Jessie + Mike Step Into The Limelight | Marco Beach Ocean Resort | Marco Beach, FL

May 22, 2019 Rebecca Zoumberos

One sunny day at the NYC Medical Examiner’s Morgue….(2012) Two bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 4th year medical students shared a cadaver, but little did they know, they were soon to be co-interns in general surgery at NYU. Mike was smitten almost immediately… Jessie required a little more convincing. But after two years of battling in the trenches of residency together and becoming close friends, Mike (while subtly fending off other suitors) finally worked up the courage and held her hand… under the table, at a bar. It was a little weird. Yet here we are, nearly 4 years later, happily engaged and very much in love. Mike has come to appreciate Jessie's passion for burn-your-face-off spicy food and Jessie has watched all of the Star Wars films (Episodes I-VIII, but not in that order).

Jessie’s dad, Dingwei, was very ill, very suddenly, with pancreatic cancer and hospitalized at NYU Langone Medical Center where both Jessie and Mike work. While Mike had been saving up for a big ring, given these circumstances, he decided to push up the timeline. He secretly got a pearl ring that he knew Jessie loved, snuck into the hospital to get Dingwei’s blessing in secret and showed him the ring. He then found Jessie at home on the couch and proposed on one knee in their apartment. They then immediately called Mike’s parents before running into the hospital to share the moment with Dingwei and Liya (Jessie’s Mom). On September 8, 2017, when Mike surprised her in their little NYC apartment living room with the ring of her dreams, the only answer was, “Yes!” They had planned to get married in an intimate backyard ceremony in Princeton NJ 9/16/18, however given Dingwei’s untimely death, they postponed the wedding.

Jessie and Michael love everything about each other. They are a team. Jessie says: “Mike is super smart, compassionate to his patients, extremely nerdy and funny, the right kind of weird, is the heart of every party, quick to smile, effortlessly charming to a fault. Makes me laugh. Knows my strengths and weaknesses and loves them all. Supports me in difficult times without hesitation.” Mike says: “Jessie is beautiful, brilliant and talented. Her smile is infectious and she lights up every room. She is kind and caring and a devoutly loyal friend. Loving her has made me a better man. She’s also my kind of weird.”

Together they enjoy cooking, exploring new neighborhoods and restaurants in NYC, traveling and going to Marco Island. Their destination beach wedding was filled with some Marco magic where friends, family and loved ones gathered to relax and have a good time away from the hustle and bustle of NYC.

They fell in love with Marco Island after a couple vacations there. Luckily it is also a popular destination for Mike’s extended family over the years. 5/4/19 wasn’t the original date, but became the date that worked for the majority of the family. Mike is also a HUGE Star Wars fan, and was thrilled to have the date fall on “May the Fourth…” which generated their wedding hashtag #Maythe4thBeWithYu Noteably… this was NOT a Star Wars-themed wedding BUT Mike did still try to sneak in some hints of it. Their wedding was simple, modern and timeless. “A little bit of NYC in Marco! Jessie changed into a Chinese traditional dress and outfit right before the afterparty (Shanghai Speak Easy theme).

The private first look was romantic and genuine. Michael an Jessie loved the aesthetic of the arches/driveway as well as the wooden boardwalk out to the beach for the ceremony. A very special note of importance is that the officiant is Jessie’s jewish grandmother/godmother. A soloist performed a beautiful singing performance. And they had a small Chinese portion of the ceremony and exchanged wine that was a gift from Jessie’s dad Dingwei. They are a fun-loving, warm couple who threw a great party and danced with their friends and family in celebration of starting a new chapter of their lives together. After all guests mingled on the beach for cocktail hour they danced the night away with loved ones. Intimate, Festive, Romantic, Laid-back, Modern but classy

Lead Photographers | Michael + Rebecca Zoumberos