Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Our Story

Amber and Luke met in their first semester of graduate school at the University of Illinois. Amber was continuing her studies from her recently completed bachelor’s degree at UIUC while Luke was fresh in from his move to Illinois from east Tennessee, not knowing a soul and looking to make friends as quickly as possible in a town where it became glaringly apparent there was not much fun to be had on one’s own. Much to his surprise, it turned out that the key to meeting people was his background in MATLAB (yes this is a love story born from coding). Soon Amber, among others, was more than happy to share a seat next to Luke in office hours or swing by his office to pick up a tip or two on how to get through dynamics homework with as little pain as possible, but as the semester progressed, what started out as professional partnerships soon turned into real friendships as homework sessions turned into pub-cycles and study groups started meeting at bars instead of libraries. Soon Amber and Luke found themselves two pieces of what had come to be quite a tight-knit friend group.

The semester rolled on, as did Amber and Luke’s friendship, and soon, Luke found Amber to be a dependable companion in many of his more trying times in Champaign. She drove him to clear out his car at the body shop after it was totaled. She helped him haul all the junk it had accumulated back to his tiny apartment at the corner of Clark and Randolph. And she drove him to Chicago to catch his flight home for Thanksgiving so that he could purchase a new car and no longer rely on her as a personal chauffeur. When Luke got back from Thanksgiving, he gifted Amber a print of a photo he had taken years before at one of his favorite spots near his home as a token of appreciation for helping him get back to that very place he called home.

Then Christmas came and went and the New Year (and new semester) arrived, and Luke found a marked change in his day-to-day life in Champaign. As his doctoral research got more focused and his coursework more nuanced, he found himself spending more time in the statistics department on the main quad and less time in Newmark lab with the rest of his compatriots. And while he was still lucky enough to catch many of his newfound friends at sporting events or weekend outings, he very rarely anymore saw Amber (aside from 3 seconds every Tuesday/Thursday as they passed each other on the Engineering Quad). Truth is, he missed her quite a bit, but it was quite apparent that the days of naturally being around each other had come and gone. If he wanted to spend time with her he would have to make a concerted effort, so he did.

What was Amber and Luke’s first date is up for debate. It could certainly be argued that it was the night he first had her over for dinner at his apartment; though there really was still a more platonic air to the situation given the general lack of romantic charm in his Champaign apartment and the fact that he left early to go play pool with his friends. Having probably the more valid claim was a couple of weeks later when they went together to the Illinois-Penn State basketball game followed by a late-night burger at the only restaurant still open: Red Robin (yum). Either way, by the time Luke returned from his spring break getaway in Portugal it was apparent that what was once a friendship was becoming much more than that. The two made their first appearance as a couple at (where else) the spring barn dance, and by the end of April 2023 were bona fide boyfriend and girlfriend…just in time for Amber to graduate with her master’s degree and leave Champaign behind.

In the summer that followed, Amber and Luke enjoyed the last few months they had together before officially becoming long-distance. Amber made her first trip to Luke’s home, and Luke had his first stay at Amber’s grandmother’s in Sauganash. These were wonderful times, and the very beginning of what would become an endless list of adventures the two would embark on together. Then in late June, Amber began her career at Benesch, moved to Chicago full-time, and left Luke behind in Champaign. Over the next year their relationship was largely carried out over a screen with nightly calls and synced up episodes of Love Island and The Bear. As often as was possible Luke would take the two-and-a-half-hour train ride from Champaign to Chicago’s Union Station to spend the weekend at Amber’s grandmother’s house. Much less often, Amber would drive down to Champaign to stay in Luke’s dingy apartment, and more often than now seems possible, the two would go on some adventure to one place or another for a long weekend or holiday, including a backpacking trip in Michigan, a frigid stay in Madison, Wisconsin, a Thanksgiving sweep through West Virginia, and a summer road trip to New Mexico and back. And so things went for the better part of a year and a half.

Then, in the fall of 2023, Amber and Luke’s long-distance relationship became anything but when Luke decided to leave his PhD program to join the firm of Skidmore, Owings &amp; Merrill as a structural designer full time. The two soon moved in together into a 700 square foot apartment in the middle of downtown Chicago. For the past three years they have lived there, sharing in day-to-day life: walking to work, walking back, going shopping on Saturdays, grabbing coffee on the way back from church on Sundays, hosting monthly game nights, taking music lessons, and finding joy in the everyday tasks of adulthood.

Then, on New Year’s Day of 2026, nearly four years after Luke realized that if he wanted to spend more time with Amber he’d have to man up and ask her out, he once again realized that if he wanted to keep spending time with her forever, he’d have to once again man up to ask an all important question. And so, early in the morning, under the guise of getting some sunrise photos, the two headed up to the national park, to the very spot where many years ago Luke took the photo that became his very first gift to Amber four years earlier. And there he asked her to marry him – and the rest, as they say, is history.

Photos

Alyssa DeCarlo

Alyssa is Amber's younger sister and hedgehog mom of Amber's adorable nephew Pinoli. If you ever need any advice about anatomy, workout programs, or a delicious and perfectly decorated cake, Alyssa's your gal! Amber and Alyssa have grown especially close after Amber moved away for college and they share a love of National Parks, artistic hobbies, and late night FaceTime calls.

Adam Edwards

Adam is Luke's older brother and best man. Growing up in rural East Tennessee miles away from the next closest children meant that they were de facto best friends until Adam was old enough to drive. The two rekindled their closeness while Luke was in college, where Adam would drive up every weekend from Chattanooga to DJ at one of the college bars. Adam has since moved to Idaho Falls where he is a mechanical engineer at Idaho National Laboratory.

Victoria Wisniewski

Victoria and Amber met through their sorority at the University of Illinois. After graduation, Victoria moved to Indianapolis and is now a process design engineer at Eli Lilly. While it's not the same as living a floor apart, Amber and Victoria make sure to visit each other as often as possible! Over the years, Victoria's soon-to-be husband Alban and Luke have also become close and the four of us enjoy hanging out all together.

Benjamin Pritchard

Luke and Ben met freshman year at the University of Tennessee where they lived a few doors down from each other in their dorm. The two became fast friends and began living with each other the following year. They were roommates for the next three years before Luke left UT to go to grad school at UIUC. Ben stuck around and recieved his PhD in Horticulture in 2025. He is now a research professor at the University of Georgia studying turfgrass sciences.

Gwen Kramer

Gwen and Amber met when they studied abroad in Australia for a semester sophomore year. They walked to and from class together every day, traveled around Australia, and went to the beach as often as they could. Once they returned to the University of Illinois, their friendship continued to grow. Over the years they have become great travel partners and have gone on countless road trips together. Even though Gwen has moved back to the east coast working in the coastal engineering industry, Amber and Gwen still try to meet up in person when they can.

Timothy Meidl

Luke met Tim freshman year of college, where they lived in the same dorm, but their friendship really took off during the pandemic of 2020 when Luke and Tim, by virtue of being the only folks left in Knoxville during remote classes decided to go on a hike together in the Great Smoky Mountains. The two were soon heading to the national park every few days with the goal of hiking every trail it had to offer. Tim has since finished that goal (Luke is still working on it as moving across the country put a damper on his progress) and has moved abroad where he has been a biological research assistant in Ecuador, Denmark, Italy, Thailand, Indonesia, and Nepal.

Makenzie (Mak) Jarvis

Makenzie was the first person Amber met at the University of Illinois at an early move-in event. It just so happened they lived in the same dorm and on the same floor! The rest of freshman year Makenzie was basically like another roommate playing card games, studying together, and staying up way too late laughing. Makenzie completed her masters in architecture and has since moved to Colorado Springs and is thoroughly enjoying all Colorado has to offer.

Tyler Bomar

Luke met Tyler volunteering for the regional ASCE conference in the spring of sophomore year. The two grew closer throughout junior year as they shared more classes within the department of civil engineering at UT which came to a head as classes went remote at the onset of the pandemic. Paradoxically it was the pandemic that strengthened their friendship as Luke would spend nearly every day at Tyler's apartment attending virtual classes from his couch then hanging out and doing homework after. Tyler remained at UT for grad school after Luke left for UIUC and now lives in Maryland where he works as a structural engineer.

Samantha (Sam) Smith

Sam reached out to Amber through the online roommate portal to see if they should room together and the rest is history. Not only did they room together freshman year, they also lived together for the next four years. Sam is finishing up her clinical year and will be receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in May. If you have any furry friends in need of a good vet, Sam is your girl!

Wedding Party

Summer Garden Formal

Guests should aim for a generally formal appearance but feel free to break some of the rules to be more comfortable on what will likely turn out to be quite a hot and humid day.

Ladies:- knee length or longer dresses- any color or pattern welcome (except white) Gentlemen: - jacket, trousers, and tie required- lighter colors allowed- more casual summer fabrics allowed- suit seperates allowed

Dress Code

Q + A

The Westin Chicago North Shore

Travel

--- Activities ---

The Art Institute is one of Luke's favorite spots in the city. Back when Amber was working and Luke was still in school he spent countless hours there people watching or reading a book in the galleries while waiting for Amber to get off of work. Now, by virtue of working across the street, he likes to decompress at lunch or after work by walking through some of the museums less travelled corridors and taking in some of his favorite works. See some of the collections highlights such as Wood's American Gothic, Hopper's Nighthawks, and Monet's Water Lilies, or explore some of Luke's favorite less appreciated nooks and crannies of the museum such as 19th century arts of America (Gallery 171), Arts of Ancient Egypt (Gallery 50), and the Arms and Armor Gallery (Gallery 239).

The Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago is the birthplace and home of modern western architecture and has long acted as a sort of laboratory for the minds at the forefront of architectural innovation like Daniel Burnham, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Louis Sullivan, and Bruce Graham, and there is no better vantage point to appreciate it than from the Chicago River. Enjoy a peaceful ride on the river's turquoise waters while peering up at some of the worlds most celebrated buildings. Along the way, get up close and personal with Chicago's iconic drawbridges, which Amber helps keep in tip top shape.

River Boat Architecture Tour

Take the fastest elevator in the western hemisphere over 1000 feet to the observation level of the iconic John Hancock Center, one of Chicago's most famous towers, and widely considered best view. Get an unbridled perspective of Lake Michigan's western shore and across downtown Chicago's north side.

360 CHICAGO

One of Amber and Luke's favorite weekend activities is to head up to the northern suburbs (very near the wedding venue) to the Chicago Botanic Garden. The garden offers a much needed release from the urban swath of the city. Enjoy the gardens expanse of displays of flowers, forests, and lagoons. Our favorites include Japanese garden, English walled garden, vegetable and fruit garden, and the bonsai collection.

Chicago Botanic Garden

Head to the top of one of SOM's most iconic towers and view Chicago (and well beyond) from America's highest observation deck. While you're there, step out on the Ledge to see straight down 1350 feet to the cars on Wacker Drive below you.

Skydeck Chicago

One of the city's greatest assets is it's lakefront, and the best way to explore the lakefront is the Lakeshore Trail. Amber and Luke love to take jogs and bike rides along the trail on the weekends and enjoy the stops and skyline views along the way. The trail is also a great way to link some of the city's great locations. Plan stops along the way at Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, North Avenue Beach, Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory, Navy Pier, Buckingham Fountain, the Museum Campus, and Northerly Island. Don't have a bike with you? We recommened renting one from Bobby's Bike Hike, located right off the trail in the Streeterville neighborhood.

Take a Bike Ride on the Lakeshore Trail

------ Eats ------

A northern Chicago staple and great spot to stop in for a quick casual bite. Near: Reception Venue/Hotel

Superdawg Drive-In

One of our favorite spots to splurge on a summer lunch. Upscale Italian fare with a great view of the river. Near: Chicago Riverwalk/Architecture Boat Tours

Pizzeria Portofino

Best place downtown to snag a classic Chicago Dog. Near: Art Institute/Buckingham Fountain/Museum Campus

Relish Chicago Hot Dogs

Great spot for lunch or dinner, serving classic American food in a refined way. We first found this gem walking to our music classes in the lovely Lincoln Square neighborhood. Near: Montrose Beach and Bird Sanctuary/Lakefront Trail

The Warbler

Deep dish pizza the right way. Near: Ceremony Venue

Pequod's Pizza

----- Coffee -----

Local joint with great interiors and even better chai lattes. Prominently featured in our engagement photos. Amber's favorite coffee shop.

Cafe Deko

Worldwide boutique coffee shop and roaster based in Chicago. Luke's favorite coffee shop.

Intelligentsia Coffee Monadnock Coffeebar

(Probably) the best coffee in the city hiding behind the disguise of an italian restaurant. Pair it with a scoop of pistachio gelato for an all-around good time.

Amber & Luke

Amber & Luke

A&L

Wedding Day