

(Photo courtesy Marisa Strickler, by Lindsay Docherty)

It’s not so unusual for couple to inject a bit of hockey fandom into their wedding. Some have done it subtly. Some have gone so far as to get Caps announcer Wes Johnson to officiate. Others have done it on the Verizon Center ice, including as recently as Sunday before the preseason game.

What do you do, however, if the couple’s allegiances are split between two longtime foes? Meet Tim Strickler and Marisa Gerdano. Gerdano, originally from Falls Church, has been a Capitals fan “since birth,” and her family has had season tickets since the Verizon (then MCI) Center opened. Despite her rabid fandom for the Capitals, she married a Flyers fan. Strickler, from Philadelphia, grew up worshiping the “Legion of Doom” – Eric Lindros, John LeClair and Mikael Renberg.

Any Caps fan knows this combination is the football equivalent of a Redskins fan marrying a Cowboys fan, or the non-sports example, a Montague marrying a Capulet. But somehow, Gerdano and Strickler made it work, going all out in celebrating their love — and differences — on their wedding day.

“Hockey seemed a perfect way to make the wedding fun, unique, and represent a big part of our lives together,” Strickler said. “Hockey was what brought us together, taking us on our journey from colleagues, to friends with a common love, to two people head over heels in love with each other.”

Considering the long history of not-so-nice games between the Caps and Flyers, no fights broke out at the wedding. “I think my friends and family surprised everyone as none of us obnoxious Philly fans dropped the gloves,” said Strickler, who managed to keep his cool during the vows despite his tendency to get scrappy in the Dulles beer league.

The newlyweds, who live in Fairfax, will continue attending games together at Verizon Center dressed in their opposing jerseys, and plan on making the trip up to Philadelphia for a game in February.

Photos courtesy Metro DC DJs.



The happy couple. (Jarrod Wronski)



The dance floor. (Jarrod Wronski)



The official wedding puck. (Jarrod Wronski)



This is obviously where the single folks sit. (Jarrod Wronski)



The Rod Langway table, presumably for the elder guests. (Jarrod Wronski)



Olaf Kolzig makes a save on this table. (Jarrod Wronski)



Peter Bondra makes the cut. (Jarrod Wronski)



Alan May makes the cut. (Jarrod Wronski)



There was even a table for the banished members of the family. (Jarrod Wronski)



Oh yeah, there were Flyers tables too. Here’s one. (Jarrod Wronski)

See more photos at Metro DC DJs.