Melissa and Brian will be married on October 23, 2010 after three years of dating.  Their will share their vows at the Basilica of St. Lawrence, and they will celebrate these vows at a reception at the Lioncrest, located on the Biltmore Estate. Melissa and Brian have been wonderful to work with, and I am delighted to be a part of their special day.  Read more about them below…
How did you meet each other?
Brian says we first met each other in Torts class in law school during our first year. I don’t remember that at all, and I think we met on a trip to New York for a program we were both involved with in law school to learn about public interest work. I’m pretty sure I’m right. Although I had a crush on Brian instantly, he was dating someone else and is an honorable guy, so we didn’t start dating until our third year in law school when he was finally back on the market.
When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We got engaged last August on a trip to Paris. Brian planned a romantic day around the city but was so anxious that I thought he was having a terrible time. After a traditional French dinner, we went to walk around the area and somehow “stumbled” upon Notre Dame Cathedral. Brian suggested that there may be gardens in the back and we should check them out. I knew right away that he was going to propose because I was pretty sure no guy would know the location of gardens at the church without looking into it beforehand. Once we found the garden, Brian got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I ruined it by getting over excited and grabbing the ring before he had a chance to stand up. But it worked out.
What do you two do for a living?
Brian is an in-house attorney for Driven Brands, and Melissa is an attorney with Hunton & Williams
What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
We’ve recently taken up the delightful sport of hunting giant spiders now that we have a new house. We also like to hang out with our chocolate lab and relax. I like to take Brian to bad movies, and he likes to pretend he doesn’t enjoy them.

Why did you choose the Biltmore Estate as your wedding location?
For about two years after law school, Brian lived in New York and I lived in Charlotte, so our weekends were really important for us, since it was the only chance we had to spend time together. Brian came down one weekend before Christmas, and we decided to drive up to Biltmore because we heard that the holiday decorations were beautiful. It was such a great get-a-way that we went back on a few different weekends. None of our family lives nearby, so we decided to get married somewhere that meant something special to us.
When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
I can’t wait to be Mrs. Brian Romanzo. Brian can’t wait to be Mr. Melissa Patterson. We’re just excited to get married.
What do you love about one another?
Melissa: What I love about Brian is…his sense of humor. He is the funniest person I know, and he gets my jokes, which is really nice. He is also incredibly loyal and will do anything for someone that he loves. I love that he knows all of my secrets and habits, and he still wants to marry me.
Brian: What I love about Melissa is…the fact that she makes me a better person. When she’s not making me laugh, she is taking care of me and everyone else she that loves. She is creative, smart, and stunningly beautiful. I am one lucky guy!