10th Anniversary Project: Katy + John

 

This week, Katy + John celebrate their 9th Anniversary.  These two have been up to quite a lot over the past 9 years, from a new house and a new business, for Katy, to two daughters and a busy life for all.  Even though nine years have past, it still seems like we filmed their beautiful wedding at Onteora Mountain House yesterday. So, what have they been up to since their wedding day?

Shortly after Katy + John were married, they purchased the house across the street from them (the owner, in turn, purchased their house). They had a crazy ‘swap houses’ day where they moved everything from their old house to the new house and everything from the new house to the old house. They then went into renovation-mode, and practically gutted the house, and added an addition. 

In the same week that the construction crew arrived to start working, John and Katy discovered Katy was pregnant with their first child. That same week, they moved out of the new house and into her mother’s house for nearly a year and a half while construction was ongoing. Their first child, Annabelle, was born in October 2008. They moved back into their new house in May 2009. Baby number two, Maggie, was born in April 2011.

Immediately after their honeymoon, Katy started a new job as a Creative Director at a local marketing firm. In February 2009, Katy started her own design business: Katy Dwyer Design, as a side business, and in 2014, she was able to make it her full-time job. Katy continues to work as a designer and creative director, and her business grew by leaps and bounds. She has newly partnered with a colleague and started a brand new local marketing firm, Hand in Hand Marketing, just this August. 

Professionally, John is still at Quilty, Dwyer, and Larkin Insurance Agency, and is currently Vice Chair of City of Kingston Planning Board (of which he’s been a member for over 7 years). A member of the Ancient order of Hibernians, John got involved with a group of Hibernians who wanted to build an Irish Cultural Center in Kingston in 2011. The Irish Cultural Center Hudson Valley is a non-profit group dedicated to promoting and preserving Irish and Irish-American heritage and culture. The ICCHV purchased land on the Kingston Rondout in 2013 and hopes to build the center in the near future. In March of 2013, John was honored to be chosen as the Grand Marshal of the Kingston St. Patrick’s Day Parade. 

With two kids in tow, their favorite activities include attending Irish Festivals, or any other local activities (Gardiner Cupcake Festival, Apple Picking, Farmers Markets, local zoos, etc.), and when vacationing, they make it their mission to explore local breweries and wineries. They’ve taken three ferry trips from Cape May to Delaware to visit the Dogfish Head Brewery, and love seeing their friends from their favorite Seneca Lake winery, Atwater Vineyards, every year at the Hudson Valley Wine and Food Festival. They make a yearly trek (sans kids) to Katy’s college town, Bethlehem, PA, for the Celtic Classic, and have twice made it out to John’s alma mater to see his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes during football season.

Congratulations to Katy and John on the beautiful life they've created with their two adorable girls! We wish them continued happiness and love in the future!