About the Couple
Judy passed Jonathan in the hallway at SingStrong at about 5pm on Friday March 28, 2009. It was a wow moment. A love at first sight moment. A stop-everything-slow-motion-jaw-drop-change-your-life-moment.
"Whoah! Who's THAT!?!" exclaimed Jonathan's inner voice.
Judy was totally smitten with the handsome rockstar who had just sauntered by, and she fleetingly wondered if it was socially acceptable to make a quadruple-take at someone.
"Whoah! Who's THAT!?!" exclaimed Jonathan's inner voice.
Judy was totally smitten with the handsome rockstar who had just sauntered by, and she fleetingly wondered if it was socially acceptable to make a quadruple-take at someone.
This picture of Jonathan was taken just two hours later, so he looked much like this when Judy saw him. (Tragically, there do not appear to be any pictures of Judy from that night.)
Judy smiled over her shoulder as they passed, and Jonathan instantly chastised himself for looking in a less than pure way at someone who, he suddenly realized, could possibly be attending high school. (Bad Jonathan. No!) Given the fact that they happened to be in a high school at the time, Jonathan felt the danger was very real.
Judy secretly hoped that this rockstar with the piercing blue eyes and spectacular head of hair was a) into a cappella and actually attending this "Singing of the Strong" festival she had heard about, and b) also into individuals of the feminine variety.
That night Jonathan hosted a show and the next day, Jonathan performed with his a cappella group, Blue Jupiter on the SingStrong MainStage. Though the show had some 600 people in attendance, somehow, impossibly, he kept looking right at that one girl with the most enchanting eyes. The one who had passed him in the hall.
Judy couldn't take her gaze away from Jonathan for the whole time he was on stage. And while others enjoyed the singing, Judy multitasked: checklist activated. Interested in a cappella? Check! No wedding ring? Check. Into women? Unknown.
As any attendee will tell you, the SingStrong afterglow is even more festive than the concerts. Partly because the afterglow takes place at a bar setting instead of a HS Concert Hall. Partly because the bottled up excitement from a thrilling concert needs a little release. Reston's Buffalo Wing Factory may not seem like a party spot, but back in the day, when the SingStrong crowd took over, the energy was electric.
And at this particular afterglow, the festivities were in full force. Not only was it the first ever SingStrong, but it was also Jonathan's birthday. As soon as he entered the bar, friends sang happy birthday in harmony! And thanks to Diana and Marty, there was even a cake. Blue Jupiter was immediately called up to sing a few more songs. The love in the room was palpable. How could the night get any better!?
It was at this point that the Universe laughed.
Just as Jonathan finished singing, sitting right up front, drinking a beer, was Judy. She and her friend, Catherine, sat together at a small table by the make-shift stage to watch the evening unfold.
Jonathan saw her, instantly understood that, to be drinking a beer in a bar she was presumptively at least 21! (SAFE!) And upon singing the last note, he made an embarrassingly direct line for Judy, carelessly knocking over people and equipment. Without stopping, he pulled up a chair and sat about a quarter inch from Judy.
"Who are you?" he said with not-at-all-creepy, yet totally unblinking eye contact.
Into women. Check!
Judy laughed. She explained that her group, Kismet (which, appropriately, translates to "destiny" or "fate"), was checking out the a cappella festival. (Here's Kismet at SingStrong, pictured below)
Judy secretly hoped that this rockstar with the piercing blue eyes and spectacular head of hair was a) into a cappella and actually attending this "Singing of the Strong" festival she had heard about, and b) also into individuals of the feminine variety.
That night Jonathan hosted a show and the next day, Jonathan performed with his a cappella group, Blue Jupiter on the SingStrong MainStage. Though the show had some 600 people in attendance, somehow, impossibly, he kept looking right at that one girl with the most enchanting eyes. The one who had passed him in the hall.
Judy couldn't take her gaze away from Jonathan for the whole time he was on stage. And while others enjoyed the singing, Judy multitasked: checklist activated. Interested in a cappella? Check! No wedding ring? Check. Into women? Unknown.
As any attendee will tell you, the SingStrong afterglow is even more festive than the concerts. Partly because the afterglow takes place at a bar setting instead of a HS Concert Hall. Partly because the bottled up excitement from a thrilling concert needs a little release. Reston's Buffalo Wing Factory may not seem like a party spot, but back in the day, when the SingStrong crowd took over, the energy was electric.
And at this particular afterglow, the festivities were in full force. Not only was it the first ever SingStrong, but it was also Jonathan's birthday. As soon as he entered the bar, friends sang happy birthday in harmony! And thanks to Diana and Marty, there was even a cake. Blue Jupiter was immediately called up to sing a few more songs. The love in the room was palpable. How could the night get any better!?
It was at this point that the Universe laughed.
Just as Jonathan finished singing, sitting right up front, drinking a beer, was Judy. She and her friend, Catherine, sat together at a small table by the make-shift stage to watch the evening unfold.
Jonathan saw her, instantly understood that, to be drinking a beer in a bar she was presumptively at least 21! (SAFE!) And upon singing the last note, he made an embarrassingly direct line for Judy, carelessly knocking over people and equipment. Without stopping, he pulled up a chair and sat about a quarter inch from Judy.
"Who are you?" he said with not-at-all-creepy, yet totally unblinking eye contact.
Into women. Check!
Judy laughed. She explained that her group, Kismet (which, appropriately, translates to "destiny" or "fate"), was checking out the a cappella festival. (Here's Kismet at SingStrong, pictured below)
She introduced her friend, Catherine, who Jonathan tried but failed to focus on, even for politeness sake, before his head snapped back in locked position.
Judy asked "What are you drinking?"
Whatever Jonathan's answer was, ("Uh...some beer?") Judy responded with a feigned scolding. "It's your birthday! We're getting you a good beer. Follow me!" she said as they made their way through the crowd. (Packed Buffalo Wild Wings pictured below)
Judy asked "What are you drinking?"
Whatever Jonathan's answer was, ("Uh...some beer?") Judy responded with a feigned scolding. "It's your birthday! We're getting you a good beer. Follow me!" she said as they made their way through the crowd. (Packed Buffalo Wild Wings pictured below)
Up to the bar they went, where Judy sweet-talked the bartender into one last beer for Jonathan, even though they had already done last call.
More dreamy conversation, and tragically, the bar started to clear. "You should come to the after-after party," Jonathan said hopefully.
"I have to get home. It's a bit of a drive and we have an early day at SingStrong tomorrow..." Judy answered, thinking this co-called "after-after party" was a cute, but obvious ruse.
"OK, well, see you tomorrow then." Jonathan said. And then he actually went to a truly EPIC after-after party at which, among other things, members of the a cappella group, Vocal Line sang happy birthday to Jonathan in Danish. (Ask honor guard member, Line to sing it for you at the wedding. It's awesome and sounds nothing like the American version.)
The next day, Jonathan was teaching a class in vocal improvisation with his friend, Volker, from Germany. Attendees on this sleepy Sunday numbered only about 10 or so, but Judy was among them. When Judy entered the improv circle to add her spontaneous harmonies, Jonathan entered the circle to join her, and the two of them literally made beautiful music together.
Following the class, there were hugs and high fives all around. Judy even offered to help out for next year's SingStrong and Jonathan studiously input the information to his iPhone.
Soon began the texts, the emails, and the all-night phone calls. After just over one month of that, it was time for a date.
More dreamy conversation, and tragically, the bar started to clear. "You should come to the after-after party," Jonathan said hopefully.
"I have to get home. It's a bit of a drive and we have an early day at SingStrong tomorrow..." Judy answered, thinking this co-called "after-after party" was a cute, but obvious ruse.
"OK, well, see you tomorrow then." Jonathan said. And then he actually went to a truly EPIC after-after party at which, among other things, members of the a cappella group, Vocal Line sang happy birthday to Jonathan in Danish. (Ask honor guard member, Line to sing it for you at the wedding. It's awesome and sounds nothing like the American version.)
The next day, Jonathan was teaching a class in vocal improvisation with his friend, Volker, from Germany. Attendees on this sleepy Sunday numbered only about 10 or so, but Judy was among them. When Judy entered the improv circle to add her spontaneous harmonies, Jonathan entered the circle to join her, and the two of them literally made beautiful music together.
Following the class, there were hugs and high fives all around. Judy even offered to help out for next year's SingStrong and Jonathan studiously input the information to his iPhone.
Soon began the texts, the emails, and the all-night phone calls. After just over one month of that, it was time for a date.
The happy couple on date 1. May 1, 2009.
And then a year later, on move-in day. March 9, 2010.
And then on March 2, 2013 when Jonathan proposed in front of 600 people...