THE COUPLE

 

Bride’s First Name:  Lisa               

 

Bride’s Last Name:   Donovan

 

Groom’s First Name:   Michael

 

Groom’s Last Name:   Hartzell

 

You are the:   Groom

 

THE BRIDE

 

Occupation:  Optometrist Technician

 

Education completed:  High School Diploma (Titusville High School)

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself (50 words or less) Please write legibly

I am very outgoing and I love to meet new people.  I am very driven and want to be the best at everything that I do.

I love children and love being around family.  I thrive on a challenge and take pride in myself for some of the adversity’s that

I had to deal with growing up and I am a stronger person for it.

 

 

 

 

 

What three words best describe your personality?

Funny, Caring, Outgoing

 

What are your interests or hobbies?

Reading, wine tasting, spending time with our Family’s, word puzzles

 

In what organizations are you involved?

I volunteer tutor for the US Army applicants that can’t pass the ASVAB

 

Who’s your favorite band/musician?

Justin Timberlake

 

What is your favorite song?

Independence Day Martina McBride

 

What is your favorite sports team?

Pittsburgh Steelers

 

What’s the last book you read?

“The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch

 

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Long Lines in the Grocery Store

 

In 10 words or less, what went through your mind the first time you saw your fiancé?

Wow! He has nice legs and I wonder if he is single.

 

In 10 words or less, what went through your mind the first time you spoke to your fiancé?

He is so funny and very intelligent.

 

Please describe your connection to Venango County.

My whole life I lived in Venango County.  My family lives in Venango County and we go home often to visit our families.

My family moved around a lot and during the moving I attended Franklin High School.  I lived in and around Venango

my whole life.

 

What is your favorite place in Venango County?

Little Sandy Cemetery…. That is where my mother is buried.

 

In 100 words or less, why you should be the “Appley Ever After” couple.

We both are very real people.  We are fun to be around and we seem to make everyone laugh.  I (Michael) since joining the

Army, have been all over the world and seen many different countries and states.  After being everywhere nothing compares

to Venango County.  Both of us absolutely love Venango County.  We will retire there as soon as I retire from the Army.

So many people in Venango County have touched both of our lives and we feel that us sharing this special day with the entire

Community would be our way of saying thank you for the support.  While in Iraq I received many letters from schools in

Franklin and Oil City and it helped me get through some of the tough times. 

 

 

In 25 words or less, describe your best date together:

The canoe trip when Michael asked me to marry him.  It was the best date and the best day of my life.  He made me the

happiest girl in the entire world.

 

 

 

THE GROOM

 

Occupation:   US Army Active Duty Soldier Station Commander North Hills Army Recruiting Station

 

Education completed:  High School Diploma (Cranberry High School)  BS BA Marketing (Columbia Southern Univ)

 

Tell us a little bit about yourself (50 words or less) Please write legibly

I love to be the center of attention.  I thrive on public speaking and doing something good for the community.  I am funny

and very focused.  I know what I want and I go get it.  I take pride in my service to the United States and everyday when

I put my uniform on I get chills because of what it means to wear it.

 

 

What three words best describe your personality?

Outgoing, Funny, Determined

 

What are your interests or hobbies?

All sports, hunting, the outdoors, water sports, the beach, hanging out with my family, motorcycles

 

In what organizations are you involved?

VFW, American Legion, NRA

 

Who’s your favorite band/musician?

Brad Paisley or Keith Urban

 

What is your favorite song?

Right now it is “Waiting on a Woman” by Brad Paisley

 

What is your favorite sports team?

Pittsburgh Steelers

 

What’s the last book you read?

“Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude” by Jeffrey Gitomer

 

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Pittsburgh Traffic and Rude People

 

In 10 words or less, what went through your mind the first time you saw your fiancée?

WOW!  She is beautiful!

 

In 10 words or less, what went through your mind the first time you spoke to your fiancée?

WOW! She is Smart, Funny and Sweet!

 

Please describe your connection to Venango County.

I graduated from Cranberry High School and was a resident of Venango County until I joined the Army.  Since then I also

was the Commander of the Franklin Army Recruiting Station in 2007.  All of my family still lives in Venango County and I

come home to visit all the time.  Also, upon returning from Iraq I was the American Flag Bearer for the Applefest 5K run

in 2003.

 

What is your favorite place in Venango County?

Anywhere along the Allegheny River

 

In 25 words or less, describe your best date together:

Christmas Eve last year we went to the Georgetown Inn had dinner then went through the Hartwood Festival of lights. 

Went home and relaxed by the fire.

 

YOUR RELATIONSHIP

 

How long have you been a couple?

1 ½ years

Describe how you met (100 words or less):

We were at Boonies in Titusville at a World Tavern Poker Game.  Somehow I ended up with too many people at my table.

I saw and empty seat next to this beautiful woman and decided I better move there J  Lisa ended up knocking me out of

the tournament and I went and sat at the bar.  She came over and I bought her a drink.   She told me if I could guess her

middle name she would go on a date with me.  She gave me a clue that it started with B and rhymed with crook.  Obivously

I guessed Brooke and we have been together ever since.

 

Tell us the most interesting story about your relationship (100 words or less)

Before we met at Boonies I (Michael) was at a friend’s house in Seneca.  Lisa’s sister showed up with her husband

who was a friend of my friend and started talking with us.  Lisa’s sister then called Lisa and said “you should see this

hot guy at Paul’s house.”  Lisa at the time was dating someone.  I was talking to Paul and he told me that Wendy’s sister

Lisa was very pretty and showed me a picture of her.  I thought she was very pretty and told Wendy she should hook me up.

After that night our friends and Family’s were trying to hook us up but it never happened.   A couple of months later we met

at Boonies and after talking we both found out that I was the guy her family was trying to hook her up with.  It was very weird

how it happened but I am so glad that it happened.  We believe we were truly meant to be together.

 

BRIDE: How did you know that he was the one?  (50 words or less)

Michael makes me feel very comfortable and makes me feel so good about myself.  My family loves him and we do

everything together.  Also on Mother’s day even after only being together for 1 week Michael asked if he could go  

to the Cemetery with me to visit my mothers grave.  To me that was so thoughtful and I was in love with him ever since.

 

 

GROOM:  How did you know that she was the one?   (50 words or less)

Lisa is the first girl that has made me completely happy.  She makes me laugh all the time.  She is the best thing that

has ever happened to me.  She is smart and we are so compatible.  She is everything that a woman should be, caring, loving 

 

What is a fun Saturday night together – day and night?  (50 words or less)

Normally we will just rent a movie grab a bottle of wine and relax by the fire.  If we are not doing that we will take a ride

on our motorcycle or go visit our family’s.

 

 

What’s your idea of the perfect vacation together?  (50 words or less)

Anywhere with a beach and we are together.  We would just lie on the beach and enjoy each others company.  In the evening

we would go explore new places and find a winery because we enjoy wine tasting a food pairing.

 

 

In 25 words or less your most embarrassing moment as a couple:

Even though we are not related our family’s call us kissing cousins because Lisa found out that she is 6th cousins with my Step

Father JJ.

 

 

 

 

 

YOUR ENGAGEMENT

 

When did you get engaged? (Photos if available)

June 14, 2008

 

Tell us about your proposal.  How did you get engaged? (100 words or less)

We were canoeing down the Allegheny River and pulled off at Monkey Face Rock.  I had a picnic planned with a bottle

of wine.  We sat down to eat lunch and drink some wine and I looked at Lisa and told her how much I loved her and how

great she is to me.  Then I told her she looked great in the bikini she was in but I said she would look beautiful in a wedding

dress on our wedding day.  I asked her to be my wife and she said yes.  It was the happiest day of my life.

 

 

THE WEDDING

Describe the wedding you are planning (If you have started) (100 words or less):

We are planning a St Patrick’s day Wedding in March 2010.  The reason we are planning it is because Lisa’s mother passed

away when she was young and she was Irish.  My Grandmother passed away last year and she was Irish.  We decided that

we wanted to honor our family’s because they couldn’t be here to witness our day.  We are planning on having about 200

friends and family present and most likely are going to have our reception at the Rocky Grove Fire Hall.

 

 

If you are not selected as our wedding couple, what is your proposed wedding date:

March 13, 2010

 

If you become the wedding couple, do you have any dietary restrictions we would need to consider for the one (1) hour reception where food will be served:

NONE

 

BRIDE: Are you active in your community?  If so how?

Yes, I tutor applicants that can’t pass the ASVAB and help them gain a passing score.  I also am involved in the “Gift of Sight”

program sponsored by Pearl Vision.

 

 

GROOM:  Are you active in your community?  If so how?

Yes as the Station Commander in North Hills I go to Assisted Living and volunteer to talk with veterans and spend time

hoping to make a difference in their life because all they have given us as a nation.

 

 

 

TELL US MORE

 

Bride:  What’s the most important thing in your life (aside from your fiancé)? ( 25 words or less)

My Family.  We grew up raising each other because of the death of my mom.  That brought us very close.

 

 

 

Groom:  What’s the most important thing in your life (aside from your fiancée)?  (25 words or less)

                My son Andrew and my family.  Also the Army is a very important part of my life because I get the opportunity to serve

this great country.

 

 

Tell us about the bride’s family (e.g.:  Where do they live?  Are her parent’s married/divorced/deceased?  Number of brothers and sister?)  (50 words or less)

My father left my mother when I was young and she raised all of my brother’s and sister’s.  My mother passed away when I was 16.  I have 5 sisters.  Dawn lives in Seneca.  Misty lives in Franklin.  Wendy lives in Oil City.  Kaylin lives in Seneca.  Brittany lives in Ohio.  I have 4 brothers.  Clint lives in Franklin.  Kyle lives in Oil City.  Jason lives in Seneca.  Eric lives in Ohio.

 

 

 

 

 

Tell us about the groom’s family (e.g.:  Where do they live?  Are his parent’s married/divorced/deceased?  Number of brothers and sister?)  (50 words or less)

My mother and father are divorced.  My father lives in Florida and my mother lives in Oil City.  I have 1 Brother and 5 sisters.

Josh lives in Oil City.  Jennifer lives in North Carolina.  Jessica lives in Oil City.  Maureen lives in Pittsburgh.  Adrianne lives in

Florida.  Desire lives in Florida.

 

 

What do your family and friends think about the idea of your getting married on Liberty Street during Applefest®? (50 words or less)

Actually, Lisa’s sister Dawn was the one who got us the information.  They are very excited about this opportunity.  Lisa

has always wanted to get married in the Park in Franklin and Liberty Street isn’t too far from there J  We all are excited

because being able to share our special day with the people of Venango County would be an honor.