Catherine DiGiacomo and Carlos Calderon tied the knot at The Lake House Inn in Perkasie, Pennsylvania.

Written by Tara Behan
Photos by Tyler Boye Photography

HOW THEY MET:

After graduating from Phoenixville High School, Catherine DiGiacomo and her best friend decided to leave the East Coast and head west to live in Los Angeles. It was a dream come true for the adventurous friends. “I had some family in California,” says DiGiacomo, “but we really moved there for a change of pace.”

Little did DiGiacomo know that it would be in California, thousands of miles from her hometown, that she would meet the man she would marry.

DiGiacomo landed a job as an editor for a news syndicate in the South Bay of Los Angeles. It was there that she met her now-husband, Carlos Calderon, who worked in the accounting department. Calderon was a Los Angeles native, who was immediately taken with the new girl from Pennsylvania. “We started dating, but we had to keep it secret in the beginning because it was against protocol to date co-workers,” says DiGiacomo. Four months into their relationship the higher-ups at the company found out. To DiGiacomo and Calderon’s relief the company was very supportive of the relationship. “Everyone was really happy for us,” says DiGiacomo.

When the couple started discussing marriage, DiGiacomo knew she wanted to head back east. “You value those family interactions more once you get older than when you’re 18 and you just want to get away.”

So the couple moved back to DiGiacomo’s hometown in July 2015 after six years of living out west.

Tyler Boye Photography

HOW HE PROPOSED:

On Oct. 1, 2015, DiGiacomo and Calderon moved into their first apartment in Pennsylvania. “My parents were there helping us to unpack and move furniture around,” says DiGiacomo. Calderon’s mother had sent the couple an espresso maker as a housewarming gift, so DiGiacomo decided to set it up to make espresso for Calderon and her parents. “I thought we needed the caffeine to help us through the rest of the day,” she recalls laughing. She was confused as to why her parents and Calderon kept yelling at her to stop fiddling with the espresso maker and just open the can of espresso. Once she opened it, she realized why they were so impatient. Inside, the espresso had been replaced with rose petals covering a white box holding a sparkling diamond engagement ring. “My parents were in on the surprise,” she says. “My mom filmed the whole thing.” Calderon stunned DiGiacomo with the proposal. “It was very unexpected,” she says. “We definitely discussed marriage, but we had just spent so much money moving that I thought it would be awhile before it happened.”

Tyler Boye Photography

THE BIG DAY:

The couple had a few must-haves when searching for a reception location. They wanted a place that could host both the ceremony and the reception. The couple also knew that the majority of Calderon’s family and friends would be coming in from California, so they wanted a venue that had overnight accommodations for their guests. “Our No. 1 concern was that we didn’t want any of our guests to be put out in any way,” says DiGiacomo.

The first venue the couple visited, The Lake House Inn, in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, met all their criteria. “I immediately fell in love with it,” says DiGiacomo. “It’s so gorgeous.” The 19th-century, historic structure overlooks the picturesque Lake Nockamixon and sits on a 6,000-acre state park. The Lake House Inn also has 14 overnight suites to accommodate up to 40 guests, which checked off the couples’ need for lodging.

Just as a bride shouldn’t buy the first dress she tries on, the couple knew that they should visit other venues before making a final decision. After visiting more than 15 other reception venues, the couple circled back to The Lake House Inn. “Nothing else we saw could compare,” says DiGiacomo.

The couple married on April 7, 2017. DiGiacomo’s best friend, who ventured with her to California all those years ago, stood as her maid of honor. Calderon chose his childhood friend and his brother to be his best men. Tyler Boye of Tyler Boye Photography was the official photographer for the day. “I really liked Tyler’s style,” says DiGiacomo. “We also found out that Tyler and his wife, Stephanie, have a very similar story to ours.” It turns out that Tyler and Stephanie are both originally from Pennsylvania, but they met while they were living in California. Now, just like DiGiacomo and Calderon, they’re back living in their home state. “Carlos and I really felt comfortable with them,” says DiGiacomo. “We’re both camera shy, so they definitely put us at ease.” During the reception, Calderon did a traditional salsa dance with his mother to the song Kuku Cha Kucha for their mother-son dance.

“The entire day was perfect,” says DiGiacomo. “It was everything we imagined it would be.”

Tyler Boye Photography

Tyler Boye Photography

Tyler Boye Photography

DETAILS:

CEREMONY AND RECEPTION: The Lake House Inn
CATERING: Jeffrey Miller Catering
WEDDING PLANNER: Anthia Graham of Jeffrey Miller Catering/The Lake House Inn
DRESS: Pronovias New York
BRIDESMAIDS’ GOWNS: David’s Bridal
SUIT (GROOM): Sagets Formal Wear of Phoenixville
SUITS (GROOMSMEN): Men’s Wearhouse
HAIR: Stacey Povorotney, Blaze Salon
MAKEUP: Sarah Paira
FLORIST: Buttercup (part of Jeffrey Miller Catering)
CEREMONY ENTERTAINMENT: Steve Croce of Silver Sound Entertainment
FIRST DANCE: “Home” by Leon Bridges
FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE: “Daughter” by Loudon Wainwright lll