Their relationship was animated by anime
DATE: Jan. 14 HER STORY: Amanda Deniece Harvey, 29, was born and raised in Clinton. She works as a software developer for Leidos in Newport News, Va. Her father, Michael Harvey, lives in Suitland. Her mother, Gloria Lawson Harvey, lives in Waldorf.
HIS STORY: Kyle Dean Respers, 30, was born and raised in Baltimore. He worked as an inventory processor at Nordstrom before becoming a full-time stay-at-home dad. His parents, Gary Respers Sr. and Patricia Respers, live in Baltimore.
THEIR STORY: Kyle and Amanda first met in June 2009 through a Facebook group set up for attendees of Otakon, the annual anime convention previously held in Baltimore.
“We talked online for a few months, and he invited me to a party his friend was throwing in December of 2009. That’s when we met in person,” she said. “We had our first date two weeks later. And he asked me to be his girlfriend a week after that.”
Amanda initially thought Kyle was “very quiet and soft-spoken.”
She soon discovered that Kyle was quiet because “he didn’t want to make a bad impression” on her.
“On our first date, he opened up quite a bit and turned out to be the most hilarious person I’d ever met.”
The two dated long-distance for three years before moving in together in April 2013.
They reside in Newport News with their “rambunctious” 17-month-old daughter, Daria Respers.
THE PROPOSAL: They initially came back to Baltimore on March 14, 2015, to tell their parents that they were expecting a child. Kyle added an additional surprise when he popped the question.
“I had no idea he was planning to propose that weekend, but he did, so we got to break two large bits of news to our parents at once,” she said. “Everyone was thrilled and understandably shocked.”
VENUE: One hundred guests attended the wedding and reception on the Spirit of Baltimore cruise ship.
FLOWERS AND DECOR: The colors of the wedding were teal and purple with peacock feather accents. The bridal bouquets consisted of purple stargazer lilies, white calla lilies, peacock feathers and succulent accents. The groom and his groomsmen wore boutonnieres adorned with succulents and peacock feathers.
HER DRESS: Amanda wore a white, lace sleeve dress with a sweetheart neckline by Chi Chi London from online retailer ModCloth.
BRIDESMAIDS’ ATTIRE: Bridesmaids wore floor-length aqua chiffon gowns with floral shoulder detail that were purchased from Amazon.com.
MEN’S ATTIRE: Kyle wore a tuxedo by Asos. He matched his groomsmen, who wore aqua vests and black suits.
MUSIC: Spirit Cruises provided the music. The couple’s first dance was to “Eyes on Me” by Faye Wong.
FOOD AND DESSERT: Spirit Cruises catered the luncheon wedding. Entrees consisted of roasted pork loin with dijon mustard cream sauce, honey and sesame chicken with fresno chilies, and oven baked north Atlantic sole filet. A dessert buffet consisted of cannolis, cheesecake and apple cobbler. The couple also served a peach Melba and lemon cake from SugarBakers Cakes.
FAVORS: The couple handed out personalized bottles of wine as favors.
SPECIAL TOUCHES: Kyle and Amanda plan to take a weeklong Caribbean cruise for their one-year anniversary. The bridal party walked down the aisle to Sade’s “By Your Side” remixed by The Neptunes. Amanda was accompanied down the aisle by her father to Curtis Mayfield’s “The Makings of You.”