Matt McKearney and Maddie Scozzari during the surprise parade of friends and family Saturday, their intended wedding day which had to be postponed. (MARC ST. ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
WESTFIELD – Matthew McKearney and Maddie Scozzari should have been married April 18. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple postponed the wedding and decided to spend their would-be wedding day relaxing at home.
But the couple’s parents couldn’t let the day pass without acknowledging what was supposed to be the most memorable day of their lives, so they planned a surprise “wedding parade.”
At 3 p.m. Saturday, the couple was surprised when they heard car horns honking and people yelling outside their Day Avenue home.
“Maddie was working on her computer and I was taking a nap,” McKearney said. “She woke me up and we looked outside and saw everyone.”
While “parades” and drive-by celebrations have become the norm for birthday parties during orders to stay at home, this one was a little different in that not only was it for a wedding, but also because most of the people in the parade drove several hours to honor the engaged couple.
McKearney is from Attleboro and his parents still reside there, while Scozzari’s two sets of parents live on the Cape. The parents planned the event together and made the trip to Westfield.
Well wishers parade past the Day Avenue home of Matthew McKearney and Maddie Scozarri April 18, 2020, which was supposed to be their wedding day. (MARC ST. ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
“They told us to be home for a delivery,” McKearney said. “We got flowers delivered, so we just thought that was it.”
Instead, the couple was feted with the parade as well as dinner from The Tavern and champagne to mark the day.
“We were both disappointed we had to reschedule,” McKearney said. “When we saw everyone, Maddie was very emotional.”
The couple moved their wedding at the Mount Washington Resort in New Hampshire from April 18 to July 31 with little disruption of plans.
“We postponed it in late March,” McKearney said. “We spoke with our wedding planner and they were able to move everything pretty easily.”
Both McKearney, who works in defense manufacturing, and Scozzari, a hospital dietician, are still working during the pandemic.
“We are fortunate to still be able to work,” McKearney said.
The couple enjoyed their would-be-wedding parade and said the day would always be memorable.
“We are very appreciative,” McKearney said. “It really made the day special for us.”
