01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, June 6, 2004

Sarah Stuart and Jay Seddon

The Meeting House, Tiverton

5.22.04

Sarah Stuart first spotted Jay Seddon three years ago at Lighthouse Computer Service in Lincoln, where she was working as a temp receptionist. When Jay walked in, she was smitten.

"He had really long hair, in a ponytail, kind of hippy looking: It made me think he had to be interesting. He was quiet though, didn't talk to me."

Sarah, 28, is nothing if not gregarious. "My mother tells me I'm willing to tell my whole life story to a stranger. I guess I am open, and just hope to get some openness in return.

"I thought, 'I have to bring this guy out of his shell.' I took it on as a mission. I said things like, 'I like your hair,' and I'd chat him up about music: 'Do you like the Eagles?' " She was determined not to let him walk by her without talking.

She made excuses to go into his office, and when it became clear that he was not going to ask her out, she did the asking.

Jay, now 44, accepted. "He seemed glad, but also scared, threatened." Their first date was at the Atwood Grill in Johnston. "I told him I would meet him there, didn't want him picking me up. I wasn't going to let myself care too much. I've had too many relationships that never went beyond the first date.

"They messed up our order, but it worked to our advantage because dinner took three hours." The finale was strawberry cheesecake. "He fed it to me and I was swept away."

In the parking lot, Sarah kissed Jay goodbye -- really quickly -- jumped into her car, and drove away. They went out again, usually at Sarah's initiative.

A year later, Sarah moved in with Jay. They talked about marriage. Only semi-joking, she would say: "If you would marry me, I could have your health insurance."

"Every Friday we would have crazy movie night, like a Friday the 13th marathon. On one of our usual Friday nights, in October 2003, he just gave me a ring."

Jay would have preferred to forgo the traditional wedding in favor of a Las Vegas ceremony with one of those "really nice hotel wedding packages that takes care of everything and you just show up." Not a cheesy Elvis wedding chapel, he emphasized. "But Sarah was not going for that."

So today, about 50 guests join them as they exchange vows in a brief yet personal and spiritual ceremony under a tent.

For now, Sarah will be a stay-at-home wife. She loves animals, and finds plenty to love in Exeter, where the couple lives. The neighbors have goats and rabbits and cats, and she's adopted a family of Canadian geese that eat out of her hand.

"I like being a housewife," says Sarah. "The first time I stayed over, I looked in Jay's fridge and there was a stick of butter and a liter of soda. He really needed someone to care for him. Jay was very much of a loner, and now I'm providing a real home for him to come to."