Lauren Carfagna & Ben Susan

photos by rhaina taylor photography

 

Since age 4, when they attended the same preschool, Lauren Carfagna and Ben Susan couldn’t seem to stop running into each other.

Every day, Ben’s mom picked up Lauren, and the two would ride together.

A wooden sign with a boy and a girl standing side by side stood outside Kinder Klasse, where the two saw each other nearly every day for a year.
Twenty-seven years later, that sign stood beside Lauren and Ben as they said their wedding vows.

“His mom passed away when he was 9, and part of me thinks maybe she had a little bit to do with this and kind of brought us back together,” Lauren says.
 

 

Lauren, 32, a counselor/associate professor at the Community College of Beaver County, and Ben, 31, a UPS driver, attended different elementary and high schools but kept in touch loosely through Facebook and mutual friends.

Then in late 2011, they ran into each other at the Edgeworth Club after Sewickley’s annual Light Up Night.

Lauren was with her family, and Ben was with a girlfriend for that event. Still, Lauren’s mother assured her that Ben didn’t take his eyes off of her.

Eight months later, they ran into each other again at the wedding of Lauren’s cousin. The next day, they had their first date, attending a Pittsburgh Steelers game.

At Lauren’s bridal shower, her mom presented her with the sign from the now-defunct preschool. The Brighton Township couple hung the sign in their game room and plan on passing it down to their future children.
 

 

A popcorn table with goodies from Pittsburgh Popcorn Company and a cookie table with treats supplied by Bella Christie & Lil’ Z’s Sweet Boutique and M&C Sweets were highlights of their day.

The bridal party surprised everyone with a group dance that Lauren choreographed and required everyone to practice before the big day.

Another highlight: One of Lauren’s bridesmaids, local singer Vanessa Campagna, sang at the ceremony.

“It was our fairy-tale wedding,” Lauren says. “We were kind of in our own little world that day. It was just perfect.”
 

 

Vendors

Ceremony & reception site
Pittsburgh Airport Marriott, Coraopolis

Caterer
Pittsburgh Airport Marriott

Cake
M&C Sweets

Dress
Enzoani, Ribbon Bridal

Hair
Pretty Hair Salon

Makeup
Sephora

Florist
Posies By Patti

Music
Studio E Entertainment

Wedding planner
Diane Dornenburg