[ wedding tales ]
Jennifer Haase and Ross Gonzales
J
ennifer Haase and Ross Gonzales met at a Holy Cross high school dance. Jennifer’s mother was a teacher there and she and Ross had a close relationship. Ross really wanted to meet Jennifer but was trying to muster up the courage. Finally, they were virtually placed in front of each other at a Holy Cross dance and the introduction was made. Until a few years ago, the relationship was tough to define. They were friends, they were enemies, they dated a little; they could never get it right. It was as if their timing was always off, yet, there was always a special connection between them. Ultimately, Ross decided that they needed to have an official first date and he asked Jennifer to lunch. After that, a whirlwind courtship began. Ross took Jennifer on a surprise weekend “staycation” to a quaint little hotel in the French Quarter. It was her birthday weekend. On Saturday, after walking around the French Quarter in high heels, Jennifer’s feet were hurting. She kept trying to pull Ross into every boutique they passed in order to buy some comfortable shoes. Little did she know, he had a professional photographer at the ready. Ross asked Jennifer to take a picture in
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front of the fountain outside of the St. Louis Cathedral. She obliged, and as Ross got down on one knee, the photographer jumped out from behind the bushes. Jennifer momentarily lost touch with reality and felt like she was floating on cloud nine. She says, “I didn’t even feel my feet anymore!” The engagement complete, the couple were to become one. Jennifer and Ross were married on July 30, 2011 at St. Dominic Church, where the bride attended grammar school. Jennifer was a third-generation bride to be married at St. Dominic. Jennifer wore a diamond-white Maggie Sottero gown with a sweetheart neckline that was beaded at the top and fitted at the hips before flaring. The gown had lacy straps but transformed into a strapless gown for the reception. Her veil was trimmed with crystals that matched the beading on the dress. The bridesmaids wore mulberry colored dresses of shantung silk with a light lavender satin sash. Cluster necklaces of gray pearls with matching earrings accented the look. Fine Arts Ensemble provided the music for the Mass. Kelly says, “Dimitri was exceedingly talented and
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