Old neighbors, new couple
DATE: Aug. 6 HER STORY: Jennifer Cox, 29, was born in Baltimore and grew up in Cockeysville. She is a business policy analyst with the Maryland Department of Commerce. Her parents, John and Kathy Cox, live in Cockeysville.
HIS STORY: Daniel LaHatte, 28, was born in Danbury, Conn., and grew up in Cockeysville. He is a social studies teacher at Dulaney High School. His parents, Bernie and Sue LaHatte, live in Cockeysville.
THEIR STORY: Although Jen and Dan grew up in the same neighborhood, they went to different schools and weren’t close friends. After college, both eventually wound up in Baltimore and were living about four blocks away from each other in Federal Hill.
During the Orioles’ home opener in 2013, both were at Cross Street Market and reconnected over a Chris Davis grand slam and big beers. A few weeks later, the two went on their first date at Metropolitan Coffeehouse and Wine Bar. They’ve been together since.
Jen and Daniel own a house in Riverside, where they live with their dog, Griffey.
THE PROPOSAL: Dan proposed on Aug. 15, 2015, outside Warren Elementary School, which both attended. Dan’s brother, Kevin, and sister-in-law, Lauren, were in town from Florida that weekend, so Jen and Dan traded in tickets they had for the Orioles game to have a crab feast at Dan’s parents’ house.
“When I got to the house, the only people home were Dan and his mom,” Jen recalled. “Dan suggested going for a walk, and despite the extreme heat and humidity, I somehow agreed.”
Jen was thinking this would be a convenient time for Dan to propose since the whole family was in town, but he had just finished his year of student teaching and she figured he would want to get a few paychecks before buying a ring.
“As we got up to the school, I got more suspicious and started talking nonstop,” Jen said. “Dan eventually got me to stop talking and proposed in front of the school.”
Jen’s sister and sister-in-law were hiding in a yard across the street to take pictures of the proposal. Afterward, everyone went back to Dan’s parents’ house for the crab feast and celebration with both families.
“I was surprised. I knew it was coming at some point but I really thought we were a couple months away,” Jen said. “I teared up at first when I realized what was happening, but then all I remember is thinking that I really needed to focus on and remember what he was saying. Of course, I remember none of it.”
Coincidently, Chris Davis hit a walk-off home run in the game they skipped that day.
VENUE: About 160 people attended the ceremony at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Federal Hill and the reception at Tabrizi’s.
FLOWERS AND DECOR: The flowers were sunflowers and were done by Floral Impressions. The colors were royal and navy with some touches of yellow.
HER DRESS: Jen wore a gown by Allure Bridals from Curvaceous Couture in Columbia.
BRIDESMAIDS’ ATTIRE: Bridesmaids wore dark-colored dresses from J. Crew.
MEN’S ATTIRE: Dan and the groomsmen wore gray suits from Jos. A. Bank.
MUSIC: Mixing Maryland DJs provided the music. The couple’s first dance was to “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran.
FOOD AND DESSERT: Tabrizi’s catered the wedding. Appetizers included: shrimp, short rib paninis, spanakopita and barbecue pork-filled biscuits.
Guests had the option of chicken Florentine or grilled salmon with a champagne dill sauce for dinner.
The couple also served a cake with layers of chocolate salted caramel and champagne and strawberry from Persimmon Tree Cakes, a company owned by Jen’s cousin’s fiance.
FAVORS: The couple handed out Orioles-inspired drink holders designed by a good friend as favors.
SPECIAL TOUCHES: The wedding had a lot of Baltimore touches, including tables named after city streets, Ravens and Orioles cake toppers and a special appearance from the Ravens and Orioles mascots. “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” was played during the cake cutting because that’s essentially the “seventh-inning stretch” of a wedding, Jen said.
The couple went to Greece for their honeymoon.