BMWK: That’s funny. So what point did you guys start officially dating? Was that during college?

Jill: It all started really quickly. I remember our first date was September 12^th our Freshman year, and we pretty much dated exclusively from then on.

BMWK: I absolutely love it. So what would you say was your favorite wedding day memory?

Jill: Oh my goodness, there were lots. My absolute favorite part on the sentimental side of me was being walked down the aisle with my dad who passed away a few years ago, and seeing Paul at the end of the aisle, and he was tearing up. It was just emotional. It was the most amazing part of the wedding to me.

I love weddings and I love going to weddings, but my favorite part is always the ceremony. Even though the receptions are always fun, it’s the meaning behind the ceremony that’s so special to me. But I would have to say after the sentimental stuff, my favorite part was at our reception when Paul surprised me with a song. And no, he’s not a singer [laughs]. But he dressed up in a special costume and I think everyone except my mother knew who he was. But he sang with the band.

BMWK: [laughs] What song was it?

Jill: It was Love and Happiness by Al Green.

Paul: [laughs] There’s a quick story behind that song. My plan wasn’t to sing that song. The goal was to surprise everyone by hiring Al Green to sing the song. And that was the first time I learned these artists are expensive. I’ll never forget calling his booking agent. I said I wanted to hire Al Green. He asked about the venue and I told him it’s a wedding. He said, ‘A wedding? Well what’s the budget?’ I said, well one or two thousand dollars. Then he said it’s at least 25K with first class airfare, hair and make-up. I couldn’t believe it. But I had this vision of Al Green performing at the wedding. So the next bet was to dress up as Al Green and perform instead.

BMWK: [laughs] Ah, I love it. Now, that’s love! Do you have a best memory, Paul?

Paul: Jill is going to probably laugh but at the end I was crying.

Jill: He was crying, yes.

BWMK: At the end of the reception?

Paul: Yeah [laughs]. Partly because we were all drinking a lot! We had fireworks at our wedding, which was cool. And Jill and I waited by the door while everyone was coming outside and gathered in a recession line so they could say goodbye as we walked to the car. We’re leaving, the fireworks are going off, it’s a beautiful night, you see family and friends you haven’t seen in years, and it hits me: Folks are happy. We’re adults. We’re entering this new stage in life—we’re leaving our families. It also hit me knowing people we wanted there were not there. We had a really good friend of ours who had recently passed away and we knew he would’ve been happy to be there. So all of those emotions hitting at once, not necessarily my favorite, but definitely the most memorable

Jill: [laughs] Yeah. Paul was very emotional that day. I’ve never been kissed more by Paul than in all the years we dated. He was very emotional that day. He was just a different Paul that day.

Paul: [laughs] Yeah Jill likes to look back on those pictures and laugh.