This Wilmington Couple Ties the Knot After Pandemic Postponements

Photos by Kerry Harrison

After several pandemic postponements, a Wilmington couple finally ties the knot in an intimate celebration at Terrain at Styer’s.

It was a rocky first date, but Chris Kelly was intrigued. “She was somebody who was going to keep me on my toes,” says Chris, noting his first impression of Jessica Micchelli.

The first weeks of their relationship were a whirlwind filled with ups in downs, including some great dates and the unfortunate passing of Jessica’s foster dog. Collectively, those moments helped bring the Wilmington couple closer together—so close that Jessica unofficially moved in.

By Thanksgiving 2018, they were talking about marriage. Picking an engagement ring she loved, Jessica assumed Chris would pop the question at Christmas. The day came and went with no proposal. Apparently, Chris also had a knack for keeping Jessica on her toes. Six months later, he popped the question in their home. It was Mother’s Day weekend, and the two celebrated with family.

The pandemic thwarted the couple’s plans for a May 2020 wedding with 180 guests at Greenville Country Club. After two postponements, they downsized to a much smaller ceremony a year later at Terrain at Styer’s in Glen Mills. The day was filled with personal touches. To honor their late pet, Minnie, Chris wore a tie covered with bichons. A friend of Jessica’s played the violin during a champagne welcome for their 19 guests. The bride walked down the aisle to a rendition of Maren Morris’ country hit “The Bones,” and another longtime friend presided over the ceremony. Jessica and Chris exchanged personal vows, both recalling the night they first met, the years they’d spent together since, and the adventures that await them. Among the words they shared with one another that day: “There was never a question of if we would get here—just of how and when.”

After a honeymoon in Hawaii, the two picked up the newest member of their family: a puppy that’s most certainly keeping Jessica and Chris on their toes. “It was very, very special to finally have our day,” Jessica says.