Jacqueline + Michael

Jacqueline and Michael’s lush Tree of Life ceremony was so romantic. Their family and friends traveled from New York City, California, Alaska, London, UK, Miami, Seattle, Minnesota, DC, and Virginia to attend their special day.

Jacqueline grew up on the streets of Bensonhurst, an Italian turned Russian-Chinese neighborhood in deep Brooklyn. She attended amazing public schools – Mark Twain in Coney Island and Stuyvesant High School in Lower Manhattan – and dominated academically. Jacqueline grew a core group of NYC friends that remain her bedrock to this day.

Jacqui went to Cornell for undergrad. Her experience there is best summed up by the verb Ithacating: a mixed precipitation of snow, hail, rain, and slush coming from the dark grey sky, while it is absurdly cold outside in Ithaca, NY (see reference).

Having lived in NY for nearly her whole life, Jacqueline changed it up and moved to Los Angeles with fellow New Yorkers Emily and Tatyana. In LA, she discovered that driving was not optional and shared a sub-lease on a leased Honda Civic, waitressed at le Pain quotidien, enjoyed long walks on the beach, and successfully applied to med school.

Michael was raised in Southern California, Northern Kentucky, Minnesota, then Spokane, Los Angeles, and New Orleans, and has plans to grow up some day.

USC Medical School
One afternoon while studying for the Step 1 board exam, Mike and Jacqueline’s nerd groups accidentally crossed paths, and Jacqueline was piqued by Mike’s intelligent response for why patients with Mucopolysaccharidoses have coarse facies, “Because the lysosomes take a dump on their face.”

A few months later, Jacqueline and Mike were randomly paired up on their first clinical rotation – which happened to be the Psychiatric ward at Cedar Sinai. Between avoiding unstable psych residents (the doctors, not the patients), wandering the wards, surviving earthquakes, and ducking out early, their friendship began to grow.

Mike and Jacqueline began to spend more time together, and sometimes Mike crashed at her apartment which was close to the hospital, and willingly watched her favorite show, The Hills.

On a hot June day, Mike swung by the hospital and picked up Jacqueline for a surprise road trip to celebrate finishing another year of residency. Jacqueline had no clue what Mike what was up to (although in retrospect he seemed to be especially patient waiting in the lobby for a few hours).

They arrived at a plantation out of town, dropped their bags, and headed for Houmas House Plantation for dinner. While walking through an enchanted garden, Mike, who was a nervous wreck, suddenly stopped and got down on one knee. Jacqueline, delirious and sleep deprived, began to burst with tears. Between his mind-spinning trepidation (and poor memory), her outpouring of emotions, and the lack of video documentation, no one will ever know what was said on that fateful day.

She did accept his ring and the newly engaged couple went on to celebrate a wonderful meal at Latil’s Landing (or at least he ate while she remained in shock.)

Processional: La Vie En Rose
First Dance: Your Song

My favorite moments from our wedding day was my sister’s medley, rap tribute, and toast. Being pulled aside to share our first dinner together. Seeing everyone we love in one place.

Wedding Coordinator: Unique Weddings in New Orleans | Ceremony: Tree of Life | Reception: Race & Religious | Videographer: Bride Film | Florist: Pistil & Stamen | Cake: Crepe Truck | Second line band: Lagniappe | Cocktail hour music: Tanya & Dorise | Band: The Essentials | Transportation: Lakeland Tours | Second shooter: Daniel Waghorne