James and Bridget are both proud descendants of immigrants who courageously left all they knew in their homelands - their families, friends, comfort zones - to travel to a new land where they would begin a life of their own. Some might say these journeys were the most challenging trips a person could take - those people have never commuted from the Bronx to Staten Island.

In May of 2016, Bridget began the journey from the Bronx - walking to the 1 train, riding it the 38 stops to South Ferry Station, waiting for the ferry to dock, rushing through a stampede reminiscent of Mufasa’s final moments, and riding the boat to Staten Island where Bridget’s best friend Kate - a Staten Islander - would be waiting to pick her up.

The reason for this voyage was to attend a party at their dear friend James Kelly’s house to celebrate his mom’s recent naturalization to the United States from Ireland. As expected, they enjoyed themselves a few drinks and headed back to Kate’s house - two blocks from the Buttermark’s. Bridget McQuade took to Tinder to scope out the population near Kate’s home. Turns out, James Buttermark was doing the same.

After a match on Tinder, James and Bridget began chatting fairly often. In true Bridget fashion, she had to seek approval from a few other Staten Islanders to determine if James was worth the messaging. When Bridget reached out to her Manhattan College friend (and former R.A.) PJ, he simply replied with: He is the best golfer on Staten Island. When prompted for more, he added: He is also the best dancer.

Say no more. Bridget was hooked and she and James arranged for their first date. Meeting in Grand Central Station, a small, quiet location where it is easy to find someone you have never seen in person before…

...they walked together to Public House for dinner. James could not believe that 4 foot 11 was THAT short and Bridget tried to play it cool and pretend she wasn’t nauseous from her nerves.

The first date began with a shot of Jameson, and ended with plans to see each other again.

After a few more dates, James told his best friend, Deb, (also known as his mom) that he met someone. When they returned home that evening, James told his dad, who quickly asked if Bridget wanted to join them for the Fourth of July. James hesitantly asked Bridget, who immediately agreed.

On July 4, 2016, Bridget courageously began another trek to the Island of Staten to meet James’s parents. When Bridget arrived, not only did she meet his parents, but she met two other very important people in James’s lives - Uncle Lenny and Aunt Ann Marie. Bridget’s nerves were front and center, but were quickly put at ease after a few moments with James’s family.

After a summer of trips back and forth to Staten Island and the Bronx, the time had come for James to meet Bridget’s family, where he was greeted in Bridget’s childhood home, by her mom’s entire side of the family. James went down the receiving line that stood in front of the kitchen island, ending with Aunt Kathleen holding a cake that said “Welcome to the Family.” Surprising to everyone, James did not call an Uber to return home to Staten Island, and he spent the rest of the weekend getting to know Bridget’s family, including her beloved Grammy.

B&B

Our Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception