Julia and Peter at Park Chateau Estate and Gardens

Posted on July 16, 2025
By Molly Gregor

Their Story

Julia and Peter first met at their CrossFit gym. “I used to refer to him as ‘the cute guy at the gym’ when I’d talk to my friends,” Julia admits. Eventually, he made the first move by sliding into her Instagram DMs after a boat day with some of their gym crew—and that kicked things off. “We took things slow after that, but our first date (right after a workout, of course) was at an all-you-can-eat sushi spot,” she adds. “From there, things just felt easy. Our typical date nights were simple and cozy—takeout, cooking, movies, puzzles and really great conversation. I’ve truly never been treated so well in my life. He made it clear from the beginning that I was a priority, and I always felt seen, loved and completely myself with him. We just fit.”

Will You Marry Me?

Julia always had a feeling the proposal might happen at the Penn State Whiteout game in 2023. “It’s our biggest tailgate of the year, surrounded by friends and family, and it just felt like the perfect setting,” she explains. “Even my friends were convinced—that’s how confident we all were. They actually had koozies made that said ‘WE ARE engaged!’ ready to pass out. And funny enough…that was the plan.”

But the ring didn’t arrive in time, so the proposal was put on hold, and the koozies were handed off to Julia’s brother and his girlfriend—just in case it happened at the Homecoming game instead. “At that point, I truly wasn’t expecting anything,” Julia says. “My dad, who’s a chef, always cooks for our tailgates, and before we eat, I usually snap a few photos and videos of the spread. Right as I was getting ready to do that, my dad said Pete had something to say. I was confused at first—and then, in the rain, Pete got down on one knee. We were both crying. It was so personal, so unexpected and so perfectly us. (There’s even an article about it on Onward State!)”

Details of the Day

Julia and Pete wanted their wedding to feel timeless and elevated, with a few fun twists that made it uniquely them. Their color palette was classic black and white with gold accents, and their floral design—handled perfectly by Nicole from You Grow Gal—was a mix of white flowers and greenery, including Julia’s favorite: roses. “We did real florals for our personals and silk for the décor, which was the best decision and pulled off so flawlessly, you’d never know the difference,” Julia adds.

“Our ceremony took place in the chapel at Park Chateau, officiated by Pastor Drew, who not only leads one of the churches we attend but is also the chaplain at Pete’s firehouse—so it felt incredibly personal,” Julia says.

A live pianist and violinist played throughout the ceremony, which added such a romantic touch. As for the party? They didn’t hold back. “Our bridal party entrances were completely up to them—and they delivered,” Julia explains. “There were bubble guns, beer chugs, dancing, a giant head of me and a bunch of mini heads of Pete passed out on sticks. One group did a full-blown Top Gun reenactment, complete with headsets and ground-crew gear. Pete and I walked into the reception to “Fireball” (our shot of choice), while the bridal party handed out Fireball shots to every guest—and we all took one together before the dancing kicked off.”

The dance floor energy was high all night. They had glow sticks, bubble guns and nonstop singing and dancing to throwbacks and classics. During the Viennese hour, the couple surprised guests with Penn State Creamery ice cream—a nod to their favorite place and engagement story. And instead of a traditional guest book, they had two Penn State jerseys for guests to sign, creating keepsakes they’ll actually display and use. “It truly felt like a celebration of love, fun and all the people who mean the most to us,” Julia adds.

Why Did You Choose Park Chateau?

“Park Chateau was actually the very first venue we toured—which in hindsight might’ve been a mistake, because after that, nothing else even came close,” Julia says. “We saw 10-plus other venues, but none of them compared. From the moment we stepped onto the property, we were in love with every detail—the stunning chapel, the gardens, the ballroom, the architecture, the vibe. It felt luxurious without being over the top, with a perfect blend of light elegance and moody romance that really reflected both of our styles.”

Park Chateau also gave them plenty of space for the big celebration they wanted, surrounded by all of their friends and family. “When we came back to tour it again with my parents, they happened to be setting up for another wedding—and seeing the venue fully styled in action just sealed the deal,” Julia says. “The level of service and attention to detail is truly next level. Five stars doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’ve joked (but not really) that I want to get married there again!”

Favorite Moment

“One of my favorite moments of the entire day was our first look and private vows,” Julia explains. “The whole day was amazing—loud, joyful, full of energy—but that was the one part that was just us. It was quiet, intimate, and everything else kind of faded away. I was so nervous walking down the staircase to meet him—honestly more nervous than I expected. Pete hadn’t seen my dress—or really any of the details—and just seeing him with his back turned at the bottom of the staircase made my heart swell.”

Fun fact: Pete actually slipped on the way down earlier and nearly took out the flowers on the staircase. “When he finally turned around, he was already crying—and nothing felt better than being together after the wildness of the morning,” Julia adds. “We read our private vows to each other right after, and it was such an emotional moment. Pete had a hard time getting through his, and I instinctively reached for his hand while holding back my own tears. And of course, in true us fashion, we both somehow worked Penn State football losses into our vows. It was emotional, it was personal, and it was perfect.”

Favorite Detail

Their deejay—Christian from SCE Event Group—was a non-negotiable for Julia. “He actually DJed my Sweet 16—before he was even with SCE—and completely stole the show,” she explains. “After that, he ended up doing so many of my friends’ Sweet 16s and family events because he was just that good. I always said, ‘Christian is going to DJ my wedding one day,’ and I meant it. The second I got engaged, one of the first people I reached out to was Christian—before I had a venue or even a date. That’s how important he was to our day. The date we picked literally revolved around his availability. Having him there on our wedding day, surrounded by so many of the same friends and family he DJed for years ago, was such a full-circle moment. No one else could’ve brought the energy, fun and heart to our celebration like he did. It was always meant to be him.”

Advice for Others

Throughout their engagement, Pete and Julia made a point to do date night on the 24th of each month—their wedding date. “It was a way to stay connected and intentional through the planning chaos,” Julia says. “Pete was also involved in everything. I made sure he was on every call, we discussed things before I sent emails, and his input mattered. This wasn’t just my day—it was ours. That mindset made the whole process feel more meaningful and collaborative. Wedding planning definitely has its stressful moments, but we kept reminding ourselves that the ultimate goal was to become husband and wife. The wedding was just the start of something bigger—the beginning of our life together. That’s where all the magic really is.”

Honeymoon

The couple honeymooned in Jamaica at Sandals Dunn’s River. “Neither of us had ever been before, so it felt like the perfect place to explore together,” Julia says. “We left the Monday after the wedding and stayed almost a full week, which gave us the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. One of our favorite parts of the trip was climbing Dunn’s River Falls—it was such a fun experience and a total highlight. The food and drinks were amazing, and we really just let ourselves relax.” They had a couples’ massage, breakfast in bed and even a romantic candlelit dinner on the beach. One of their best decisions? Renting a poolside cabana for the day. “We had a bed, shade and a butler bringing us food and drinks whenever we wanted—it was glorious. After all the planning and excitement, it was exactly what we needed.”