A storybook ending has just begun for two Elizabethtown College Blue Jays. With a wedding fit for a fairytale, Caryn and Patrick O’Brien finally tied the knot last Thursday, Sept. 19.
Caryn O’Brien graduated from Etown in 2016 after double majoring in sociology/anthropology and religious studies, with a concentration on Asian religions. Caryn continued her education at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, where she was awarded a master’s degree in history of art and archeology. Patrick O’Brien is a current senior at Etown and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in religious studies at the end of the 2024 fall semester.
Since both Caryn and Patrick were a part of the religious studies program at Etown, they got to know Professor of Religious and Asian Studies Dr. Jeffrey Long very well. Patrick has taken every single one of Dr. Long’s courses (except for his first-year seminar course), and Long was Caryn’s religious studies advisor. Long’s lectures influenced Caryn and Patrick to incorporate Hindu and Celtic traditions into their wedding. Long officiated the wedding and his wife and fellow Etown professor, Dr. Mahua Bhattacharya, also helped with the ceremony.
“Neither one of us are Hindu, but we have taken so many classes with Dr. Long that we gravitated toward the belief system and wanted to be married in a unique way,” Caryn said. “Dr. Long took the time to incorporate Celtic and Hindu traditions into our wedding in unique ways. We had braided cords to represent Hindu flower garlands and included a fire ceremony.”
The wedding was held at The Inn at Leola Village and was full of laughter, fun and celebration. The day was made even more special with a powerful meaning behind the date they chose. Caryn and Patrick had said “I love you” for the first time on Sept. 19, 2017, and the couple got engaged on Sept. 19, 2023.
The couple first met in high school as they were both part of an anime club, but Caryn soon moved out of the school district, causing thepair to lose touch. It was Patrick who reached back out years later via Facebook, and they started dating long distance.
While these two Blue Jays attended the college at different times, Etown still holds so much meaning in their relationship.
“For one of our first dates, we went to Etown’s campus,” Patrick said. “Caryn was able to show me around, so I looked around the campus three years before I attended the school.”
Caryn and Patrick started a new chapter when they moved to Etown and set down roots as Patrick decided to pursue his studies at the College. Caryn and Patrick have been happy in Etown the past few years.
“We love Etown. It is a great college and a great little town,” Caryn said.
Caryn and Patrick have three children together: a 5 ½-year-old, a 2 ½-year-old, and a 9-month-old. While still young, these kids are already attending college classes.
“Our kids are constantly on campus,” Patrick said. “The professors have been super accommodating, even on short notice, if I have to bring one of the kids with me to class. Our oldest loves to stand in front of the wings on campus [on the side of Zug Memorial Hall] so we have pictures of him throughout the years standing with the wing.”
The family is also still involved with the college and the community. Caryn has helped write grant proposals for Etown College professors, Patrick works for Dining Services and their kids enjoy the Elizabethtown Child Care Center.
“It would be super cute if they [our kids] were to be Blue Jays,” Caryn said. The Etownian sends its warmest congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. O’Brien on their wedding.
