Kristen Elizabeth Hasseltine first met Joseph Peter Klapatch at his graduation party when her brother, Donnie, and Joe graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 1997. The two were friends for several years, but lived in different areas of the country. Later, when Kristen was living in northern Virginia with her brother, Joe paid them a visit. They began dating soon after, but Joe was transferred to Seattle and the relationship became a long distance one. It wasn’t until Joe was transferred to Washington, D.C., that they could see each other more often.
Joe and Kristen looked for rings together and when it was time to pick up the ring, Kristen was with Joe. He decided he couldn’t wait to plan an elaborate proposal, so he proposed to Kristen immediately.
The wedding festivities began with a welcome party at the home of Kristen’s parents, George and Mary Ellis Hasseltine. It was a time for the guests to become acquainted and reacquainted with each other. On Friday Kristen’s aunt, Sallie Miller, hosted a luncheon for her and her bridesmaids in the Rex Room at Antoine’s. That evening, Joe’s parents, Peter and Elaine Klapatch gave an after rehearsal party at Southport Hall. The food served was all New Orleans favorites such as gumbo and mini muffulettas with King Cake and dobérge cake for dessert.
On September 18, 2010, Kristen and Joe were married at the Academy of the Sacred Heart Chapel, from which Kristen, her mother, great-grandmother, aunts and several cousins all graduated. Kristen’s great-uncle, Reverend Theodore Tack, OSA, officiated at the ceremony, as he did at her parents’ wedding in 1970. Joe’s college band director and friend, John Brodie, a world-class trumpet player, accompanied the organist during the ceremony, and Kristen’s friend Jennifer Perone was the vocalist.
Kristen wore an ivory silk dress with a bodice of Alençon lace and a border of matching lace at the base of the skirt and on the chapel-length train, purchased at Town & Country. Her veil was of full-length illusion with a scalloped border of Belgian lace, purchased by her great-grandmother, Mary Ellis Leake, in the early 1900s while on a trip to Europe and also worn by her mother and her aunt. Kristen wore a diamond and pearl lavaliere originally belonging to the same great-grandmother; she also wore a sapphire and diamond ring given to her by her grandmother, Mary Ellis Carrere. She carried an Alençon lace handkerchief that was a gift to her mother, who had also carried it on her wedding day. Her bouquet featured pale peach and white roses hand tied with ivory satin ribbon created by Meade Wenzel. Make Me Up did the makeup for Kristen and her bridesmaids, and Kim Otillio styled their hair.
Kristen’s bridesmaids wore floor-length navy blue dresses with a chiffon overlay from Town & Country. They carried bouquets of dahlias and roses in shades of peach and rose with blue hydrangeas and delphiniums. Joe and his groomsmen were outfitted in tails from Perlis with boutonnieres of roses.
After the ceremony, the reception was held at the Orleans Club. Meade Wenzel created a warm ambiance with silver vases adorning the Club including arrangements of lilies, sprays of orchids, roses, delphinium and dahlias. Instead of a guest book, the couple had guests sign a picture frame.
Chef Will Guidry of the Orleans Club provided the catering, which included turtle soup, grilled duck with raspberry coulis, crawfish étoufée, and a steamship round of beef.
The three-tiered wedding cake created by Swiss Confectionery was decorated with fleurs-de-lis, Swiss dots and the couple’s monogram in the center. The bottom layer was traditional white wedding cake with raspberry and buttercream filling; the other two tiers consisted of chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream and raspberry filling.
Fresh white orchids and ivory roses adorned each layer. Maurice French Pastries provided Joe’s groom’s cake; a carrot cake with cream cheese icing topped with the logo of Joe’s alma mater.
Guests enjoyed dancing to music by Harvey Jesus and Fire. Kristen and Joe’s first dance was to “All the Way,” by Frank Sinatra. John Brodie accompanied the band for a few songs and led the second line, which was the finale.
Doug Keese of Artisan Style Photography served as photographer.
The next day Joe and Kristen attended the Jazz Brunch at Arnaud’s with Kristen’s family and several friends before leaving for a few days in Disney World. They then spent a week in Grand Teton National Park. The couple now live in London where Joe is stationed with the U.S. Navy.
