Photos by Fuller Photography
Just before the statewide lockdown in March 2020, the Penn State sweethearts held their ceremony in Newtown Square in front of 165 guests.
On an unseasonably warm March day last year, the daffodils and cherry trees were already in bloom. Not only were Kathy O’Hearn and Steve McGettigan blessed with perfect weather, but their wedding would go forward in Pennsylvania as the pandemic loomed. Though Gov. Tom Wolf had just declared an impending statewide lockdown the following week, the couple had just enough time to safely wed. And while several guests opted not to attend out of an abundance of caution, their big day went off without a hitch.
Kathy and Steve’s relationship felt special from the start, kicking off just prior to their senior year at Penn State University. “There was never any hesitation on either of our parts,” says Steve. “We just knew we were both serious about this and committed.”
The pair later came east, sampling Conshohocken and East Falls before settling in Phoenixville. Nearly five years after they first met, Steve popped the question on May 5, 2018, during a visit to Rittenhouse Square. It was just a few days before Kathy’s birthday and a trip to New Orleans, where she’d suspected Steve might propose. “It totally caught me off guard,” Kathy recalls.
After Steve got down on one knee, they headed to the Irish Pub. “All our friends and family were there, so it was a lot of fun,” says Steve.
Looking to hold the ceremony and reception in one place, the couple chose the Ballroom at Ellis Preserve in Newtown Square. Steve’s cousin presided, and the two exchanged their own vows. “That was really important to me,” Kathy says. “We’re both Catholic, and we toyed with the idea of having a Catholic ceremony. But I really wanted to make sure the words we said to each other were our own.”
Their golden retriever, Toby, was also present, accompanied down the aisle by one of Steve’s groomsmen. His tail wagging, Toby stayed through cocktail hour, mingling with the guests. “We’re fortunate to have had all of our friends and family together,” says Steve.
Ceremony and reception: Ballroom at Ellis Preserve.
Number of guests: 165.
Bridal gown: Essense of Australia, Jay West.
Bridesmaids’ gowns: Azazie.
Groom’s and groomsmen’s suits: Central PA Tuxedo.
Hair: Up Your Do.
Makeup: Dylan Michael Cosmetics.
Florist: Blue Moon Florist.
Caterer: Finley Catering.
Entertainment: Pop Philly.
First dance: Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s “Music to My Eyes.”
Photographer: Fuller Photography.
Videographer: Valley Creek Productions.
Honeymoon: Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Careers: Steve is a video project manager at Merck; Kathy is a support manager at Xandr.
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