Eric Peloquin-Chenine Johnson build a relationship with all the right questions

Marriage is work, right? So, what if every couple started out with a job interview? When Eric Peloquin interviewed for a job as assistant to the pretty Chenine Johnson, he made an impression. In fact, she offered him the job. It didn’t work out, however, and he ended up taking another position at Boston Medical Center. Later, after collaborating on a project with the Special Olympics Basketball team, the two had a chance to talk at a party. They both confessed they’d found one another attractive at the interview. One thing led to another and soon the pair were dating. “We’ve been together ever since,” Eric says. They took it slow and after dating for a couple of years they began to obliquely refer to marriage. “We were both a little hesitant (mostly me) to really start talking about ‘when we get married’ until we were actually engaged,” Eric said. “We made a point to always reference our future marriage by saying, ‘When I’m married my wife will… or my husband will…’ and we were careful not to use each other’s names when discussing this. We didn’t want to put that added pressure to our relationship even though we knew it was going to happen.” A well-planned proposal in the courtyard at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston changed all that. Both Eric and Chenine attribute their easy relationship to the unique ways they complement one another. “Our relationship can be defined as an absolute partnership. We make decisions together and do our best to always keep an open line of communication,” Eric says. He’s relaxed and laid back. She likes to be on the go whenever possible. “My easy-going manner helps calm her down when she’s feeling stressed and frazzled, and her sense of urgency helps me realize that sometimes things actually are important!,” Eric says. “She also gets me off the couch to do fun things during the week.” “Eric is very punctual while I’m usually running a few minutes late or will arrive exactly on time,” Chenine says. “He’s helped me get organized to get out the door at a reasonable time, while I’ve helped him realize we don’t have to be everywhere 20 minutes early.” Chenine is particularly proud of the fact that the wedding was only five minutes late. Although she admits she might have been a bit tardy for the before-the-wedding photos. The couple opted to make the wedding a joint endeavor. No Bridezilla here. The location - Beacon Hill Events - was chosen because of the beautiful location and the idea that everything they needed was already there. And, of course, it shared a name with one of their favorite Boston neighborhoods. They continued that theme by placing photos of themselves at favorite Boston locations on every table. “It was really important to me to have an elegant celebration, but one full of both of our personalities,” Chenine says. “People often say the wedding is the bride’s day, but I wanted to make sure that Eric’s personality was felt throughout.” Combining the bride and groom’s faith backgrounds - Catholic and Lutheran - was one way they blended the ceremony. Chenine chose to utilize the talents and generosity of friends wherever possible. “I’m also known to be a little particular about being ‘green,’” Chenine says. “So all of our centerpieces were borrowed from friends. The table runners are now being cut into cloth napkins for us to use at home, and the other things (clay pots of jelly beans and the easels that held our table names) will be used at my mom’s day care center for crafts.” At the time this story was written they were on a plane heading for a honeymoon in Belize. “We wanted to go somewhere warm with great beaches, and it is outside the Hurricane Belt during this season,” Chenine says. “We’re excited to snorkel, see Mayan ruins and NOT have our cell phones on!” The newlyweds will return to the house they recently purchased in Medford, Mass. Before the wedding, Eric shared the house with roommates. Now, Chenine is moving in. “It’s an incredible feeling to finally really be together, and there’s so much less to remember now,” Chenine says. “We’re so blessed to have had family and friends from all over the country who came to celebrate with us, and we were able to enjoy the time with them.” Everyone knows marriage is a lot of work. But then, isn’t everything always so much better when you have the right person for the job?