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Fernandez & Stringer PHOTOGR A PHY BY HEB A SAL A MA PHOTOGR A PHY, H E BASALAM A.CO M
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our years after graduating from UNC, Jessica Stringer moved back to Chapel Hill to start a new job at Chapel Hill Magazine. Mutual friends put her in contact with Jason Fernandez, a fellow out-ofstate Tar Heel who had also returned to town for a job. The two met up for their first date at The Crunkleton on April 12, 2014, and immediately hit it off. Over the years, they would take an epic vacation to Scandinavia, countless stops at MLB ballparks and theme park visits each fall to Orlando. Though they agree the best thing they did together was adopt their beloved spunky bichon-poodle mix, Olive, from Orange County Animal Services. Cheap flights lured them to France for Thanksgiving 2023, and Jessica and Jason explored Disneyland Paris, breweries, dozens of perfume shops and the Christmas market in Strasbourg. On the last day, the pair wandered into Jardin du Luxembourg where Jason got down on one knee. They later watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle from the steps of Sacré-Cœur Basilica and had a celebratory dinner at La Maison Rose in Montmartre. The couple tied the knot on April 12, 2024, the 10th anniversary of their first date. Photographer Heba Salama captured the first look at The Crunkleton and the small ceremony at Eno River Farmers Market Pavilion with their siblings, parents, three grandmothers and Jessica’s best
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chapelhillmagazine.com
July/August 2024