“Till death do us part.”
An Edison couple came to the right place on Friday the 13th to exchange their wedding vows. Under the watchful eye of local cutup Jason Vorhees, an Edison couple said “I do” in front of the falls adjacent to the mill made famous in the granddaddy of slasher films, “Friday the 13th.”
Heather Novello and Anthony Tagliareni, both fans of the horror and fantasy genres, have made several pilgrimages to Blairstown to celebrate the 13th, so it was only natural that when it came time to seal the deal, they chose Jason’s stomping grounds.
“We’ve been coming here for several years,” said bride Novello, who wore a tasteful black wedding gown. “We really enjoy the whole atmosphere here on the 13th.”
Her new husband, Tagliareni, in particular, has been a fan of horror movies, and “Friday the 13th” ranks among his favorites.
Both brought many family members to the ceremony, which was officiated by Tagliareni’s sister-in-law. Also in attendance was their daughter Annabelle and Tagliareni’s son Nico. Novella said Annabelle was named after the character in the “Annabelle” and “The Conjuring” movies series.
In addition to their invited guests, many people passing by on Main Street also stopped by to witness the events, including Freddy Kruger and several other Jasons.
Novello said the happy family plans to return for future celebrations of Friday the 13th, particularly in 2028, then their October 13th anniversary falls on a…Friday.
Joe Phalon, Contributing Writer
Joe was lured out of retirement by the opportunity to be a part of the Ridge View Echo. During a decades-long career in publishing and journalism, he has covered government on many levels from local school boards to the United States Supreme Court.
Along the way, Joe has worked at American Lawyer Magazine, The National Law Journal and The Record among other publications, and as the Press Officer of Columbia Law School. His work has been recognized with several first place awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the New Jersey Press Association.
Being part of the Ridge View Echo brings Joe back to his roots and the kind of news coverage he loves: Telling the stories of people and local communities as well as keeping an eye on how their money is spent by their government officials.
Joe lives in Blairstown with his wife Rose, the founder of Quilting for a Cause, and their two wiener dogs. He is an artist in his spare time.
