Determination pays off
DATE: Dec. 3 HER STORY: Erin Shannon, 28, was born and raised in Baltimore. She works as a registered nurse at Baltimore Washington Medical Center at St. Agnes Hospital. Her parents, Shawn and Debbie Shannon, live in Falston.
HIS STORY: Mike Renaud, 39, was born and raised in Hightstown, N.J. He is director of business development for Unison Business Solutions in Towson. His parents, Andre and Sharon Renaud, live in Hightstown.
THEIR STORY: The two met face to face Feb. 12, 2014, at Thames Street Oyster House in Bel Air. They met through the online dating site Christian Mingle, although neither of them is particularly religious.
They only planned to meet for a quick drink that snowy night, but both wound up staying at the restaurant for hours deep in conversation. Mike said he fell in love instantly. “I can still tell you right now what she was wearing,” he said. Mike got extra points for cleaning snow off her car at the end of the night.
“I knew I liked him,” Erin said. “I was attracted to him right away. I was scared to like him as much as I did. It took me a few months to admit that I liked him.”
After that first date, the two spoke every day. They became a couple by St. Patrick’s Day — a month later.
And when Erin attempted to break up with him — twice — he wouldn’t let her.
“The second time I broke up with him he called back and said, ‘I’m not giving you any choice in the matter. We’re still dating again,’ ” Erin recalled. The two live in Little Italy. THE PROPOSAL: Mike and Erin got engaged Dec. 5, 2015, during a family vacation in Aruba.
Although the proposal wound up being a magical moment, it almost was ruined several times.
It started before the trip even took place. The two were riding in the car when a representative from Smyth Jewelers called Mike’s phone, which happened to be on the car’s Bluetooth mode.
“The voice said, ‘This is Tammy from MORE WEDDING INFOFor Smyth. Is this a good time to talk?’ I said ‘no’ and I hung up the phone. It was very obvious,” Mike recalled.
Mike wound up having Tammy draft a fake email saying she had made a mistake. He later showed that email to Erin.
“I was so excited but disappointed,” Erin said.
In Aruba, Mike accidentally grabbed the wrong box the night he planned to propose to Erin. So he had to text his father to bring him the right ring, which ruined his opportunity to pop the question at dinner.
To add another twist, there was a mix-up with the reservation. The bartender wished the two a happy honeymoon when giving them two glasses of champagne.
When Erin went to the bathroom, Mike asked the bartender, “What the heck is going on?”
Mike wound up proposing on the beach, and the minute he asked Erin, a huge fireworks display started near the water.
“It couldn’t have been more perfect, but the whole night could not have been more bizarre,” he said.
VENUE: About 185 people attended the wedding at St. Leo’s Church in Little Italy, and the reception was held at Bar Vasquez.
FLOWERS AND DECOR: The colors of the wedding were all white with greenery from Blush Floral Design Studio in Bel Air.
BRIDE’S DRESS: Erin wore a ivory ruched dress by Badgley Mischka from Francesca’s Bridal Salon.
BRIDESMAIDS’ ATTIRE: wore their own black dresses.
MEN’S ATTIRE: Mike wore a black tuxedo from Jos. A. Bank that he owned. Groomsmen wore their own black tuxedos.
MUSIC: Spectrum, a Washington band, provided the music. The couple’s first dance was to “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison.
FOOD AND DESSERT: Bar Vasquez catered the wedding. Appetizers included empanadas, shrimp ceviche, papas fritas and beef tartare. Dinner consisted of pasta, steak and salmon. The couple also served a chocolate cake with peanut butter filling and white chocolate frosting from Bar Vasquez.
SPECIAL TOUCHES: The couple plans to go to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania for their honeymoon. Bridesmaids