sun 12-5

Visitors Guide or You are getting married WHERE?

My aunt and uncle have a beautiful, historic farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Think stone farmhouses, covered bridges, and the occasional horse and buggy. Both the wedding ceremony and the reception, god willing, will be held there. If you are not familiar with the area, here is a great website for visitors...Experience Bucks County!

Sneak Peak at the Dress (Bob, don't look at this!)

Oooh! Isn't it pretty?

Our Proposal

12/31/2008- New Year's Eve

We really called ourselves engaged soon after we met, but Bob insisted it was not official until Hil had a proper ring. Unable to keep a secret, Hil knew he HAD the ring, but he held on to it for weeks before proposing. Over the holidays, every time a special event happened, Hil wondered, "Is today the day?" He didn't propose on the Solstice. He didn't propose on Christmas Eve. Bob spent Christmas Eve throwing up, and decided that wouldn't be romantic. When he didn't propose on Christmas, when all of our families were gathered together, Hil was beginning to wonder if he had changed his mind, and coyly said, "I KNOW YOU HAVE THAT RING! WHY DON'T YOU GIVE IT TO ME!!!!"

"Not so fast,"said Bob, grinning. "I am waiting for the right moment."

On New Year's Eve, we decided to stay in. After the kids went to bed, Bob brought in take-out chinese, and laid out a picnic on the livingroom floor. Inside the package for the fortune cookie, Hil discovered the most beautiful, shiny engagement ring. Luckily, she didn't eat it. Bob got down on one knee, asked her to marry him, and of course, she said yes. The fortune in the fortune cookie said,"Accept the next proposition you hear." Hil framed it, and put it on the wall to keep forever.

All About Us

About the bride (or who is this Hil person?)

Hilary "Hil" Eldridge is the proud mama of two daughters, Genevieve "Nevie", and Phoebe. Originally from upstate New York, she has travelled to thirty-five of the fifty states, loves the outdoors, and shares Bob's passion for art. She attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and is a professional tattoo artist in Allentown, PA.

About the groom (or who is this Bob person?)

Robert H."Bob" Jischke is the fifth Robert H. Jischke in his family. This causes confusion at the bank, because their roman numerals don't go up to "V". Born and raised in Allentown, PA, Bob is a passionate and experienced pro-wrestler, using the name The Heavy Metal Cowboy, Bob Henry. He is also a talented artist in the Marvel comic style, and makes a mean eggplant parmesan.

How They Met (or do they actually know each other?)

Summer. 2006.
While working in a cubicle at T-Mobile, Hil would often whine and complain to her co-workers about many topics, a favorite one being how lonely she was in Allentown. Finally, Hil's friend Tasha said,"I have just the man for you! He's pretty cute, for a white boy!" Hil couldn't wait to meet him, but there was a problem. Tasha's mystery man said,"No way! Not interested! Thankyou very much!"

Tasha was sneaky and determined, so she invited us both to her twins' first birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese (I know, when you think of romance, you think of Chuck E. !) and didn't tell either one that the other was there. Unfortunately, the party was complete toddler mayhem, and Tasha was so busy fishing twins out of the ball pit that she totally forgot to introduce Hil to the mystery man! Hil did have a nice talk, over Chuck E. Cheese pizza, with a pretty woman with curly hair, who turned out to be one of Bob's oldest and dearest friends, Vicki. Vicki told Bob that Hil didn't seem TOO psycho, and the match was soon made.

Hil and Bob talked for hours on the phone before they realized that they lived only five blocks from each other. They found out that they not only had the same friends, but they pumped gas at the same gas station and bought groceries from the same grocery store. Immediately, they agreed to walk towards each other until they met, and the couple first laid eyes on one another on the corner of Greenleaf St. and Albright Ave. in the west end of Allentown.