He didn’t look far for ring. Her parents gave it to him.
THE INTRODUCTION: Ashley Rodichok and Brandon Megahan met around 2009, through mutual friends. She was about 19, living with her parents in Pike Creek and attending the Delaware College of Art and Design in Wilmington. He was about 24, living with his parents in Bear and working at a now-closed Airsoft shop. They knew who each other was, but both were dating other people and they never got to know each other. In late winter 2013, their friends Heather and Justin Williams were have a party in Bear, and Heather insisted Ashley needed a night out. Ashley had had a couple of rocky years and was looking for a fresh start. Then Brandon walked in. As soon as Ashley saw him, she got butterflies in her stomach. He came over and started talking to Ashley, and even though Ashley was super tired, he kept the conversation going. The next day, they started chatting on Facebook and then exchanged phone numbers.
THE FIRST DATE: They went to a Blue Rocks game in Wilmington.
THE FIRST KISS: Their next date was to Stewart’s Brewing Co. in Bear. They kissed in the parking lot while saying good night. After that, they began hanging out a lot and Ashley introduced Brandon to her son, Skylar, who was one. By April 20, they made their relationship exclusive when Brandon bought Ashley new headphones, some Lush products and a card asking her to be his girlfriend. They continued to date and become closer. Ashley liked that he was funny, genuine and cared about people. He liked that she was friendly, easy going and went out of her way for others. By late in 2014, Skylar had started calling Brandon “daddy” and Ashley and Brandon started talking about marriage, but she assumed a proposal wouldn’t come soon.
THE PROPOSAL: On Christmas 2014, Ashley was helping Skylar open one of his presents, which was mired in plastic and wire packaging when Brandon went into the bedroom and came back with some of Ashley’s favorite chocolates, Ferrero Rocher. She thanked him and went back to helping her son. A few seconds later, she wheeled around, looking for scissors to help pry the plastic open and there was Brandon, down on one knee, holding out an open ring box with a sparkle inside. “Will you marry me?” he asked. She hugged and kissed him and gleefully said yes. The ring was a vintage family ring from the 1930s or 40s that her mother and stepfather had given him to use to propose. She would later find out that they had all had a little chat when Brandon had gone to help pick up a bed her mom’s neighbors were giving to Ashley and Brandon. It went something like this – Mom and stepdad: “So, Brandon, we can tell you and Ashley are really getting serious;” Brandon : “Well, actually, I’ve been starting to look at rings;” Mom and stepdad: “Gosh, darn, we happen to have a ring right here you might like.” Her mom had never worn the ring because it was too small for her finger, but it fit Ashley. “He was tickled about that,” Ashley says. “What man doesn’t like to save money.”
THE CEREMONY: They married Nov. 6, 2015 at the Embassy Suites in Newark. They had their hearts set on a Great Gatsby 1920s theme and felt the lobby of the hotel really worked well with that. The bridal party dressed for the era, with bridesmaids in black flapper-like dresses with Art Deco detailing, jeweled headbands and long knotted strands of pearls. The groomsmen wore black tuxedos with black bow ties. Skylar was the ring bearer and Brandon’s sister Ashley’s daughter, Abella, was the flower girl. They had a short, simple service presided over by Brandon’s father. He’s been a marrying man his entire life, presiding over the weddings of families and friends.
THE DRESS: Ashley wore a Galina signature vintage inspired dress with antique leaf detail and a double train, from David’s Bridal.
SOMETHING OLD: She wore a pearl necklace that belonged to her late grandmother, Arlene Rodichok.
SOMETHING NEW: Her dress, and her updo, done at Carol Cole Salon & Spa, where Ashley works as a hair dresser.
SOMETHING BORROWED: A pearl bracelet from Susan Miller, a co-worker’s client.
SOMETHING BLUE: “I do" stickers on her shoes.
THE RECEPTION: Cocktails and music at the Embassy Suites all revolved around the 1920s theme, with period jazz music playing in the lobby and cocktails called the Old Fashioned, the Al Capone, the Sidecar and the Mint Julep. The best moment, Ashey says, was the speech filled with both hilarious jokes and tender feelings by best man Kevin Burkhart.
THE MOST SENTIMENTAL GIFT: Scrapbooks that Brandon’s aunt Diane Stultz gave the couple.
They swiped right, and that led them down the aisle
They wanted a winter wedding. They got a blizzard.
THE HONEYMOON: They went on a cruise to Belize and Cozumel, Mexico. They had flown to Fort Lauderdale to board the ship and they stayed in Florida for a few days before flying home.
THE FAMILY TREE: The bride is the daughter of Jennie and Stephen Kogut of Newark and Diane and Stephen Rodichok of Wilmington. The groom is the son of Joanne and John Megahan of Bear.
WHAT’S NEXT: They couple live in Bear with Skylar and their two cats, Thor and Piper. Ashley, who graduated from St. Mark’s High School, is a hairstylist and makeup artist at Carol Cole Salon & Spa. Brandon, who graduated from Red Lion Christian School, is a plumber with Roto Rooter. Ashley is 10 weeks pregnant. They find out in September if the baby is a boy or a girl.
To have your ceremony considered for this feature, you must fill out a questionnaire and send us a photo. To receive the form, please email Sundaylife@delawareonline.com with “wedding” or “civil union” in the subject line, or call (302) 324-2884. Responses and photos can be emailed. This is a free service, and we cannot guarantee a specific ceremony will be chosen. Couples also may have their ceremonies appear in Celebrations [(302) 324-2781], which also runs weekly in Sunday Life.