Our Story
As Told By The Mother of the Groom ...
It is 1990, we were living in our house in Bayside for two years, when a family moved next door, the Pistilli's. We quickly became friends when I offered to dry Jamie’s clothes when her dryer broke. We were about the same age, were in the same business, and had kids around the same age: I had a son, Joey, age 2, she had a son, Michael, age 4, and a newborn daughter, Lindsay.
We started vacationing together and the kids spent a lot of time together. We were all best friends! I would occassionally say "these two will get married one day." Jamie would say “I hope they do that after having separate lives." The kids would visit each other by going over THE FENCE that was between our properties.
In 2001, we moved to Long Island and the Pistilli's moved to Westchester. The kids didn’t see each other as often, went to different grammar schools, high schools, and colleges. Jamie and I remained best friends, but the families saw each other only for big occasions, such as Lindsay’s sweet 16, Joey’s 21st birthday party and Joey’s high school and college graduation.
In early summer of 2013, Big Joe, Jamie’s husband, suggested having a family reunion at our house in Westhampton.
It was scheduled for the weekend of August 9th. The Pistilli's and Camerata's met for dinner that Friday at Joe's American Grill in Westhampton Beach. All I can say is that the place was STEAMING HOT! What Jamie and I were talking about in the early 1990's was coming true. Lindsay and Joey started dating the following month - and the rest is history!
"WE’RE HAVING A WEDDING!"
As Told By The Mother of the Bride ...
Lindsay and Joey spent their “formative years” together. They never knew life without consciously knowing one another.
Life was easy, we would just pass the three of them (Lindsay’s brother, Michael, included) over THE FENCE.
As the youngest, Lindsay always wanted to be with the boys. She often reminded us that she was "not a girl, she was a boy girl." Just listening to the theme music of Mario Brothers can bring me back to the hours of giggling.
As mother's, Sue and I would call each other just to tell one another how much fun they were having. Lindsay was thrilled to join in with a controller that was not connected and the three of them spent hours laughing. - Of course, once Lindsay realized that her controller did not work, she became a true contender!
During this time, family vacations, commuting to summer camp, first communion, trick or treating, Christmas, Easter, and birthday parties were spent together.
When Lindsay was 10 and Joey, 12, each family moved approximately 1 hour distance from one another. Needless to say life went on and they each had their own lives.
Then, one weekend, two and a half years ago, Joe (Lindsay’s Dad) decided we should have a “family reunion."
We did, and it was not only mother’s intuition.
One would have to be blind if you did not notice the bond and attraction between the two of them. - and the rest is history!