Welcome FRIENDS to our WEDDING
SEPTEMBER 12, 2015
Hartford, CT
The Groom
Feb.20.1979
The Groom
Jun.26.1982Our Story
January 29, 2011
Our First Meeting (told by Kurt)I called Laura and told her I’d be able to go to Ronnie’s, and we immediately hit up Saks for a new outfit. Now, Ronnie’s party was in Cambridge, and anyone who knows me knows that I HATE going OTB (over the bridge). Up to the last minute, I hemmed and hawed about going all the way to Cambridge. My theory has always been: It’s faster, easier and more pleasant to go to from Boston to Manhattan than it is to go from Boston to Cambridge. I also don’t trust the water over there.
At dinner i noticed a handsome guy i hadn’t met before. He was sitting across from me. I smiled but we never really spoke at dinner. Later that evening in the dance club, at the very end of the night, this handsome stranger walked up behind me and bought me a Bud Light. We started chatting. We stole a cab out—with Laura’s help—from a few young girls. We had some hastily made egg sandwiches, and the rest is history!
2011
Our First Vacation (as told by Justin)Summer 2011
Started being Together (as told by Kurt)It was later that summer when Justin, my mom, Noreen and I went out to dinner in Narragansett that I knew things were going to be very serious. The four of us were walking to Nana’s Ice Cream when my Mom told Justin she was looking forward to seeing him at our family’s Thanksgiving that fall. I hadn’t even asked him yet and had been nervous to push our relationship too fast. But mothers always know best; he said he was looking forward to it as well.
January thru August 2012
Boston RenovationIn 2007, Kurt had Carlos add a spiral staircase to the condo as well as do a few other small renovations. But, in 2012, Carlos took on his biggest challenge yet!
Kurt and Justin were moving in together and wanted to completely redesign the two-level, 2 bed/2 bath condo in the South End. Pictures speak 1,000 words, so click below to see the transformation!
Melanie, their dear friend and Boston realtor, had purposely not come over during the renovation in order to be completely surprised by the transformation of the property she sold Kurt five years earlier. They called her over in December for holiday dinner and the big reveal. The very next day she came over with her camera and they listed the property. Suffice to say, she thought Kurt and Justin (and Carlos!) did a good job! (Plus, Kurt and Justin already had their sights set on a cool house in the burbs…more on that next!)
March 2013
The Move to Connecticut
Justin asked Kurt if he’d ever considered moving closer to family. Kurt really hadn’t, but he did immediately get off 91N and drive through Longmeadow, MA, and said that maybe they could live there. It was near Suffield, and just over an hour from Boston. They drove by an amazing Mid-Century modern house next to Forest Park in Springfield.
That house wasn’t for sale, but they both caught the Mid-Century bug. It was decided: The couple wanted a Mid-Century house in the burbs, near Kurt’s family. The natural next step was booking a trip to Mexico—the best place to think. In Mexico, Kurt and Justin narrowed down their trulia.com listing to 2 properties: one in Simsbury; one in Hartford.
They moved into the Hartford house in April of 2013 and have been enjoying it (minus the yard work) ever since! (Anyone who lives in a city and claims that they “miss yard work” or they “can’t wait to do yard work” is either a liar or delusional). In October of the same year they became 100% suburban as they gave up the Boston apartment they were also renting since December as their condo sold so quickly—good job Melanie!
June 11, 2014
The Proposal (as told by Justin)
It was a Wednesday, I believe. I was on my way home and Kurt called me to say he just went to the store; we were having Shrimp FraDiavlo for dinner. I was not only excited for my favorite meal after a long day at work, but also I was very anxious to get home and play with our four-month-old puppy, Shelby. When I got home, I decided to play with Shelby in the living room (which I never really go into unless we have guests). I was wrestling with Shelby and noticed a very nice bottle of Champagne by the fireplace. It was then that I figured something was different about this particular Wednesday night. Kurt served the dinner on very nice China and was very quiet at the beginning, so I figured something was on his mind, because, well, Kurt is never really quiet! 😉 All of the sudden, he started speaking and rushed through a few private statements and asked if I would marry him! He didn’t get on one knee, but he really didn’t have to. I saw the love and excitement through his beautiful blue eyes. I of course said yes! The funny thing about all of this was that I was planning on proposing about two weeks later! Glad to know we were on the same page.
Our Pictures
Here are some pictures of us with friends and family, and most of the photos are from Mexico!
Engagement Photos
We spent an amazing afternoon at our family beach house in Rhode Island with Michael Justin Films.
The Wedding
Ceremony and reception will be held at the Gershon Fox Ballroom in downtown Hartford.
G Fox was a fashion headquarters in the Northeast and the largest department store in the US at one time. The elegant art deco decor and old Hollywood ambiance make this a very classy venue for our wedding.
Black Tie Encouraged
Adults-only reception
5:45 pmGather at G.Fox
6:00 pmThe “I Do’s, Me too”
6:30 PMCocktail hour
7:30 PMDinner is Served
8:15 PMToasts & Cake cutting
8:30Dancing Begins
#justinandkurt
960 Main Street, Hartford CT 06103 (Downtown Hartford)
JUSTIN’S PARTY
Kevin Battistelli
Best Man
Caroline Frazee
Maid of Honor
KURT’S PARTY
Stuart Malec
Best Man
Somer Adams
Matron of Honor
The Music ♫♪♫♪
Visit DJ Ernie’s website and make requests by clicking the button below.
Enter the event date and code KJ091215
Please ensure that KJ are uppercase.
Registry
We love you all deeply, and are so blessed that you want to honor us with gifts to start our new life together.
You can view our registry by clicking on the logo below:
Hotels
We have a room block at the Residence Inn as well as the Hilton. The Residence Inn is directly next door to the Gershon Fox Ballroom and the Hilton is one block away.
Hartford is a small city, so the other downtown hotels are an easy walk or Uber ride away.
Residence Inn Hartford Downtown
942 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
Free High Speed Internet
Free Breakfast
Fitness Center
Rate available 09/11/15 to 09/13/15
Book by 08/12/15
$129/night
Booking Code: SCMSCMD
SOLD OUT
#HARTFORDHASIT
Hilton Hartford
315 Trumbull Street
Hartford, CT 06103
Free High Speed Internet
Fitness Center
Pool
Rate available 09/10/15 to 09/13/15
Book by 08/21/15
$129/night
Homewood Suites
338 Asylum Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06103
Free High Speed Internet
Fitness Center
Free Breakfast
Rate available 09/12/15 to 09/13/15
Book by 08/21/15
$129 – $139/night
Other Downtown Hotels
Local Area
We’ve listed some things to do in the Downtown Financial District where the wedding will take place. Like any city’s Financial District, the majority of the activity happens during the work week. If you plan on spending the day in CT before the wedding, we recommend:
West Hartford Center
With over 200 merchants, including award-winning restaurants, highly regarded retailers and unparalleled professional services, this shopping center continues to impress. Whether fashion or fitness-wear, custom shirts or custom framing, bangles or baubles, home décor or hardware, West Hartford Center is the Center of spectacular shopping!
Favorite Bars/Restaurants
Front Street
Located in downtown Hartford, The Front Street District is home to great restaurants … Capital Grille, Nix’s Hartford, Spotlight Theaters, Front Street Bistro and more
Agave
An intriguing array of traditional Mexican favorites alongside exotic signature dishes. And it all starts with our signature tableside guacamole. In the cantina, Agave is a party. The extensive tequila bar offers dozens of varieties for shooting or sipping. And if that’s not your thing, the extensive cocktail menu will tempt you with our world famous Margaritas, plus mojitos, cervezas and much more.
Max Downtown
If ever there were a showplace for dining in Hartford, it is Max Downtown.
Situated as the centerpiece of Hartford’s downtown business center, it has been guided to preeminence by owners Richard Rosenthal and Steve Abrams.
Trumbull Kitchen
Hartford’s most eclectic restaurant, part of the Max Restaurant Group. Trumbull has a fun bar and good patio scene. They often bring DJs in at night.
Attractions.
The Mark Twain House
The Mark Twain House & Museum, a National Historic Landmark in Hartford, Connecticut, was the home of America’s greatest author, Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) and his family from 1874 to 1891. It is also where Twain lived when he wrote his most important works, including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and The Pauper and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.
The Wadsworth Atheneum
The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is the oldest continually-operating public art museum in the United States, founded in 1842 by arts patron Daniel Wadsworth.
The Riverfront
“The view is amazing.”
“I never knew such a beautiful place existed in Downtown Hartford.”
“You have the best kept secret in Central Connecticut.”
These are just a few comments we often hear about the Riverfront Boathouse in Hartford’s Riverside Park. We would like to invite you to join the growing number of people who have discovered this hidden gem and made the Riverfront Boathouse the centerpiece of their special event.
The Connecticut Science Center
With 150 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art 3D digital theater, four educational labs, plus daily programs and events, the Connecticut Science Center offers endless exploration for children, teens, and adults. From physics to forensics, geology to astronomy, visitors have the sciences at their fingertips.