PIPER BEN &

Ben and Piper are the modern love story. They meet on Hinge in 2019 and through a series of intense family events on both sides ended up quarantining together. The more time they spent together, the more in love they fell. It was a whirlwind of adventure and chaos from the jump — graduate school for Ben, launched two businesses as a team and continue to expand them, moved across the country to start making wine in Oregon. Through all the trials and tribulations that come with big life changes, they grew more and more in love, finding balance and strength through their relationship. They saw that adversity only made them more committed and more in love.

What was the moment you knew you loved him/her?

Piper: I fell in love with him over and over. But the day I knew he was the one was on our first bike ride a few months into us hanging out. We ended up riding farther and longer than I had ever ridden because we were enjoying each other’s company. The time flew by!

Ben: It was literally the first time I saw her at a bar in Park City, Utah. I will remember every detail of that night for the rest of my life.

How did you know he/she was the one for you?

Piper: When he decided to fully quarantine away from his friends and family at the beginning of the pandemic to be with my family when my family was going through some health issues. He was willing to do whatever it took to be there for me and support me.

Ben: I knew right away, but it was solidified when she cared for me after I broke my leg in a gnarly mountain-biking accident early in our relationship. She dropped everything to care for me!

What is your best marriage advice that you’ve learned or received so far?

Piper: “Always celebrate each other and never forget the feeling on the day of your wedding.”

Ben: “Say I love you every day!”

Please describe any special traditions incorporated into the wedding.

Piper arrived at the wedding in a 1925 Goodhew Hawkins 33-foot laker wooden boat that was built on the shores of, and lived in the Walgreen family camp on, Lake Winnipesaukee. When it joined the Underbrink family, it was renamed Genevieve after my late grandmother. It was a tribute to Grandma Pauline for the bride to ride in her namesake boat with her father to the wedding. And the dock was the aisle!

Please describe any other special touches, details or decor of interest?

The reception/dinner was held in the family boathouse surrounded by antique restored boats from various decades. The band that played was originally founded by Piper’s mother in 1984 in Minneapolis and she sang the bride and groom’s first dance song, as well as the song for the father/daughter dance.

What was your favorite wedding day memory?

Piper: I think the best part for me was twofold: 1. The vows and, honestly, the entire ceremony. The boat ride, the dress, seeing my husband and hearing the vows all finished with a horn band playing songs from the hilltop by the lake. It was surreal to have my favorite people in my favorite place! Also, having my mother sing my father/daughter dance song was a memory I will cherish forever.

Ben: For me it was seeing Piper come up on the boat and hearing everyone cheer for her.

What did you learn from planning your wedding?

Piper: That everyone will have fun no matter what. I also learned after the wedding that taking special care with the seating chart really makes a difference. People were so thankful for sitting next to new people that they had things in common with. It was so fun to see new friendships grow!

Ben: That you can really pack a lot into a short weekend; we are capable of more than we thought.

What is your best advice for other brides and grooms who are planning their weddings?

Get a killer wedding planner. It is worth everything to have someone who is the point person. They are the best for organizing and communicating with all the vendors, as well as managing people on the day. This is critical so that the bride and groom can enjoy and focus on each other. Kendra Johnson was instrumental in creating the best experience and transforming a garage into a wedding fairytale land. Plus, they are experts in not only management but also the ins and outs of things you tend to forget. For example, tipping (how much, when, etc.), flow of the event, timing and the small tasks (gifting, outfit changes, etc.). They also know everyone in their area. If you choose to get married somewhere you don’t live, they can meet with all the vendors and make sure they understand the assignment and have access to the venue. ♡