Twelve years ago, Nicole Mancini was working at Legends Sports Pub when she started noticing a certain Cowboys fan. Matt Lewis made a habit of watching Sunday football games with a friend, and over the next 10 years, the two crossed paths multiple times.

In 2014, following the death of her father, Nicole and her mother took a cellphone-free trip together. When she returned, she had a text waiting for her:

“It’s Matt. Remember me? Dallas fan, Philly hater, your one true love?” 

He had used her friend’s phone to text her. Even though it took Nicole a minute to realize who he was, his forward tactic worked. They

got drinks the same day, and the rest, as she says, “is history.”

The Proposal

On Oct. 9, 2015, Matt popped the question. It was during Nicole’s birthday dinner, which he had arranged at their favorite sushi place, Yume Sushi. Knowing how much she loves dessert, Matt decided to lead her to believe that’s what their final course would be. However, much to her surprise, a ring was waiting for her.

The Planning

When the couple stepped foot on the Powel Crosley Estate, they knew they had found their wedding location. From the elegant lawn to the house itself, it was exactly what they wanted.

When it came to the question of who should cater the event, Nicole’s friend Cloe Drapkin — the catering sales manager for Michael’s On East — took care of it with the restaurant’s co-owner, Phil Mancini (no relation). She now calls him her “fairy godfather.”

The Wedding

Matt and Nicole agree that their first glimpse of each other was their favorite moment from their wedding day. Nicole says what means most to her about their love story is the timing of it all — it’s as if her father sent Matt to her after his death.

“The best part of our story is that I am now able to keep my dad’s name as my new last name, Lewis — my dad’s name was Louis,” she says.