Aviator Hotel and Suites, BW Signature Collection

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Our Wedding

Oran and Christine met in October of 2014.&nbsp; Oran was at his home in Georgetown, IL working hard after completing his degrees at SIU-C and SIU-E.&nbsp; &nbsp;Christine was living in Cape Girardeau going through the first of two internships to complete her Master's degree through SIU-C.&nbsp;&nbsp; One day in October, Kim Fortney messaged them both inviting them to a Halloween party in Carbondale.&nbsp; Kim knew Oran from undergrad and was in Christine's graduate speech-pathology program.&nbsp; Christine had planned to travel to St. Louis to apartment search for her next internship, making it a 3 hour drive for each of them&nbsp;down to Carbondale.&nbsp; Neither of them wanted to go.&nbsp; Kim pulled the "but I haven't seen you in FOREVER!" card and both caved.&nbsp;&nbsp; Christine dressed as a "rock star" in jeans and a leather jacket and Oran wore his Luigi costume (complete&nbsp;with a fake mustache and big white gloves).&nbsp;&nbsp; Neither one had a clue how this weekend would change their lives.&nbsp;&nbsp; After an eventful evening out in Carbondale, they retired to the living room in Kim's trailer.&nbsp; They stayed up till WAY too late talking about every topic under the sun.&nbsp; The next day Kim had an appointment at the CrossFit studio and they accompanied her and went on a run/walk outside.&nbsp; And talked some more.&nbsp;&nbsp; When they returned, they packed up and parted ways.&nbsp; Oran didn't even ask for her number.&nbsp; She was shocked and a little sad.&nbsp;&nbsp; Then a couple days later Oran messaged Kim.&nbsp; Kim messaged Christine.&nbsp; "Oran wants your number!!!"&nbsp; Sigh.&nbsp; Of course!

How We Met

Covid-19  Date Change

I hope this message finds you healthy and safe during the pandemic.&nbsp; We have made the difficult to decision to postpone our wedding. Our new date is November 20, 2021.&nbsp; No other details have changed.&nbsp; Any reservations can be cancelled without penalty. We are sad.&nbsp; We are disappointed.&nbsp; But we are excited to party with you in 2021!&nbsp;

Our Story

Details

I&nbsp;met&nbsp;Jordan&nbsp;shortly&nbsp;after&nbsp;returning&nbsp;from&nbsp;Marine&nbsp;Corps&nbsp;Intel&nbsp;School.&nbsp;It&nbsp;would&nbsp;be&nbsp;my&nbsp;sophomore&nbsp;year&nbsp;at&nbsp;SIUC.&nbsp;He&nbsp;was&nbsp;an&nbsp;Air&nbsp;Force&nbsp;reservist&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;Marine&nbsp;Corps&nbsp;Reservist.&nbsp;Jordan&nbsp;always&nbsp;had&nbsp;something&nbsp;going&nbsp;on.&nbsp;He&nbsp;invited&nbsp;me&nbsp;to&nbsp;all&nbsp;of&nbsp;them&nbsp;whether&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;"Trash&nbsp;Bash"&nbsp;or&nbsp;a&nbsp;party&nbsp;with&nbsp;the&nbsp;rugby&nbsp;team.&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;even&nbsp;his&nbsp;plus&nbsp;one&nbsp;to&nbsp;his&nbsp;works&nbsp;holiday&nbsp;party&nbsp;where&nbsp;I&nbsp;learned&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;multiple&nbsp;shots&nbsp;called&nbsp;an&nbsp;air&nbsp;raid....I&nbsp;dont&nbsp;remember&nbsp;much&nbsp;else&nbsp;that&nbsp;night.&nbsp;He&nbsp;will&nbsp;always&nbsp;be&nbsp;a&nbsp;friend&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;know&nbsp;I&nbsp;can&nbsp;count&nbsp;on&nbsp;him&nbsp;when&nbsp;I&nbsp;need. 

Jordan Mohr

Kimmie and I met in 2007 at Maryville University in Duchesne Dorm.&nbsp;She was the loud scary older red-head with tattoos that lived down the hall.&nbsp;&nbsp;After a walk in the middle of the night&nbsp;(I was a little scared to go on initially --- remember, Kimmie was&nbsp;scary!) I realized we had WAY more in common than not.&nbsp;&nbsp;We ended up living together for a couple years and&nbsp;dealing with plenty of crazy roommates along the way.&nbsp; I moved, she moved, and none of it mattered.&nbsp; When we get back together it is like we never left.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kimmie Zurawski

John&nbsp;Rhodes&nbsp;-&nbsp;Best&nbsp;ManI&nbsp;met&nbsp;this&nbsp;gentleman&nbsp;and&nbsp;combat&nbsp;veteran&nbsp;over&nbsp;10&nbsp;years&nbsp;ago&nbsp;as&nbsp;our&nbsp;Marine&nbsp;Corps&nbsp;unit&nbsp;trained&nbsp;to&nbsp;deploy&nbsp;to&nbsp;Iraq.&nbsp;We&nbsp;quickly&nbsp;bonded&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;smoke&nbsp;pits&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;base.&nbsp;I&nbsp;could&nbsp;see&nbsp;the&nbsp;knowledge&nbsp;he&nbsp;held&nbsp;even&nbsp;if&nbsp;he&nbsp;denied&nbsp;it&nbsp;constantly.&nbsp;We've&nbsp;lived&nbsp;together,&nbsp;served&nbsp;together,&nbsp;and&nbsp;now&nbsp;we&nbsp;work&nbsp;together.&nbsp;Still&nbsp;to&nbsp;this&nbsp;day,&nbsp;I&nbsp;look&nbsp;up&nbsp;to&nbsp;him&nbsp;even&nbsp;if&nbsp;I'm&nbsp;taller.&nbsp;I'll&nbsp;always&nbsp;remember&nbsp;the&nbsp;days&nbsp;of&nbsp;pheasant&nbsp;run&nbsp;and&nbsp;our&nbsp;makeshift&nbsp;sound&nbsp;system&nbsp;so&nbsp;we&nbsp;could&nbsp;continue&nbsp;the&nbsp;party&nbsp;after&nbsp;we&nbsp;walked&nbsp;home&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;local&nbsp;Hotshotz.

John Rhodes

In&nbsp;2005&nbsp;I&nbsp;left&nbsp;for&nbsp;college&nbsp;and&nbsp;met&nbsp;my&nbsp;freshman&nbsp;roommate&nbsp;in&nbsp;person&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;time.&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;long&nbsp;hair&nbsp;dyed&nbsp;black&nbsp;and&nbsp;my&nbsp;baggy&nbsp;jeans&nbsp;with&nbsp;zippers&nbsp;all&nbsp;over&nbsp;and&nbsp;him&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;farmer's&nbsp;tan&nbsp;and&nbsp;motocross&nbsp;attire.&nbsp;We&nbsp;hit&nbsp;it&nbsp;off&nbsp;instantly&nbsp;with&nbsp;our&nbsp;love&nbsp;of&nbsp;video&nbsp;games&nbsp;and&nbsp;nerdiness.&nbsp;I'll&nbsp;never&nbsp;forget&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;weekend&nbsp;when&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;guided&nbsp;by&nbsp;our&nbsp;third&nbsp;roommate&nbsp;to&nbsp;our&nbsp;first&nbsp;college&nbsp;party.&nbsp;It&nbsp;was&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;smelly&nbsp;basement&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;thought&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;jumped&nbsp;as&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;lead&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;backyard&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;house&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;there.&nbsp;I&nbsp;knew&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;a&nbsp;blast&nbsp;when&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;person&nbsp;we&nbsp;talked&nbsp;to&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;party&nbsp;said,&nbsp;"I've&nbsp;havent&nbsp;been&nbsp;to&nbsp;class&nbsp;this&nbsp;week"&nbsp;and&nbsp;then&nbsp;drunkenly&nbsp;stumbled&nbsp;away.

Clinton Mathis

My&nbsp;oldest&nbsp;brother,&nbsp;I&nbsp;met&nbsp;him&nbsp;many&nbsp;years&nbsp;ago,&nbsp;pretty&nbsp;sure&nbsp;he&nbsp;dropped&nbsp;me&nbsp;"accidentally".&nbsp;Nick&nbsp;has&nbsp;always&nbsp;been&nbsp;there&nbsp;for&nbsp;me.&nbsp;Always&nbsp;looking&nbsp;out&nbsp;and&nbsp;being&nbsp;a&nbsp;father&nbsp;figure&nbsp;I&nbsp;never&nbsp;had.&nbsp;He&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;first&nbsp;to&nbsp;leave&nbsp;for&nbsp;college&nbsp;and&nbsp;now&nbsp;that&nbsp;we're&nbsp;older&nbsp;I&nbsp;realize&nbsp;how&nbsp;much&nbsp;we&nbsp;are&nbsp;a&nbsp;like&nbsp;and&nbsp;have&nbsp;only&nbsp;grown&nbsp;closer&nbsp;as&nbsp;our&nbsp;lives&nbsp;have&nbsp;come&nbsp;to&nbsp;fruition.

Nick Underwood

The&nbsp;middle&nbsp;brother,&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;a&nbsp;reputation&nbsp;in&nbsp;high&nbsp;school&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;exactly&nbsp;4&nbsp;years&nbsp;behind&nbsp;him.&nbsp;My&nbsp;first&nbsp;english&nbsp;class&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;freshman&nbsp;year,&nbsp;the&nbsp;teacher&nbsp;asked&nbsp;me&nbsp;if&nbsp;Curt&nbsp;was&nbsp;my&nbsp;brother&nbsp;and&nbsp;then&nbsp;I&nbsp;heard&nbsp;about&nbsp;how&nbsp;him&nbsp;and&nbsp;his&nbsp;friends&nbsp;tried&nbsp;to&nbsp;drink&nbsp;a&nbsp;gallon&nbsp;of&nbsp;milk&nbsp;during&nbsp;class...it&nbsp;definitely&nbsp;did&nbsp;not&nbsp;stay&nbsp;in&nbsp;his&nbsp;stomach&nbsp;very&nbsp;long.&nbsp;We&nbsp;bond&nbsp;and&nbsp;argue&nbsp;over&nbsp;how&nbsp;to&nbsp;play&nbsp;a&nbsp;video&nbsp;game&nbsp;correctly&nbsp;but&nbsp;our&nbsp;brotherly&nbsp;love&nbsp;is&nbsp;unbreakable.

Curt Underwood

Nicole and I met in choir, freshman year of high school.&nbsp; She was the cheerleader and I was the dancer.&nbsp; Obviously we were&nbsp;arch nemeses.&nbsp;Somewhere along the way, we became best friends.&nbsp; I have been lucky to have her by my side to&nbsp;weather&nbsp;relationships, fights, moves, and all of life's challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nicole Market

Amanda and I met when we were 5.&nbsp; She has been there for me through all life has thrown at me.&nbsp; We have enjoyed many a turkey roll-up lunch,&nbsp;&nbsp;cheer-leading in junior high, and singing and dancing in Bingo World parking lot to the car radio.

Amanda Schwartz

I met Elisabeth in graduate school at&nbsp;Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.&nbsp; We were immediate study-buddies and great friends.&nbsp; In our spare time we talked about Harry Potter, ate at Buffalo Wild Wings, and were baffled by the young girls in our program.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Elisabeth Garcia

Kayla and I met in Pre-School...many, many&nbsp;years ago.&nbsp; We endured life at St. Vincent de Paul School and participated in Girl Scouts together throughout.&nbsp;&nbsp;We lost each other for a while, but reconnected at a Special Olympics event.&nbsp;&nbsp;I have been able to witness Kayla grow into such a confident woman and kick some serious butt in Roller Derby!

Kayla Otte

Wedding Party

Photos

Registry

Q + A

This is the hotel where the wedding and reception are being held.

This hotel is in range of the shuttle from venue.&nbsp;The shuttle runs 4pm to 11pm.

Christine + Oran

Christine + Oran

Photos