We met each other in the Fall of 2007 as incoming students at McCormick Theological Seminary. Our first encounter was on the front veranda of the resident building as Nick was heading out to play tennis and Kimberlee was unloading her belongings. A few days later at the weekly seminary grill night, we had our first conversation about the times we both spent volunteering in Ghana.
Little did we know then, but our shared passion for international travel would be a catalyst of our relationship. In our third and final year of seminary, we both traveled to Egypt as part of a three-week travel seminar. We spent many late nights leading sing-a-longs of American pop songs on an old dirty piano where we were staying. Through our shared time traveling and playing music, something just "clicked" between us.
When we got back home, we decided to continue playing music together and we started a band - "Good Luck Pennies." In March of 2010 we once again found ourselves leaving the USA and road-tripping to Canada. We soon realized that our passions for music and travel had blossomed into something much deeper.
On March 18, 2011, on a Mississippi River bluff on the border between our home states of Illinois and Iowa, Nick took out his mandolin and sang a song he wrote for Kimberlee, the final line being: "Kimberlee, will you marry me?" She responded by joyously tackling him and shouting "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Saturday, August 27, 2011
11:00amMARRIAGE! (ceremony)
12:00pmWe EAT! (potluck lunch)
1:00-6:00pmLawn Games/PARTY!
~3:00Music Jam (see details)
Potluck
If you are able, please bring a side dish to share! There will be outlets available if you need to plug something in. Burgers, beverages, and dessert will be provided.Attire
It's a summer PICNIC! :) Wear something comfortable and cool. If you prefer things on the "fancy" side, sundresses, polo/dress shirts and khaki shorts are all great! If you want to "keep it real," break out those flip-flops, shorts, and a t-shirt!Music Jam
We love making music and want to share this joy together with you on our wedding day! Please bring an instrument of any kind and your voice if you'd like to participate! Chord/lyric sheets will be provided. Let us know if you need music in a non-concert key!Lawn Games
We will have a variety of lawn games available for playing all afternoon. There's lots of open fields, so please feel free to bring your own games! (frisbees, footballs, bean bag toss, etc).
The wedding and reception will be held at the Fox River Preserve, 26034 Roberts Road, Port Barrington, IL 60010
For those coming on I-90, the simplest route is to take highway 59 north 13.4 miles, turn west (left) on Roberts Rd, and follow Roberts Rd for 2.2 miles. The preserve will be on the left and marked by a sign (see picture and map below).
For your convenience, we have reserved a block of rooms at the closest hotel to the wedding/reception site for a group rate of $89 (plus tax) for a standard room with two queen beds or a single king bed and $109 (plus tax) for the fancy-schmancy suites.
Holiday Inn Express
197 South Rand Road
Lake, Zurich, IL 60047
(847)726-7500
The hotel provides a complimentary hot breakfast bar, a 24-hour access pool and fitness center, and free high-speed internet. Every room includes a mini-fridge. A shuttle to the wedding is also included. It will depart the hotel for the wedding at 10:30am and pick up for the return trip at 5:30pm.
Reservations for Friday or Saturday nights can be made online at this link using group code FRW. The hotel will honor the group rate for additional nights before Friday or after Saturday, but you will need to call the hotel to make an extended reservation.
It is gift enough to us to know that you will be with us in presence or in spirit on our wedding day and as we embark together in life.
For those wishing to give a gift, we have used Amazon.com's wedding registry service to organize a variety of gifts found at many different stores. Feel free to support your favorite retailer, especially if it is a local store - just remember to click the "Buying this gift elsewhere" button! We've also indicated some gifts that you might be able to make yourself...we love handmade, personal gifts, so please feel free to share your talents with us!
On the registry site you can also find a number of donations through World Vision. This allows you to donate a specific item in our name to people in need across the globe. We have both been touched and inspired in our travels throughout the world to offer compassion and care to those in need. Know that any donation made is deeply meaningful to both of us, and you are touching the lives of more people than just us.
Click here to view our Amazon.com registry.