The Lewis

Welcome Party

Ceremony

White Family Farm 

Cocktail Hour & Reception at White Family Farm

Fall

Our Wedding

Tale as old as time: high school sweethearts fall madly in love and get hitched. Psych(!), for Amber & Alex, it wasn’t that simple. Sure, they both attended Batavia High School and even graduated in the same year, but they barely interacted until their 10-year high school class reunion. Fast forward to that reunion, they chatted loosely and then their paths began crossing, thanks in part to their mutual friend Drew Anderson (who is one of Alex’s groomsmen). The turning point came when Alex decided to join Bucktown Athletic Club, on that fateful day he was caught wandering around the new terrain trying to avoid doing anything embarrassing. All the while, Alex had walked right past Amber, who was waving enthusiastically from the treadmill to get his attention. To this day, Alex swears he didn’t see her. Amber, in her signature sassy style, followed up with a text that likely read something like: “Are you blind? Thanks for looking straight through me!” Alex, quick on his feet, replied: “Swear to God, I didn’t see you. Want to join me for a yoga class? I could use someone to make sure I don’t embarrass myself.” To his surprise, Amber replied, “Sure.” This led to a series of early morning (6am, woof!) yoga sessions followed by coffee and brief hangouts before Amber hopped on the Blue Line to work. Alex wanted these morning antics to turn into evening happenings, so he went out on a limb and extended an invite to Amber— knowing she had just been laid off— in attempts to console her (*and impress* with his Old Fashioned making abilities!). After a few more evening hangs we come to one night out, Amber mentioned, “I’m going to my sorority sister’s (Hi Shay) wedding in Nebraska and don’t have a date.” Without hesitation, Alex replied, “I’ll go with you.” What followed was a “purgatory” stage in their relationship. Alex was ready to go all in, but Amber, still grappling with losing her job, was hesitant. The game of cat and mouse continued for a couple of months, until a breakthrough moment during Amber’s 30th birthday trip in Ireland. While Alex was adventuring in Southern California in a camper van, Amber, slightly inebriated, FaceTimed him from the hallway of her hotel after a long day of Guinness and scream-singing ‘No-Diggity’ with her girlfriends. Alex doesn’t remember the details of the call, but he did remember thinking: “She’s half a world away, having the time of her life, and at the end of the night, she still wanted to talk to me. She might actually like me!” The following year was blissful. It was all the fun stuff; late nights, movie nights, long chats, too many drinks and Taco Bell runs – it was amazing. Then COVID hit. Their nights out became nights in, bonding over their shared love of music and binge-watching NPR Tiny Desk concerts (the Mac Miller one got at least a thousand plays). By summer 2020, they moved in together into a cozy apartment in Logan Square. They turned it into a home filled with houseplants, eclectic design, and delicious food (Amber being the chef, Alex the sous-chef). But in September, life took a serious turn when Amber woke up one day jaundiced after weeks of fatigue, nausea. They then endured a 10-day hospital stay which ended with a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. This chaos marked a shift in their relationship, deepening their bond as Alex stood by Amber’s side without a second thought. Amber landed a new job in Ann Arbor, Michigan, prompting the couple to leave Chicago and embrace a new chapter. But life had more challenges in store. Amber was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Ever the optimist, Alex pointed out how fortunate they were to live near one of the best hospitals in the world, the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). To lift their spirits, they added a new member to their family: Millie, their beloved dog and the center of their universe. Just when they thought things had settled, Alex accepted a job that relocated them to Charlotte, North Carolina. Their time there was…lets just say ‘a mixed bag’. While they loved exploring their new city, enjoying nice weather, and easy access to hikes in the mountains. Alex wasn’t thrilled with his new job, they discovered Millie had a genetic condition that would require multiple leg surgeries, and being a flight away from family and friends made visits scarce. But eventually, the stars aligned. Amber and Alex both landed new jobs, moved back to Illinois, and even found some wonderful “roommates” in Amber’s parents (thanks, Frank and Lori!). On January 31, 2024, Amber planned a surprise birthday celebration for Alex in downtown Chicago. Little did she know, Alex had a surprise of his own. After dinner, they wandered around Wicker Park to kill time. Amber, noticing Alex’s uncharacteristic aimlessness, thought: “This is weird—he isn’t the casually wander around type.” She was right. Alex was scouting for the perfect spot to propose. When the park’s iconic fountain proved too crowded, he pivoted toward the flagpole (God bless America). Alex handed Amber an Uno Reverse card and said, “I know you wanted to surprise me tonight, but I want to reverse that and surprise you.” Then, dropping to one knee, he asked, “Amber, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” She said yes. They celebrated with a Sofar Sounds concert, featuring a band called ‘Ur Mom’ in a basement lesbian bar called Rosie’s — lol, talk about memorable. Amber and Alex’s story is one of resilience, adventure, friendship and unwavering love. Through highs and true lows, they’ve built a bond that has only grown stronger with time. Now, they’re excited to write the rest of their chapters together - till death do they part.

Unconventionally Conventional 

Our Story

Photos

Emily Matile

Tamara Panek

Kendra Navarro

Leslie Fulford

Kelly Buzzard

Andrew Schroeder

Brandon Holl

Drew Anderson

Nick Cesarone

Elliott Bortner

Wedding Party

Q + A

TRAVEL TO CHICAGO - Chicago Ohare Airport 45min drive to Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles - Chicago Midway Airport 55min drive to Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles

A&A

Cocktail Hour & Reception at White Family Farm