The Wedding Story of... Shannon & Kevin Day

Long distance relationships are tough. But Shannon and Kevin – who met while in college at the University of Michigan – persevered and after five years of Amtrak train rides and road trips, finally got married at the ArtsGarden in Indianapolis. They wanted their wedding to be colorful, infused with artistic details and modern, just like their venue. 

 

 

 

Kevin’s family’s lake house in Coldwater, Michigan – his favorite place on earth – was where he proposed. He rigged a camera that took photos every few seconds and completely surprised her, so much so he documented Shannon’s laid back lake self – complete with frizzy hair and sans makeup.

 

 

 

Shannon is a designer for a branding and design agency in Chicago, so it seemed fitting that she did a lot of DIY projects including painting table numbers on mini canvases and creating the vector that later became the gobo design. “Just a little more paint” was something she said often, including the night before the wedding.

 

 

 

Orchids, peonies, poppies and lots of roses added color, texture and fragrance to the beautiful wedding. 

 

 

 

Shannon’s mom, who is a professional makeup artist, tripped over their dog, Jack, the morning of the wedding. Despite the fall, she proceeded to apply the makeup for some of the bridesmaids and even danced at the reception. It turns out she had broken an arm and a rib. Shannon said her mom just looks back on that and laughs.

 

 

 

Shopping in Chicago boutiques was a blast for Shannon and her Mom and sisters. She ended up buying a sample from a boutique, Dimitra’s Bridal Couture. She didn’t get emotional, but she knew it was the one. It reminded her of so many of the dresses she had admired on Pinterest.

 

 

 

Kevin’s sister gave him cuff links with pictures of Kevin and his late father, Kent inside. Kevin and Shannon traveled to Belgium because Kent had always loved craft beers, so, of course, craft beers had to be served at the reception.

 

 

 

Shannon – family, friends, art, swimming, traveling and adventures. Kevin – his dog, Wilson, wakeboarding, soccer, pole vaulting, Michigan football and all things techie (he’s a software engineer in Chicago). 

 

 

 

 

While the DIY details add personalization to the wedding, Shannon said brides should guard against becoming obsessed with décor details and focus on what really matters, such as the sacred nature of the marriage.