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Business & Tech

Local Couple to Tie The Knot Where They Met—Patsy's Irish Pub

Juli Hardeman and Michael Neal fell in love at the neighborhood favorite, and to celebrate, they will wed March 24 at the venue at the request of its owners.

Love is definitely green, and in a good way, for local couple Michael Neal and Juli Hardeman who met at Patsy's Irish Pub in August 2005.  

Neal and Hardeman, who have been dating since 2006, have decided to tie the knot on March 24 at the place they met and fell in love. She has been visiting Patsy's for at least 15 years, while Neal has been coming for at least 10.

"For Mike, it was love at first sight. I had been coming out of an 18-year marriage and wasn't ready to date," recalled Hardeman, a licensed vocational nurse who works with special needs children.

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She said Neal courted her for a year and would come into the pub often trying to meet her, but she wouldn't give him a break.

"Finally, we connected, and everyone was so happy," she said. "He didn't give up though, and after about a year, I gave in."

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Added Neal, "Persistence paid off I guess. I think it's a good thing that we are getting married where we met; all our friends are there and it makes sense."

The "simple 10-minute wedding ceremony will be followed by a wonderful celebration with family and friends at Patsy's," she said.

Owners Maryann Dougherty and Jack Bremer said this will be the restaurant and pub's first wedding. In fact, the wedding was the owners' idea, Hardeman said.

"Jack and Maryann did not want us to go to the courthouse. Jack insisted I put it off and do it right -- around friends and family that love us," Harderman said. "The girls that worked there love us both and they kept pushing us together."

Said Dougherty: "We're really excited to have the wedding here and are happy for the couple."

Hardeman said she "fell hard" for Neal, who sells ultrasound equipment.

"He is the most amazing man I know. I am truly blessed. It gets better and better every day," she said.

Her sister, Lynn, will be her bridesmaid, as well as daughters Amanda, 22, a senior at UCI and Carly, 14, an eighth-grader at Niguel Hills Middle School. Mom, Sharon, who is doing most of the decorating, will be at the festive affair, too.

Also on hand will be Neal's three adult children: Tim will be his best man, and Tom and Christina will lend their support.

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