The Luckiest Number

Contrary to popular lore, Friday the 13th has been the lucky day for Johnna and Matthew Hjersman Everson. The couple, who met on Tinder, had their first date on Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, and Matthew’s proposal was on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. So it followed that their wedding took place on a warm evening, of Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. Johnna and Matthew love spending time in nature—camping, hiking and gardening are favorite pastimes—so an outdoor ceremony was important. With a venue boasting loads of lovely green grass and tons of trees, Johnna decided to lean into it, with bridal party apparel in blues and greens, sunny yellow in the flower girls’ outfits, and greenery-heavy floral elements crafted by Matthew’s Aunt Gwen. Matthew’s family embraced their Polish heritage by leading the tradition of tossing the bride and groom into the air while singing “Sto lat,” a traditional Polish song of good wishes, good health and long life. The reception treats included Winchell’s doughnuts, a nod to Matthew and Johnna’s frequent visits to the shop near Matthew’s house. The evening ended with dancing under a harvest moon.