The Wedding Story of... Heather & Kevin Gaalaas

The relationship between Heather Higgins and Kevin Gaalaas began when they were only six years old. Having recently moved to Bloomington, Indiana, Kevin and Heather became classmates in the first grade. “I like to think I knew Heather was ‘the one’ in the first grade – she was my first crush!” Kevin says.  

 

As the two grew older, they were separated when Kevin’s family moved to Chicago during sixth grade.  They lost touch until Kevin friend-requested his first crush on Facebook 23 years later.

 

 

 

After a year of dating the two took a weekend getaway trip to the Arches National Park in Utah, a trip in which Kevin was hoping to propose.  Having gone on hikes before, Kevin knew Heather had a fear of snakes, but it was not until this trip Kevin learned his future fiancée had a full blown phobia of the creatures.  

 

As dusk was quickly approaching, Kevin was anxiously trying to find the perfect spot to propose. Kevin recalls, “Despite all my efforts to convince her that the evening desert was not covered in a layer of venomous snakes, my plans of proposing that evening were spoiled by a teenaged park visitor’s eager exclamation, ‘Look Dad, a rattlesnake!’” 

 

The two quickly left the park and after a couple of margaritas at a local Mexican restaurant, the tears and hysterics subsided.  To Kevin’s surprise, Heather camped out with him under the stars and Kevin realized that the weekend still had a chance of including a romantic proposal.

 

Kevin’s perfect opportunity finally occurred the next day as the two went hiking.  “With Heather’s gaze fixed on the breath-taking monolith, I removed the ring from my backpack and knelt down on one knee.  When she turned around to try to figure out what my ramblings of love and beauty were all about it took her a full minute to sort out what was happening.  As soon as it dawned on her, she said, ‘Yes,’” Kevin says. 

 

 

 

Inspired by their love for the outdoors, nature and the arts, Heather and Kevin wed at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. “Having an outdoor wedding was always my dream and important to us as a couple,” Heather says.  “Also, I grew up in a very art centric household, so it was just as important that my wedding reflected an appreciation for the arts and the museum.”

 

The dream of an outdoor wedding almost came crashing down as thunder, lighting and strong winds accompanied Heather as she walked down the aisle to the Beatles classic, “Here Comes the Sun.”  However, not a drop of rain fell and the sun broke through as the two exchanged vows.  

 

“My favorite memory of the wedding day was seeing the nearly instantaneous transformation that occurred after our wedding vows,” Kevin recalls.  “In a matter of seconds, Heather changed from my nervous and trembling fiancée into a relaxed and radiant bride that could finally take in all the extravagant preparation that had consumed her the months prior to the wedding.”

 

 

 

Following the ceremony, the two celebrated with their friends and family, which created Heather’s favorite memory. “Each big portion of my life was represented from childhood through high school, college and my adult life, by the friends and family who played a big role in defining those times for me.”

 

Incorporating their outdoor art themed wedding, trees with hanging votive candles were brought in and placed around the perimeter of the Deer Zink Pavilion and rather then numbers, tables were identified by works of fine art.