WED D I NGS
McGuirt & Ritter BY HALEY P IN EL ES PHOTOGRAP HY BY T HR EE R EG I ON P HOTO G R A P H Y, TH REERE G IONNC .COM
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hapel Hill native Juliana de Souza Ritter met Avery Fisher McGuirt, who grew up in Charlotte, at a party thrown by Juliana’s brother, João Ritter, during her first year at UNC in 2014. For their first date, the pair attended the Shakori Hills GrassRoots & Dance Festival. They started dating shortly after and moved to New York City upon her graduation. The couple, who will celebrate nine years together this April, says there was no official proposal; instead, they mutually agreed they were ready to declare their commitment to each other. They bought rings and settled on a nice meal with family members to celebrate the engagement. “We really aren’t into the traditional wedding things – but it’s funny how when you start planning a ‘big party to celebrate love’ how it ends up looking a lot like a wedding,” Juliana says. The event was held on May 21, 2022, in mother of the bride Alessandra Ritter’s backyard in downtown Carrboro. “We thought the rain just might hold off but had to start the ceremony earlier so
that we could at least walk out to clear-ish skies,” Juliana says. “The rain did not disappoint – it started pouring rain during the ceremony. We called our families [to join us] under the gazebo, and when we kissed, the skies magically lit up and the rain stopped – I’m not kidding!” She recalled her favorite part of the big day: watching her friends and family members dance together during the reception. Juliana is a high school math teacher and Avery started medical school last fall. CHM January/February 2023
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