JILLYN SNOWDEN & EARL RICHARDSON

Jillyn Snowden and Earl Richardson’s relationship had been an oddity ever since their first date in NYC during the summer of 2010. The two met via Match.com–back when online dating was still considered to be “taboo”–and Jillyn made the first move by sending Earl a sweet and hilarious message in response to his tagline, “You’re killin’ me, Smalls!” from the movie, The Sandlot. 

After messaging back and forth for a few days, they met at a karaoke bar, downed a few glasses of whiskey, and performed Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” together. Earl and Jillyn both felt that they had met a kindred spirit who was more than ready to be goofy and weird at a moment’s notice.

During a three-week trip to Spain, the couple was basking in the glorious summer heat of the Costa Brava as Earl’s mind was racing, trying to figure out when he would pull the engagement ring out of his travel bag and propose. He decided to pretend he wanted to take pictures of the sunrise at 6am, and that it’d be nice to take a quick one-mile walk from their hotel to the beach. 

With the darkness and winding roads, however, that morning walk turned out to be a four-mile hike. Fortunately for Jillyn, her support and enthusiasm were rewarded with a sunrise beach proposal, after which the couple loudly began singing “Never Gonna Give You Up.” In the distance, fishermen were yelling “Callete!” (Shut up).

The wedding planning process began soon after the couple returned to their home in Brooklyn, New York. Being a very fashion-forward person, Jillyn wanted the wedding to have a timeless black tie ambiance, yet with elements of couture fashion sprinkled throughout. In fact, the entire wedding theme was inspired by a replica of a gold-capped feathered cape from Zuhair Murad’s Spring 2013 collection, as it reminded Earl of a Grecian goddess–a concept his fiancé loved.

When the big day arrived, Earl recalls being “relaxed and carefree.” He got dressed with his groomsmen, feeling grateful he had practiced tying a bowtie, and the guys ate breakfast before heading down for photos. Unlike the groomsmen, Jillyn and her bridesmaids needed ample prep time, which always leads to a bit of a rush. Despite the stress of getting ready, however, her main focus was on how badly she wanted to see Earl for their first look. Once it was finally time for first look photos, the bride glided down the winding staircase of the St. Regis and a burst of light shot through the large windows, hitting her dress and cape. According to the groom, “she did in fact look like a Grecian Goddess come to life.”

The entire wedding day was like a dream for Jillyn and Earl; and even though they were initially nervous about how their rowdy friends would mesh with their family, everything transpired smoothly. By the end of the night, the newlyweds were having an amazing time dancing until 2am with the people they care about the most.

> Written By: Lauren Malamala