Sweet Fantasy
From a groom’s serenade and a grandfather’s heartfelt walk to a second dress for dancing and a sweet personalized tie for dad, these newlyweds share how special touches brought their visions of the big day to life.
Andrea + Alan Chavez
photographer: Emily Richards, Emily Richards Photography, emilyrichardsphotography.com
Less than two years after meeting through friends at Faith Family Church, Andrea Maag walked down the aisle in that same church to wed Alan Chavez.
“We just knew and had fun together, and we didn’t want to wait,” says Andrea. “We had peace about it in our hearts,” adds Alan.
The wedding happened a fast six months after Alan’s proposal to Andrea in her driveway — the same spot he asked her to be his girlfriend.
“It was very spontaneous,” says Alan, who lives in Uniontown with Andrea.
“I didn’t want it to be a big thing because she doesn’t like being center of attention, so I wanted it to be private.”
The two got hitched in a Great Gatsby-style wedding at Faith Family in North Canton and celebrated with their loved ones donning Roaring ‘20s duds at a reception at La Pizzaria’s elegant Fresco Room in Canton last Memorial Day weekend on May 24.
From the Bride
Write Stuff: Before the ceremony, we didn’t see each other all day. We wrote letters to each other and read those separately. [It was] a lot of crying and laughing. It relieved me for the rest of the night. It confirmed that I was ready to marry him.
All that Jazz: Me and my mom made all the decorations and centerpieces. My dad made a big hexagon that we stood in front of at our ceremony, and we dropped feathers instead of flowers. We had little Mason jars that were filled with moonshine. A lot of the music was from the ‘20s.
Rave Reviews: We had a lot of guests come to us and tell us it was the best food of any wedding they had ever been to. The hors d’oeuvres were pizza. There was Italian sausage and pasta. Everyone was obsessed with the food and that it was all-around really fun.
From the Groom
Ring Me: The main diamond was Andrea’s mom’s; she wanted to keep that in the family, so I took her mom’s diamond and put it on her band. I knew she wanted something simple and classy, so I went with this band which was really simple.
A Little Ditty: Andrea already knew I was singing to her [at the reception] because she’s hard to surprise. A buddy of mine played his cello. I sat down with him, played guitar and sang [“Speechless” by Dan & Shay] to her.
Ba Bump: My heart was beating so fast until she walked [down the aisle], and then everything was at a standstill. There was a lot of water in my eyes. Then, when she was finally there with me, it was more like relief.
Alina + Matt Vicars
photographer: Yevhen Gulenko, Human Artist Photography humanartist.com
Long before they met, Alina Zaremba and Matt Vicars each created lists of what they wanted in a perfect mate. After meeting on the international dating app Badoo in spring 2015 and dating for a while, they shared those lists and realized they both checked all of each other’s boxes. He loved Alina’s Ukrainian-American accent and femininity; she loved Matt’s confidence and compassion.
In September 2017, they went to the Secrest Arboretum for a date, and Matt knelt to ask for her hand. “It was flowers everywhere. We were in this cute gazebo. It was very romantic,” says Alina, who now lives in Strongsville with Matt. “To me — it was perfect.”
The pair married at Gervasi Vineyard last Father’s Day surrounded by their families and friends.
From the Bride
Picture This: I am originally from Ukraine, and by chance we found this photographer — he was also Ukrainian! We felt like that’s destiny.
Storm Watch: On the day, it said 100 percent chance of rain, which was scary because the ceremony was outside. It was raining, raining, raining. A lot of people were praying. The tornado alarm going off. The sun started showing up just as our wedding started, it didn’t rain throughout our wedding, and just as it ended, it started raining again. It seemed like a miracle.
Tale of Two Dresses: My first dress is very plain: I didn’t want much bling, just something elegant and delicate. The second one was nice because I wanted to make it two parts. I go out as the bride, and then I am married and want to have fun. I wanted to show my mood through my two dresses.
Her Mother’s Daughter: I wanted two dresses, and [my mother] really liked that. She couldn’t decide between two, and I proposed to her, Why don’t you get two dresses? At first, she didn’t want to, but I convinced her, which I thought was really cute.
Dancing Shoes: That’s one of the first things I bought. They’re lacy, white and had blue soles, which was my something blue. I walked in them for a year. Once a month, I would put them on and walk at home so I wouldn’t get blisters on my wedding day.
Well Fed: In Ukraine, you had to have a lot of food for the wedding, so there was a lot of extra food — which means that was a good wedding!
From the Groom
His Bright Spot: The first look. She looked so beautiful and so happy.
Second Look: I was thinking, Wow. That [second dress] was a good idea. We’re both very prepared people. I was like, That’s definitely the new Mrs. Vicars, prepared for some dancing.
Kee’Auna Cherry Parker + Nick Parker
photographer: Olivia D. Wenger, Olivia D. Wenger Photography, oliviadwengerphotography.com
At age 13, Kee’Auna Cherry knew Nick Parker was the one. The middle school students were backstage at a talent show waiting for Kee’Auna to perform a dance to Mariah Carey’s “Butterfly” with her sister. Instead of watching the other acts, they chatted for a solid hour and instantly clicked.
When Nick finally popped the question over a decade later in October 2017, he took Kee’Auna on what she thought was just a dinner date to Toddy B’s in Canton. That date turned into a moment she would never forget.
“There’s a lot of meaning behind it,” says the event planner and owner of KCP Jamborees. “October is one of my favorite months. He knew that my friends and family were the most impactful throughout our relationship. He took me to one of our favorite sports restaurants and surprised me with all our family and friends.”
The Canton residents married last May 26 at Nickajack Farms in North Lawrence in a fairy tale-inspired wedding.
From the Bride
Color Theory: My grandparents on my mother’s side are my best friends. They have been married for 58 years, and I wanted to share my anniversary with them to continue that everlasting love. May is the month they got married, and I loved the emerald birthstone for May, so that helped trigger our colors and date.
Dream Love: I wanted the story to reflect this fairy tale. With this ring, there are three stones — past, present and future. We found a rose gold Disney [ring] box. I am an avid Disney supporter, so I was trying to incorporate it on an elegant level. I saw this tiara, and it was vintage, much like my dress and the vibe I was looking for. I instantly fell in love.
In Bloom: The heart locket on my bouquet has a photo of my father. My dad passed away before I was born, so I never had the opportunity to meet him, but I wanted him to be part of our special day.
Precious Moment: The highlight is my papaw (grandfather) was able to walk me down the aisle. He’s been the father figure in my life. To know that he was able to walk me down the aisle meant the world to me.
From the Groom
First Thing: It was important I got permission from her grandfather. That had to happen before I even thought about going forward. I went over one day and told him, I’ve got a ring and I want to propose to Kee’Auna. He and his wife were very excited.
The Butterflies: Seeing her in a wedding dress and seeing what we talked about materialize was surreal. I don’t know if it was all the people or because I’ve never seen her like that, but I was nervous and a little emotional.
Always My Baby: Marriage to Kee’Auna means the world. It’s what we’ve talked about for so long, and it finally came true.