The Wedding Story of... Margaret & Corey Bienert

The friendship between Margaret Ingraham and Corey Bienert began at Judson University in Elgin, IL where they were attending college. “We bumped into each other at the library and quickly realized how much we had in common,” Margaret recalls. “After casually dating for a year and a half, I realized Corey was the real deal and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to be with him!”

 

 

 

 

 

The two spent the next year dating exclusively but had not discussed marriage.  So, at a Freelance Whales concert in 2010, when Corey asked Margaret where she saw herself in a year, she had no clue he was testing the water. Without hesitation, she said she hoped to move closer to him. At the time, Margaret lived in Milwaukee, WI and Corey lived in Elgin. 

 

After the concert, the two headed back to Corey’s house where Margaret noticed Corey acting “very weird and anxious” but he assured her he was fine.  “Corey randomly asked me to get him a glass of water, which was really strange,” she said. When she returned Corey turned on one of his favorite songs - “Now My Feet Won’t Touch the Ground” by Coldplay.

 

Corey then handed Margaret a camera and asked her to take a picture of him with her eyes closed. “I became a little suspicious, but the last thing I suspected was a proposal,” Margaret said. “After snapping the picture, I looked down to find Corey on one knee with a big grin on his face asking me to marry him!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As planning began, the couple−who are both photographers and artists−knew they wanted their wedding to start with a blank slate. They also knew they wanted a relaxed and intimate outdoor event that showed off their creative personalities. Margaret says, “We didn’t want our wedding to feel like a typical wedding, but more of a celebrated event to match our personalities.”

 

The couple was inspired by one of their favorite experiences together−a Jonsi concert. “Corey and I share a love of the singer Jonsi, a very artistic musician,” Margaret says. “So, we decided to recreate as much of that concert as we could for our wedding.” 

 

As the details began falling into place, the couple chose to keep the specifics between themselves and their closest friends, making it more of a  memorable experience for those attending.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When their wedding day arrived all the hard work, planning and last-minute details turned out to be everything Margaret and Corey had hoped.

 

Memorable moments at the ceremony included the ring “bear,” Corey’s nephew, walking down the aisle in a bear costume and shared laughter and tears by the bride and groom as they exchanged vows. The music for the ceremony was provided by Corey’s band, The Hudson Branch. The ceremony was officiated by the bride’s brother-in-law.

 

After they were pronounced husband and wife, Margaret and Corey were able to spend some time alone to reflect on their ceremony and prepare themselves for a night of celebration by taking a private Ferris wheel ride. Margaret says, “The whole day was very busy, so this gave us time to just be together before the party really started!”

 

At the reception, friends and family took turns riding Laura, the elephant, and hopping on the colorful vintage Ferris wheel. Following a casual cookout of burgers on the grill and toasts to the newlyweds, the couple and their guests had an impromptu glitter and paint party. They ended the night with a wish lantern send off.

 

“If I had to describe our wedding I would say it turned out to be very ‘Corey and me’,” Margaret says. “We often refer to our wedding as our ‘first project’.” Corey and I tend to take our ideas, run with them, and hope it turns out well.”