It’s About Time!

After five years together, Jace Michael proposed to Mary Sue Bonetti on a recent trip to Canada. Both longtime locals, the pair’s news was cause for celebration by their friends.

Hunt and Kris Rettig, along with daughters Addy and Juna, opened their home in the North 40 neighborhood for a party in the couple’s honor last Sunday. Friends from softball, work, Mountain Rescue and other affiliations attended.

“This is the first of many celebratory parties to come,” toasted Hunt.

Jace moved to Aspen in the spring of 1990; Mary Sue arrived in town in the fall of 1994.

The couple first met several years ago in swing dance class, which they both had signed up for individually. “I noticed Jace right away because he was a such a great dancer,” said Mary Sue. Because he usually arrived at class with a female friend, Mary Sue wasn’t sure if he was single or not. One night after class, a few of the “swingers” went to Club Chelsea. Determined to join Jace on the floor, Mary Sue cut in on him with his friend and the rest is history. As it turned out, he was in fact single and soon smitten by his new dance partner. “He walked me home that night and then shortly thereafter asked me out.”

As they developed a relationship, the couple realized they had a lot in common – many of the same friends, instances of almost being on the same hut trips, similar interests. “We hit if off from the start,” Mary Sue continued. They both are very active outside and love to telemark ski, mountain bike, run (except for Jace) and hike, among other things.

Mary Sue works at the Walnut House, Network Aspen and as a freelance photographer. Jace has been a member of Mountain Rescue for the past nine years and works construction in the summer and for Pomeroy Sports in the winter.

The couple is planning a September 2004 wedding in Aspen at an undecided location. “I’ll need to book myself to be the bride that weekend so I don’t get booked as a wedding photographer for someone else,” quipped Mary Sue, who photographs weddings most weekends of the summer. Having arranged trades with several friends, the couple will be relieved of some of the financial pressures involved with having a wedding.

“One of our friends is a pastry chef and will be making our wedding cake; David Clifford and Burnie Arndt will be shooting it; Tom Egan’s going to marry us.”

For now, Jace and Mary Sue plan to take a biking trip around Northern Italy for their honeymoon. But first, they have a little more than a year to enjoy being engaged.

To contact May to send info, insight or invites, e-mail: allthewaymaymay@hotmail.com