Product Surveillance Specialist Katelynn Lehman put her five-year Arthrex Trip of a Lifetime benefit to great use, eloping with her fiancée, Jose Amador, to Italy for a dream destination wedding plus honeymoon.
The couple met more than seven years ago through Katelynn’s mother, Mary Ann Lehman, a packing machine operator at Arthrex Manufacturing Inc. East (AMIE) in Ave Maria, Florida. Mary Ann, who worked with Jose at the time, passed along her daughter’s number – Katelynn and Jose ended up texting all night before going on their first date soon after.
“We instantly connected and told each other our life stories,” Katelynn said.
Jose took Katelynn on her childhood dream Christmas vacation last December – a trip to New York City. It was under the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree that he proposed.
“I had never been to New York and always dreamed of going during Christmas time. It was from watching the movie ‘Home Alone’ every year growing up.”
Katelynn realized her five-year Arthrex anniversary fell around the time of their proposed wedding dates.
“When we decided that a big wedding wasn’t for us, eloping to Italy sounded like the perfect plan,” Katelynn said.
Inspired by a photographer she found on social media, the couple were married on May 29, in Stresa, a town nestled on Lake Maggiore just north of Milan. They had no guests present, but plan to host a wedding celebration in Southwest Florida with friends and family this month.
“She let us know this was similar to Lake Como, but less touristy,” Katelynn said. “We flew in a few days before the elopement day and explored the town and outlying islands, Isola Bella and Isola Madre.”
That photographer ended up taking their wedding photos – the couple enjoyed an intimate ceremony, then strolled around town enjoying pizza and gelato. They took a boat out onto the pristine Lake Maggiore, letting the afternoon sun further add to the glow of their special day.
“It was the most memorable day, better than I could have even imagined,” Katelynn said.
She and Jose continued touring Italy after their elopement. They traveled to Rome and explored the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, Pantheon, Castel Sant’Angelo and more via tour bus – they took a day trip to Tivoli and saw the stunning Villa d’Este. They visited Florence and took in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fieore, Palazzo Vecchio and made the 414-step climb to the top of Giotto’s Bell Tower. They trained to Castel Gandolfo, enjoying the unparalleled views and cuisine – Katelynn made a point to try the lasagna at various locales throughout their trip.
“The final destination was our favorite – the Amalfi Coast. The views here were breathtaking,” she recalled. “We enjoyed some breakfast the first morning, rented some chairs and an umbrella and just laid by the beach for the day.”
Katelynn said they planned the whole trip through their own research.
“We had so much fun planning this trip. I am so thankful to Arthrex for contributing to such an unforgettable trip, we made memories that will truly last a lifetime!”
For every five years of employment with Arthrex, employees are eligible for a company-paid Trip of a Lifetime to recognize their dedication. Look for more Trip of a Lifetime highlights on the Arthrex Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.