In early April, Carolina Rodeghiero and Felipe Soares were gearing up for their much-anticipated wedding reception in Cambridge, unaware of the delightful surprises that awaited them.
With the essential details set — their wedding cake flavor and the date of April 4 — the couple had little involvement in the planning process.
Initially, Carolina envisioned a straightforward celebration involving a legal marriage at Boston City Hall, followed by a casual outing to a Celtics game at TD Garden.
“I was like, OK, we can get married, go to a pub right there, and then go to a game,” Carolina recalls sharing with Felipe, noting how everything was conveniently located nearby.
Carolina was immersed in her work at MIT’s Lifelong Kindergarten program, which focuses on making education more inclusive and accessible.
Although her colleagues had yet to meet Felipe, who resided in London, they were well aware of their burgeoning romance.
When the time came for Carolina to announce her plans to wed, she convened a meeting with her colleagues to inform them about her decision and how she intended to manage her responsibilities in her absence.
The response was overwhelmingly emotional, as Carolina recalls, “They immediately started crying.”
Tears filled the room as friends reacted joyously to the couple’s upcoming marriage after years of a tumultuous yet heartfelt romance.
These emotions soon escalated into an intervention: “Our friends decided, ‘No. You cannot go to a Celtics game. We’re going to celebrate this,’” says Carolina.
The couple’s journey began in 2014 when Felipe, a student pursuing his master’s degree at Catholic University of Pelotas, Brazil, fell in love with Carolina, who was working on her PhD.
While initially just friends connected through a volunteer organization and later as colleagues in the same research group, their relationship blossomed when a mutual friend revealed he had dreamed of them together.
Realizing he shared the same feelings, Felipe felt a clear connection with Carolina.
Soon after, a friend asked Carolina if she had considered dating Felipe, prompting her to realize feelings she hadn’t previously acknowledged.
Their first official date followed shortly after a friend’s birthday party, where they engaged in five hours of deep conversation amidst a large crowd.
Even after such a long chat, Felipe found himself wanting just to be in Carolina’s presence.
However, due to differences in age and life experiences, as well as their demanding academic pursuits, their romantic relationship faced challenges.
Carolina continued her research in Boston, while Felipe earned his PhD, furthering his career in Brazil and later in Toronto.
Despite the physical distance, their bond deepened over time as they shared life’s milestones through WhatsApp and video calls, offering each other support in both scholarly and personal matters.
“With Carolina, I learned that love could be nicer and we could care for and trust each other,” Felipe reflects. “It was more about being friends first.”
In January, destiny intervened as Carolina returned to Pelotas for the holidays.
Meeting Felipe for a casual drink led to Felipe’s swift integration into her family, illustrating how their relationship had evolved.
Before long, Carolina booked a flight to London, marking a turning point in their love story.
While visiting Felipe in London, he proposed, solidifying their commitment.
Originally, the couple had planned for a November wedding in Brazil but opted for a quicker engagement when they discovered an opening at City Hall during Felipe’s upcoming visit to Boston.
Thus, on April 4, surrounded by nearly 30 witnesses in Boston City Hall’s Registrar’s Office, Carolina and Felipe exchanged vows, while an additional 68 friends and family tuned in via Zoom to witness the moment.
The couple’s dedication to including loved ones led to friends in “fancy dress” from London, a teacher from Ukraine, former classmates from Brazil, and Carolina’s family all participating.
“Half of my family couldn’t understand anything,” Felipe chuckled. “The other half could, but all of them were there, watching and trying to get some sense of what was going on … just seeing the effort of everyone, to be there, to be together, was amazing.”
After the ceremony, Rupal Jain, Carolina’s research director, graciously hosted a reception in her backyard.
The couple, beyond requesting a strawberry vanilla cake, let their friends handle the festivities, which included a variety of contributions from the community.
Friends generously offered their skills, time, and financial resources to create a beautiful wedding for 39 guests.
From video production to floral arrangements and even a batch of 96 homemade vanilla macarons by Rupal’s daughter, Jiya, who dedicated a week to baking, the event was a testament to friendship and love.
Guests enjoyed delicious shrimp cocktails and lasagna before the festivities intensified.
As Carolina and Felipe posed in the photo booth, the sounds from the street grew louder, heralding the arrival of 21 members from the School of Honk.
In their signature polka-dots and wedding attire, they marched into the backyard, transforming it into a lively dance floor.
Three close friends of the bride, part of the Honk community, led the couple and the guests through energetic dance moves, creating an unforgettable celebration.
The wedding was a true amalgamation of love, friendship, creativity, and community.
As the sun set on the joyful day, Carolina reflected on the significance of the event: “I think the wedding project made so much sense to people because it was about a couple celebrating what we care about and what is important in life — that is love. That is friendship.”
image source from：https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/03/lifestyle/wedding-boston-city-hall-cambridge-backyard/
