Once again, ‘I do’

Interrupted by pandemic, 3rd time is the charm for Cranston couple

By ERIN O’BRIEN
Posted 4/27/22

If patience is a virtue, Caitlin and Bryan Schnell are very virtuous indeed. Their two-year-long trip to the altar was filled with detours and speed bumps.

The Cranston born couple grew up only …

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Once again, ‘I do’

Interrupted by pandemic, 3rd time is the charm for Cranston couple

Posted

If patience is a virtue, Caitlin and Bryan Schnell are very virtuous indeed. Their two-year-long trip to the altar was filled with detours and speed bumps.

The Cranston born couple grew up only five minutes away from each other, meeting sophomore year, despite attending separate high schools. Caitlin was enrolled at St. Mary’s Academy-Bay View, and Bryan at Cranston West. “We always had the same group of friends in Cranston!” Caitlin explains. Among their extended group of friends, their bond strengthened over time.

Caitlin, whose alma mater is Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, earned her degree in social work and is a preschool teacher at Little Learners Academy of Cranston. Bryan, a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, earned his degree in ocean engineering, and is employed as chief technical officer at Audio Concepts, North Attleboro.

The couple’s first wedding, April 10, 2020, was not a formal affair, but a short ceremony on Bryan’s parents’ front lawn. During the height of the pandemic, mask-wearing wedding guests surprised the couple to witness the nuptials from their parked cars, in a scene evocative of a drive-in movie.

It was year that seemed like two years, when, in the spring of 2020, everything came to a standstill. Out of an abundance of caution, and with federal mandates in place, trips across the globe and even to the grocery store, graduations, and religious ceremonies were limited, postponed, even cancelled.

Their wedding and reception redux was scheduled for July 11, 2021…

…Jace Bryan Schnell was born, April 13th, three days after the couple’s first wedding anniversary.

Their day was then re-rescheduled for April 22, 2022.

Their new wedding date developed into a picture post card day. Daffodils emerged along the route to Newport, while ships’ masts punctuated the skyline. Seagulls soared over the causeway bridge and the dark blue waves, on the approach to Gurney’s Newport Resort on Goat Island.

Under the shade of the pine trees at Gurney’s, passing cars in the distance sparkled like gems as they crossed the Newport bridge. White hydrangeas and blush colored roses adorned white wooden folding chairs on the lawn.

“Thank you for coming,”whispered Jana, warmly, the lovely mother of the groom, on the arm of her husband, David Schnell.

Behind the scenes, the bridesmaids gathered in a cluster, their flowing gowns billowing in the breeze. Two petite flower girls waited in anticipation beside a young ring bearer. Jace, the youngest attendee at his parents’ wedding, traveled down the aisle in a pint-sized remote-controlled car.

On the arm of her father, Robert Jackson, Caitlin glowed as she floated across the lawn to her beloved, their infant son, their attendants, and Calvin, their French bulldog.

“After two years we finally got here for the real thing!” began the Reverend John Egan in welcome, eliciting laughter. He then called to mind those lost to the pandemic, offering a moment of quiet reflection.

“You cannot call me impatient,” Caitlin said with a chuckle, in her vows, “I have waited two years, twelve days, five hours, and many, many minutes for this day!” before closing with, “My mom’s wish came true…” she said, as she lovingly gazed into her groom’s eyes.

“Caitlin, you gave me the greatest gift…our beautiful son, Jace,” Bryan responded in his vows. In tribute to his bride, he shared with confidence that her mom would be proud to know the wonderful mother she had become.

Reverend Egan shared the couple’s infectious joy, with the words, “By the power vested in me, I’m happy to, once again,” to collective laughter, “pronounce you husband and wife!”

The on-site reception included archival mementos of their first wedding, handmade signs created by their masked and vehicle-bound guests from their 2020 ceremony, a recording of the local TV news report of Bryan and Caitlin at their original nuptials two years ago, and their love story in the Cranston Herald.

“I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day,” Caitlin beamed, on the day they said, “Yes,” all over again.

One can only imagine what next April will bring for this beautiful young family.

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