Dress: Justin Alexander
Shoes: Steve Madden
Jewelry: Alexis Bittar and Nadri
Rings: Custom design w/Goldsmith Gallery
Bridesmaids: Monique Lhuillier
Venue/Catering/Bar: The Barn at Raccoon Creek
Wedding Planner: We Tie the Knots
DJ: DJ Guy
Cake: The Makery Cake Co.
Officiant: Phil Gallagher
Hair and Makeup: Kim Jundt
Floral: Ladybird Poppy Floral Design
Ceremony Music: A Music Plus
Photography: Drake & CO Photography + Films, Drake and Ashley Busch
How did you meet each other?
Deryk and I met our freshman year of high school (10 YEARS AGO). I was helping my dad (then high school wrestling coach) run a city-wide tournament and Deryk was on the team for the rival high school. We had a mutual family friend who introduced us at the event and after 8 months of Deryk playing hard to get, he finally asked me to go steady on the ferris wheel.
What was your favorite memory from your wedding day?
Our first dance. Deryk and I had been attending lessons for almost 2 months before the date. We picked the song “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran and worked with our instructor to choreograph the perfect performance to the song. It was so beautiful and such a surprise for the family to see- it brings tears to my eyes when I hear the song and remember the moment we shared dancing to our song.
What is some advice you would give to other couples planning their wedding?
Trust your vendors (especially you wedding planner)! The small hiccups are inevitable, but with an awesome team it doesn’t interrupt the celebration. I didn’t even know when problems arose and that is exactly how it should be for the bride and groom. It was truly perfect.
Did you go on a honeymoon?
We went to St. Lucia and stayed at the Serenity Resort. Our favorite excursion was a day long outing including a speed boat around the island, snorkeling in the bay, a trip to the active volcano and hot springs, and the waterfall. We had the opportunity to try some of the local cuisine and visit some of the smaller fishing villages which was amazing! Definitely recommend the island- just make sure you are on the Caribbean side for calmer, teal waters perfect for Paddle boarding, snorkeling, and parasailing.