Mary & Dave's Wedding | When Sparks turn into Fireworks...
When we met on a cold Winter’s Day at a cute little coffee shop in Crown Point, talking wedding plans with Dave and Mary, we couldn’t have imagined how epic their wedding was actually going to turn out. We chatted for a very long time with them, sipping lattes and chai teas. Mary and Dave told us about their vision for their big day and Jamie and I were caught up dreaming about all the details and how the magical day would unfold …
Their wedding took place at the beautiful Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Merrillville. Mary told us that it is the parish she grew up in and always knew she’d want to get married there. It is also were her parents were married and where her papoú (grandfather) chanted after emigrating from Greece. It’s a wonderful way to honor the family history while creating a new family!
For their bridal party portraits we went to Hamstra Gardens in Demotte. Their ceremony took place at Stoney Run County Park.
“Stoney Run offered us a unique opportunity to create a custom outdoor reception, with the one thing my husband asked for - a large dance floor under the stars. The field was vast and empty, but provided the perfect blank slate for what I had envisioned an outdoor reception to be. ”
Dave & Mary’s Story:
Dave and I attended the same junior high and high school in Crown Point. We had a handful of classes together but never hung out outside of school. However, there were countless nights spent chatting on AIM (instant messenger) while our parents yelled for us to turn it off and go to bed.
“The first time I saw Mary was at summer gym class between 8th grade and freshman year. I remember thinking wow I really like her and asking my friends who she was. I spent the rest of the summer trying to excel in our gym activities so she would notice me. It must’ve worked because at the end of summer our class went on a field trip to Deep River Waterpark and Mary asked to sit next to me on the bus. I was really nervous and quickly asked for an impromptu photo of her with my disposable camera. I’d like to think she said yes, based on the image I’m not so sure, but either way I snapped one and still have that picture today! We had a few classes together freshman/sophomore year and I continued to have a crush on her but didn’t think she noticed. One day she came up to me in the hallway and said she liked my shirt so I anxiously proclaimed she could have it! She looked at me like I was weird and walked away. It remained a silent crush from then on. FYI I kept that shirt and gave it to her after a few months of dating. ”
“Dave was always the sweetest guy in school and a little shy. He was really cute with the biggest smile and kindest blue eyes. One memory that always stuck with me after high school was during English class sophomore year, instead of doing my work, I handmade valentines cards that said the most humorous things about friends. I always had a crush on Dave but was embarrassed to give him one, instead, I gave them to other friends in class and hurried out. At the end of the day Dave came up to me in the hall and told me he was disappointed that he didn’t get one and genuinely looked sad. Completely shocked that he called me out, I was mortified, became uncharacteristically shy and rushed away. I never gave him one even after the fact! I have felt bad to this day. ”
Fast forward to college, he and I both lived in Indianapolis but attended different universities. I would message him on Facebook here and there but we never crossed paths. He is actually the only guy I’ve ever sent FB messages to hoping he would get the hint and ask me out but he never did. I even gave him my phone number, but he never called me! I resorted to saving his birthdate and used it as a reason to reach out to him on FB - wishful thinking.
“I just thought Mary was being nice. My friends always said she was messaging because she liked me, but I didn’t want to assume that and be a creepy FB stalker. I always had a crush on her and wanted to connect one day but she ended up moving across the country and it never seemed like the right time. For the record, I also gave her my number one day and she ghosted me.”
We reconnected when we were 32 and Mary moved back to Crown Point. She sent me a FB message asking if I was around the area and I immediately messaged her back and asked her to dinner. I was hoping it was an actual date but wasn’t entirely sure what she thought. We went to Provecho in Crown Point and ended up talking for 6 hours. Our conversation was easy and engaging but she was also a little intimidating and drilled me with tons of questions about life, morals, and passions. She was interesting and totally different than other girls, and I was really excited to keep seeing her.
“I was super nervous meeting up with Dave. Thankfully he was still the super sweet, genuine, kindhearted guy I remembered from high school. Our conversation was funny and refreshing and I could’ve stayed there even longer if the restaurant wasn’t closing. I left excited to see him again.”
What is your favorite way to spend time together?
We love anything outdoors. Most often we can be found hiking the Dunes and finishing off with South Shore Oven Works pizza, or catching sunset somewhere.
Bride - how did you know HE was THE ONE?
After our 3rd date I was talking to my sister and I started crying while explaining how great I thought he was and how much we had in common - and I’m not referring to movies, sports, or music type interests, but things that are significant to me like morals/ethics, family values, religion, his open mindedness, independence, and love of reading and learning. I’m not a cryer at all and I didn’t even know why I was crying, it was an overwhelming thought of how I’d never met anyone like him and I never wanted to lose that. Prior to Dave, my mindset was always that I wouldn’t get married to just anyone and I was fine if it never happened. Dave is the only person I’ve ever met that’s been on the same page and made me look forward to getting married and having a family.
Groom - how did you know SHE was THE ONE?
I knew really early, pretty much right away after our first few dates. The physical attraction was always there since high school, but once we started talking I realized she was different than any other girl I met and we had so many shared values. There wasn’t one specific thing, but after our first date and the topics she drilled me on, I was always hopeful that she was the one.
The Proposal
The very first place Dave and I traveled to together was Lake Tahoe. We have a favorite spot to stay with beautiful views of the lake and mountains and we go every year. We had just finished a long hike and decided to lay on the patio and watch the sunset. Dave set up a time lapse on his camera (pretty common), then he asked me to stand in front which I thought was weird but he said it was a test photo for framing (again, fairly common). As I was looking out over the water, he grabbed my arm, dropped down on one knee and said “I love you with all my heart, will you marry me?”.
I was completely shocked and actually pulled my arm away and took a step back - I thought he was tying his shoe and I didn’t know why he was pulling on me. Dave says I had a look of disgust and it threw him in a panic, however, I was just caught off guard and froze. It’s cliché, but time stood still and a million things were racing through my head - OMG what’s happening, is this real, Dave would never pull a prank, take a breath, smile and say YES - all while Dave was on the ground with a smile bigger than the Cheshire Cat.
I finally realized what was happening and said YES! He shed a few tears after and we sat and watched the remainder of the sunset. I didn’t cry until we FaceTimed his parents and his mom and dad told me how grateful they were to have me as part of their family. Cliché #2, Right after the sunset there was a very clear double shooting star, and that’s the first time Dave’s ever seen a shooting star. Everything was perfect.
“I was unbelievably nervous and thought for sure Mary knew I was going to propose. Once I had the ring I didn’t want to wait. I knew I wanted to marry her. We had conversations about marriage before and she even told me to not be nervous if I ever proposed because she would without a doubt say yes. However, her facial expression when I was down on one knee did not match that and I will never forget it. I asked her a handful of times if she was sure after she said yes. I somehow managed to pull off a complete surprise. ”
Who stood up in your wedding?
Mary: my brother Rob, sister Becky, brother-in-law Adam, sister-in-law Gabby, best friend from high school Alicia, closest friend since elementary school Mary, and two friends from college, Jenni & Autumn.
Dave: my brother Phil, and my closest friends from high school - Will, Nick, David, and Ryan.
In a Greek Orthodox wedding, the bride and groom must choose either a Koumbaro (male) or Koumbara (female) who acts as the official ‘sponsors’ of the marriage. Like the godparent of a child. The role has great significance in our church, as the Koumbari perform some of the most symbolic pieces of a Greek wedding, and are chosen as someone we can look towards for religious guidance throughout our lives together. We chose my brother, Robert Galouzis, and my sister, Rebecca Lahman, as our Koumbari. For me there was never the thought of picking just one of them. I am the youngest in our family and have always looked up to both my siblings equally for guidance, therefore I chose Becky and Rob. Dave has also built a close relationship with both of them, so there was no question who we would choose.
My maid of honor was Alicia Strom. She has been my closest friend since high school and someone I can tell anything and everything to without judgement. No matter how far we’ve lived from each other, or amount of time between calls, she has always been there for me and will always be a staple in my life. We’ve shared amazing memories and no one could ever come close to replacing her.
The best man was Dave’s brother Phil Rendina. Dave and his brother have always been very close, navigating life not only as siblings but also friends. Even though Phil now lives in Georgia, Dave talks with him almost daily and they are constantly bouncing stories and ideas off each other.
Describe your wedding style in 3 words
Casual elegance, Non-traditional, minimalist.
(Dave says EXPLOSIVE!!!)
What were your wedding colors?
Gold, dusty rose, mauve, navy blue. I’ve always been a fan of neutral tones. Dave really wanted navy blue suits and I wanted something elegant to contrast the massive amount of greenery at the park. Dusty rose is always a personal favorite so I opted to go heavy on the antique shades of rose and cream to keep things light and elegant with slight navy touches. I also opted for an ivory sailcloth tent with wood poles and ivory linens to avoid the brightness of anything stark white.
Some of the Vendors:
Where did you buy the rings and why?
We chose to purchase 24 karat gold bands from Menē because we liked the look, they are timeless, and since pure gold is soft it will contour to us throughout the years - scratches and all.
Dave already has a scratch from when we went hiking on our honeymoon and he fell. He claims I took an unnecessarily difficult path, as usual, but I found it fun. Now it’s a forever memory we laugh about :) I ended up falling while climbing an area Dave chose to avoid and now I have a matching scratch. I really like the vintage look and the natural scratches that it has already acquired. I reminds me of all our adventures and makes me smile.
Where did you buy the wedding dress?
My dress was purchased at Marie Gabriel Couture in Indianapolis.
Why did you pick that one?
I’ve always been a fan of the designer Pronovias. After the engagement, I started scrolling through different designs and fell in love with one specific dress. I loved the sleek front and intricately detailed back. They had it on hand at Marie Gabriel so I took my mom, sister, and future mother-in-law for a day trip to Indianapolis. As soon as I tried it on I knew it was the one. It fit exactly as I imagined. I humored trying on a few other designs that were similar but the first one was still my favorite and ultimate winner.
Where did you get the bridesmaid dresses and what made you choose those particular ones?
Bridesmaids dresses were from BHLDN. They were actually a dress I had wanted for myself and then realized they would be perfect for my bridesmaids. It’s also a dress that can be worn at future occasions, which one of my bridesmaids has already done!
How about the guys Tuxedos or suits?
Dave had always wanted to have custom Italian suits made for his groomsmen as a gift. The company that he initially ordered from ended up cancelling the order 3 weeks before the wedding and only sent 1 suit. Luckily he had a backup plan and had the suits rush ordered from Bonobos. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted but everything worked out in the end.
Who was your florist? What made you choose those particular flowers? What flowers were most important to you to be included in your bouquet?
Charlyn’s Florals was referred to me by my photographer Carmen after I mentioned wanting an unstructured, whimsical style bouquet. Charlyn nailed it. I gave her free reign to design the bouquets based on a few images that I wanted meshed and it was perfect. I never planned on loving my flowers but I ended up being obsessed with how they turned out.
Who was your DJ/Band/Lighting/PhotoBooth company?
We booked DJ Taki. He is a local Chicagoland Greek DJ that we’ve known for many years. He killed it! Dave is very picky about music but we both felt like he did a great job mixing everything up to keep everyone on the dance floor. He also provided uplighting that was a great addition on the dance floor.
Lighting: Dave and his dad built 4 large wood posts that were mounted in concrete based flower pots and we hung bistro lights throughout the reception area and dance floor.
Did you have wedding favors? If so where did you get them?
We used Smudge Organics goat milk soap as wedding favors. The owner, Sarah, sources her milk from local farmers and makes everything by hand. We met a handful of times to nail down the exact scent and color combination/design for the favors. I am super sensitive to smells and so I was extremely picky, but Sarah was very patient with me and her communication made the entire process fun and easy. She even made specialty tags with our wedding info and included artwork I provided.
Did you give Bridal Party gifts? Which kind and where did you get it from?
As bridal party gifts I gave the girls necklaces from Kendra Scott that matched their dresses. I also gave them each one of my favorite go-to canvas totes from Madewell.
Who did your hair and makeup?
The only person I ever let do my hair is my sister. She is a hair stylist and I trust her more than anyone, so there was never a question about who would do my hair. For the bridesmaids, I booked one of my sisters friends named Amber to come to the house.
The girls and I all did our own makeup.
Name of your limo company?
VIP Limousine, INC.
Overall, which vendors would you recommend the most?
I loved all of my vendors.
AAYS rental company was one of the best rental companies I have ever worked with and they have quality products at really fair prices. Communication was exceptional, from set up to tear down their staff was the best I’ve worked with for events. I would absolutely use them again.
White Dahlia Events provided the vintage furniture. They are exceptional to work with and have a large assortment of furniture pieces and services.
Charlyn was outstanding and blew me away with the flowers and centerpieces. She listened to what my interests were and delivered on that perfectly.
House of Fireworks orchestrated a top of the line firework show that my guests still won’t stop talking about. It greatly exceeded my expectations. I love rewatching the videos.
Hands down, my top vendor was Jim - South Shore Ovenworks. He was phenomenal and went above and beyond to make sure I thoroughly enjoyed all the delicious food offerings. His execution was perfect. He was very easy to work with and had a plethora of helpful knowledge regarding outdoor weddings and catering logistics. He was always upbeat and optimistic during the planning process as well as during the event. Many of my guests commented on how much they enjoyed talking with him while he was nonstop making pizzas and cutting charcuterie. He also took on the challenge of making me a towering “wedding cake” out of cheese wheels and it was awesome. I look forward to using him for future events!
Were there any challenges planning your wedding?
We had a year to plan the wedding but realistically started the rental process around 6 months. The final touches were handled in the 30 days leading up to the wedding.
Entry & Head Table Design - Rachel Collins Salted Hue
Random Info / Side Note:
My mom and I handmade and dyed the cheesecloth napkins and table runners.
I made the floral backdrop/boxwood wall.
Desserts were all made by our mothers and relatives.
What or who was most helpful?
Family and friends. Without my parents, siblings, bridal party, and family friends my wedding would’ve been a flop. From my husband and his dad building our lighting poles, to groomsmen and their wives stringing bistro lights, to friends and parents hauling vintage furniture…accepting their offers to assist was the most helpful part of creating our reception from scratch.
Pinterest was great for narrowing down the color arrangement for place settings that I liked the best. I had already envisioned how I wanted the overall look of the reception to be, but it was reassuring to see other events designed in a fashion similar to what was in my mind.
What piece of advice would you pass on to future brides and grooms?
If friends/family ask to help, delegate whatever little tasks you can to them and if things aren’t done perfectly no one will ever notice.
When choosing to hire a coordinator, find someone you can bounce ideas back and forth off of that is genuinely interested in executing what’s most important to you on your wedding day. Everyone has an opinion about what is best, but what’s most important to you might not be the top priority for someone else, so be very clear why you want something a certain way so that it’s not overlooked by your coordinator or helpers.
I’m a perfectionist, but I made it a point to not focus on anything that’s wasn’t exactly how I wanted it on the wedding day - nobody knew except me and the party still went on. There was no point in getting upset about it. The most important thing was Dave standing across from me and celebrating our commitment.
Make a list of the most important people that you absolutely want a photograph with at the reception. Even if you know factually that you won’t forget, once the party starts you’ll get pulled a million directions and that will be the last thing on your mind. Plus, people move around so much it won’t be at the forefront of your mind when scanning the crowd if you don’t automatically see them.
What made you choose Carmen & Jamie as your wedding photographers?
I first met Carmen when I was 18 and she took my senior portraits. I’m now 35 and I told her at 18 that if I ever got married I wanted her to be my photographer. I have used her for numerous family photos and I love working with her. Over the years I’ve stalked her photography pages and there aren’t enough words to describe her artistry.
When you find the best photographer, you don’t go with anyone else, for ANYTHING. My job has put me in touch with a plethora of photographers over the years but no one has ever topped Carmen. Her attention to detail is undeniable. She’s very straightforward and not afraid to tell you what will or won’t work and why, and she creates an environment where you feel you can trust her 100% no matter what action or pose she’s asking from you.
I hate taking photos and always feel awkward but she manages to exceed my expectations every single time. I’m so grateful for all of her hard work and the beautiful memories she’s provided me and my family over the years.
This was the first time I’ve worked with Jamie and she was incredible! She has amazing chemistry with Carmen and they were constantly working off each other to capture every angle of our wedding. It was fun to watch and made the experience fun as opposed to taxing or annoying. When the kids wouldn’t stand still or smile Jamie unexpectedly started imitating animals and engaging the group in a way that made everyone, young and old, smile.
Both photographers were always happy and smiling while working and didn’t stand out like sore thumbs at the reception. Even guests told me afterwards how much they enjoyed their interactions with both Carmen and Jamie.
I couldn’t imagine using anyone else for my wedding photos and I look forward to using them for future life events.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I’d like to thank our parents, siblings, and friends for going above and beyond to tie up loose ends and make sure our wedding was exceptional. Without them a number of things wouldn’t have been accomplished and we are forever grateful to have their love and support.
To Stoney Run County Park, Jen & Brian, THANK YOU! There are no words for how much I appreciate everything Jen did for us at Stoney Run - late nights, early mornings, constant text messages. We can’t wait to have future family events and continue making lasting memories at Stoney Run.
Most importantly, I’d like to thank Dave for putting up with me during the entire process of building a wedding venue from scratch. There were a number of days where I was frustrated, preoccupied, and we hardly saw each other, but he always kept his amazing smile, told me he loved me, and assured me everything would work out. I love you.
Mary and Dave, we had the best time at your wedding not just as photographers but also as guests. The day was fast paced but everyone was in a good mood and everything ran smoothly.
Your wedding was epic and I am so happy you you gave me the honor of photographing your wedding! I consider you and your family - FRIENDS!!! Seeing your dad dance with you is probably one of my favorite wedding memories ever!
Mary, you are one of a kind and I love how you know exactly what you want but you can also roll with the punches and enjoy the imperfections because in the end everything was absolutely perfect!
You and Dave are made for each other and to see how much you are both loved by your family and friends made Jamie and I teary eyed at various points during the day!
Jamie and I wish you both nothing but the very best and remember to invite me for more pizza soon!!!
-Carmen & Jamie
Full Vendor List!
Reception Venue - Stoney Run County Park
Invitations - Jen Simpson Designs
Tent / Wedding rentals - AAYS
Mobile restroom trailer - Service Sanitation
Centerpieces - Charlyn Florist
DJ - Takis Zarakas / Zetavibe Productions
Charcuterie - South Shore Ovenworks
Wood Fired Pizza - South Shore Ovenworks
Wedding Favors - Smudge’s Organics
Vintage Furniture - White Dahlia Events
Wedding cupcakes - The Flying Cupcake
Beer & Liquor - Triangle Liquors
Ice cream station - Valpo Velvet
Roasted Lamb - Hobart Meats
Dragobobs & Catering - Ace Catering
Bartenders - Ace Catering
Ice Cooler - Home City Ice
Party Bus - VIP Limousine, INC
Vendor Management - Rachel Collins Salted Hue
