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Photography by Tina Halturin Photography
Libby and John
August 21, 2004
St. Louis, Missouri
ABOUT THE BRIDE: Libby Werner (now Scrofano) grew up in
Kirkwood, Missouri with her brother David, and parents Tom and Susan.
The family has always been strong, loving, and very close. Growing
up, the front door was always open and the Werners frequently housed
friends, international students, and missionaries. Libby and her
family are members of Greentree Church in Kirkwood. Libby attended
Kirkwood High School and went on to Indiana University to study
history, German, and linguistics. While at IU, Libby was also involved
with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. Libby graduated in 3 years
from IU and then spent a semester in Florence, Italy earning a
certificate in Culinary Arts.
ABOUT THE GROOM: John Scrofano grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio
with two sisters, Kristen and Shannon, and his parents Sal and Linda.
John was also fortunate to grow up in a loving and supportive family.
Linda knew John would be a businessman in second grade when he dressed
up for Halloween as a $20 bill. John started a lawn business at age
13 and was involved with way too many activities at his beloved
St. Xavier high school. After high school, John wanted to go to a top
business school that offered a real estate degree and decided on
Indiana University. Once there he majored in Finance-Real Estate and
Entrepreneurship. He was also very involved with the Navigators -- a
Christian campus ministry.
HOW WE MET: John's dad "highly recommended" that he apply to
become a Resident Assistant (RA) his second year of college on the
dorm floor he loved (Honors Community) so the out-of-state tuition was
less of a sting. That next year, his co-ed floor of 50 students
contained a certain Libby Werner. After becoming friends the first year,
they both had a crush on each other. Junior year, John was still the
RA -- and to John's delight, Libby decided to stay on the floor another
year. By the end of the semester they were best friends. Then on Fat
Tuesday (most romantic holiday of the year, of course) John initiated a
relationship.
ENGAGEMENT: Libby finished school a year early and decided
to go to culinary school in Florence for the first semester while John
was a senior. The time was right for them to get married that summer,
they were in love, and Libby was in Florence (not as romantic as Fat
Tuesday -- but not bad). John drove to St. Louis to seek permission
and blessing from Libby's parents and they encouraged the Florence
engagement plan. Susan particularly helped in scheming some of the
details. Early that semester, Libby's family went over to visit her
for a week and found out about the Ponte Vecchio -- a famous
Florentine bridge that spans the Arno river and has been lined with
jewelry shops for centuries. In the middle of the bridge the shops
give way for a beautiful view of the river. On either side there are
metal cables that run down under the bridge. On these cables are
thousands of key locks (like one would use for a locker or gate).
An old Florentine tradition is for men to propose on the bridge, the
two lovebirds then putting a lock on the cable and throwing the key into the
river, symbolizing eternal love and commitment. John went and found
the most beautiful chrome-plated brass, bullet-proof, lock-pick proof
lock with the engraving of the date and the verse 1 John 3:18 ("Dear
children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and
in truth"). John and his mom went ring shopping together and John's
parents graciously gave him a Christmas gift of a plane ticket to
Florence forthe last week of December.
The plan was to propose on New Year's Eve on the Ponte Vecchio. John
went for a jog that morning by to scope out and finalize the details of
the plan.
At 11:30 that evening John and Libby went out for a "walk". As they
were nearing the Ponte Vecchio the streets started to get congested
with people. John suddenly realized that maybe on New Year's Eve,
there would be more people on that bridge than the few dozen he was
picturing in his head. As they turned onto the street that runs
parallel with the river, the bridge and 50,000 screaming inebriated
Italians were in the way blocking any possibility of a proposal.
Plan B -- they started walking towards a hotel that Libby's aunt Wendy
had stayed in when she came to visit earlier that semester. The sixth
floor was a balcony that overlooked the Duomo and part of one of the
squares in Florence -- a beautiful setting that would work fine.
Fortunately the hotel reception was on the fifth floor and John and
Libby snuck up to the balcony on the sixth floor. The rest is history
and they got to go put the lock on the bridge the next day.
PLANNING: Libby was living in St. Louis with her parents
that final semester of John's senior year at IU until they were to be
married in August. Libby and her mom had a lot of fun planning out
details of the wedding. The two most important things to them were
music and food. Susan, a professor of voice, was friends with many
wonderful musicians. Libby's aunt Wendy was and is truly the queen of
networking and knew the exact caterer to hire to make a Tuscan
inspired feast for the reception -- Linda Pilcher of
Something Elegant Catering.
A cake sampling from Tim Brennan of Cravings proved to be the best tasting
cake any of us have ever tried.
ATTIRE: The groom and groomsmen wore European cutaway
tuxedos. The bride wore an enchanting ivory dress with cathedral
length train. The bridesmaids wore black dresses of their choice.
THE CEREMONY: The ceremony took place at 12:30, August 21,
2004 in the Jewel Box in Forest Park and was held by Pastor Tom Ricks
of Greentree Community Church. The day was sunny and a perfect 73
degrees.
THE RECEPTION: It was a huge party put on by the Werners at the Des Peres
community center. Over 200 guests enjoyed delicious appetizers with
Prosecco (Italian Champagne) and then were seated to a meal of cucumber
soup and pita chips, grilled pork chops with grilled peaches, rosemary
potatoes, and green beans with feta, toasted walnuts, and mint. The
cakes lived up to the standards of the sampling and ended the meal
perfectly.
VENDORS WE USED:
Photography - Tina Halturin Photography
Caterer - Something Elegant Catering - Linda Pilcher
Cravings - Tim Brennan
Flowers - Bozzay Florists
Wedding - Jewel Box - St. Louis Parks
Reception - Des Peres Community Center
Tuxedos - Men's Warehouse
Invitations - Becky Peters
If you have questions or comments for Libby and John please
e-mail them.
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