August 2008 - the Parklander

Julie Bartol, a Physical Therapist at Coral Springs Medical Center, and John Gibney, a Human Resources
Trainer with Jarden Consumer Solutions, met at Springfield College through a mutual friend. They remained
friends throughout college but didn’t actually start dating until their senior year.
John finally popped the question six and one half years later over Julie’s favorite breakfast of Panera’s cinnamon sugar
bagels with cream cheese. Before they started eating, John pulled out six red roses (one for every year they dated),
from the closet and a ring box from under the couch cushions. He then got down on one knee and proposed.
The couple will be married on October 4, 2008 at St. Clements Church in Saratoga Springs, NY. It’s Julie’s
childhood church and the one her parents still attend. They will have a fall themed wedding with a formal reception to be held at the Saratoga Springs
Hilton. Julie purchased a Victorian style dress from a shop in Saratoga Springs and her veil is borrowed from her best friend.
The couple will continue to live in Delray Beach after the wedding.
Laura Heitzman, an Insurance Agent with Elite, and Lex Barker, an Insurance Agent with Allstate, met last
September on a blind date. Set up by a mutual friend, they were married July 24, 2008 in Hawaii. It was love at first
sight for the romantic couple, as Lex popped the question just 12 weeks after they had met. Lex proposed to Laura
during a romantic drive under the stars.
Laura and Lex both enjoy action movies, dancing (salsa and rumba), and fine dining, concerts and romantic
weekend getaways.They love laughing and just being together.
The couple chose one of the most romantic places to be married—under a waterfall in Hawaii. Laura wore a simple offwhite
silk Zoila Keller dress and the wedding party, including their children, wore Hawaiian colors.The reception was a traditional Hawaiian Luau.
For their honeymoon they toured the Hawaiian islands.The couple now resides in Parkland where they are currently remodeling their home together.
Lauren Sutherland, an Architect with Garcia Stromberg Architects, and Andrew Thoms, a Financial Investor, met
in 2004 on a mutual friend’s boat.They believe it was fate that they both showed up that night.They dated for three
years and eight months before Andy popped the question.
When the couple flew to Las Vegas for a weekend getaway, Andy reserved a helicopter from Las Vegas to the
Grand Canyon and back. When they landed, they decided to take a romantic walk along the Colorado River. It was
then that sentimental Andy pulled out a jewelry box from his jacket and asked Lauren to marry him.
The couple, who love going to the movies, comedy clubs, and especially travel, will be married on November 15,
2008 at the Miami Beach Community Church. They chose the historic site because of its architectural beauty. The couple’s classic style black and white
reception with red accents will follow at the Colonnade Hotel in Coral Gables. Lauren will wear a Rivini trumpet style dress from Boca Raton Bridal with
a plain Mantilla veil.
After a relaxing honeymoon in St. Lucia, the couple will reside in Coral Springs in a home they’ll decorate themselves with the help of Andy’s mom.
24 AUGUST 2008