How a typewriter proposal inspired a fairy-tale Florida wedding

Offbeat Couple: Jess & Patrick

Date and Location: 1/28/2023 at The Howey Mansion, Howey-in-the-Hills, FL

Jess first met Patrick on the field of battle, in a bloodthirsty struggle for the iron throne. We're talking of course about the home version of Game of Thrones, with its 32-page rulebook, an agonizing minimum play time of 6 hours, and possessing of a friendship-ending level of competition greater than Mario Kart and Monopoly combined.

As a consequence, Jess had had a reliably hard time finding new players.

Imagine her delight when a friend suggested he knew someone willing to play, bringing their usual group of four players to *five*! Fortunately, that friend was Patrick. Less fortunately, there was a miscommunication that resulted in Patrick waiting in the rain for an hour until Jess finally pulled up (that's ravens for you).

So the first words Jess ever spoke to Patrick were several anxious declarations of “I’m so so so so sorry”, that soon turned into declarations of war once the game began! Patrick wisely decided to propose an alliance with Jess instead.

Eight years and many wonderful memories together later, Patrick decided to propose again – this time, with a typewriter. He knew Jess had wanted one, and that his mother had one that she'd inherited from his grandfather. Patrick asked to have it, and once he explained to her why, it was given IMMEDIATELY with her full blessing – he planned to set it up in Jess's office for her to find, with a single typed message: “Will You Marry Me“.

Jess came home from work, and saw the typewriter on her desk. She leaned in, read its message, and looked back in shock to find Patrick had bent the knee. Moreover, in lieu of a ring (he wanted her to be able to pick out her own later), he was ready with a tiny piece of velcro for her finger.

She turned back to the typewriter and typed, “YES“.

Given the origins of their meeting, it should come as no surprise that they chose a “castle” for their coronation day: The Howey Mansion, which has stood for nearly one hundred years with its winding staircases, enormous fireplaces, a fountain courtyard, and even a secret passage behind a sliding bookshelf in the library!

The passage led to a space believed to have been a hidden cache for liquor from Prohibition days – appropriately enough, it's now a speakeasy.

Even the dressing rooms are elegant enough for a queen!

The Howey had so many perfect spots for their photographer Daniella to capture the day's joy, indoors and out.

This door! Those stairs! How could you not feel like royalty?

The ceremony was held on the front lawn, where the couple performed their own version of the handfasting ceremony.

There was a reading of Neil Gaiman's “All I Know About Love“.

For their final blessing, they quoted their favorite podcaster Griffin McElroy with, “You're going to be amazing.”

Before they knew it, it was time for cake! The typewriter, of course, was a prominent guest of honor.

Jess had nothing but raves about their wedding planner Jessica Reneé, who truly brought the “celestial theme with a vintage twist” they desired to life that matched the existing elegance of the Howey perfectly.

They hired some fabulous singers in period dress to rock socks at the reception:

And of course some flamboyant eats for the festivities, in front of one of the aforementioned ENORMOUS fireplaces.

In what's quickly become a favored alternative to a wedding guest book, they had a phone for guests to leave well wishes! Can't help but wonder if anyone had to ask for directions on how to use a rotary dial.

From Jess: “Our wedding would not have been what it was without our wedding planner, our wedding party, and all the vendors who teamed up to make it truly perfect. I'm an extremely anxious person who had the best, least-anxious day of my life for an event that everyone says is supposed to be an extremely stressful experience. I fully and completely believe it was because of our vendors who made it all so easy.”

“I used Pinterest to get inspiration and tips and tricks, although I definitely visited Offbeat Wed too, to see some nontraditional types of weddings which helped me widen my scope of ideas. I had a very specific image in mind, but there was so much about weddings I just didn't know.“

We can't argue with that! Find a vendor whose work and style you groove with, tell them your dreams, and they'll help make them a reality for one magical day.

Wedding vendors:

• Planner: Rêverie Events by Jessica Reneé IG: @reve.events
• Venue: The Howey Mansion IG: @thehoweymansion
• Photographer: Koontz Photography IG: @koontzphotography
• Videographer: Mogue Films IG: @moguefilms
• Catering: Arthur’s Catering IG: @arthurscatering
• Cake: Sugar Sugar Custom Cake Boutique IG: @sugarsugarcakeboutique
• Florals: Alyssa Maldonado Design IG: @alyssamaldonadodesign
• Rentals: Ocean Hawks Rentals IG: @oceanhawksrentals
• Pipe/Drape: Bryant Productions IG: @bryantproductionevents
• Tent: Party Plus IG: @partyplustentsandeventsfl
• Signage and Stationery: Bowtie & Brush IG: @bowtieandbrush
• DJ: Entertainment Metropolis Productions
• Live Band: Sound Society Radio IG: @soundsocietyradio
• Photobooth: Photobooth Rocks IG: @photoboothrocks
• Audio Guestbook: After the Tone IG: @afterthetone.co
• Dress: Enchanted Bride IG: @enchantedbride.lakemary
• Rings: Brilliant Earth IG: @brilliantearth