Carlisle Banquets

Nigerian Traditional Wedding

Christ Church

Church Ceremony

Wedding Reception

Christ Church Oak Brook

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

How We Met - May 2015We both attended Ross University for medical school on the Caribbean island of Dominica. We were introduced to each other during our orientation week and crossed paths again the following week during our White Coat Ceremony and decided to take a picture together (as seen below). One week later we took our first medical school exam and many students met up to celebrate. That evening we ran into each other and spent the next 5 hours getting to know one another; discussed common interests, home memories and life experiences. We did not realize it then, but this was the start of a beautiful friendship. Soon after this, we formed a study group along with another great friend, Marlene. We spent 7+ hours a day studying, talking and of course getting coffee! As our friendship grew, so did our love and before we knew it, we were inseparable and have been since then. The Proposal - 9/25/2020If there is something you know about us, it is that we both enjoy trying new foods and exploring new restaurants!The week of the proposal we were texting on Monday to decide what our Friday dinner plans would be. We chose to eat at one of our favorite spots, Devon's Seafood in Oak Brook. This was also the FIRST "nice" restaurant we went to after returning from the island the summer of 2016. After dinner was over, we drove back to his mother's house where a huge teddy bear was waiting at the front door holding 2 bouquet of roses and an enlarged canvas photo of our FIRST picture together from our White Coat Ceremony. Ehi then proceeded to pull out a ring pop to propose (as he had previously joked that he would do) before pulling out the actual ring and the rest is history!

Our Love Story

Our Story

Photos

Cynthia Christina Salazar was born in Des Moines, Iowa. After she turned 1, her family moved to South Holland, IL where they resided for 12 years before moving to Frankfort, IL for another 12 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;She graduated from Lincoln Way East High School.She attended Purdue University for her Bachelor's degree and Ross University for Medical School.She is currently at Advocate Christ Medical Center for her residency in Family Medicine Her parents are both Mexican. Her father is from Tlaltenango, Zacatecas and her mother from Ocotlan, Jalisco. The state of Zacatecas is located in North Central Mexico. It is home to Mina El Eden which is a 16th century silver mine and one of the greatest landmarks of Zacatecas and why Mexico is the largest producer of silver in the world. Jalisco is a western Mexican state off of the Pacific ocean. Jalisco is the birthplace of mariachis and tequila. The capital of Jalisco is Guadalajara - second largest city of Mexico. Cynthia is very proud of her Mexican heritage and excited to celebrate with you all!

About the Bride

Ehiwe - "Destiny blesses" (Destiny representing God)Akhigbe - "Indestructible/that which cannot be destroyed" Ehiwe was born in Houston and moved to Chicago the following year.&nbsp; Ehi graduated high school from the Illinois Math and Science Academy. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, followed by his Master’s Degree in Physiology at Georgetown University. He attended Ross University for medical school and is currently at John Stroger Hospital of Cook County for residency. His family is from the Esan tribe of Edo State in Nigeria. The Esan people are descendants of the Great Benin Kingdom.&nbsp; Ehi is very proud of his Nigerian heritage and excited to celebrate the traditional Nigerian wedding ceremony with all of his loved ones.

About the Groom

Near Yorktown Shopping CenterMake yourself at home in one of the 119 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and LCD televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and desks.With a stay at Crowne Plaza Lombard Downers Grove, an IHG Hotel in Glen Ellyn, you'll be within a 15-minute drive of Wheaton College and Oakbrook Center Mall.  This hotel is 7.2 mi (11.5 km) from Morton Arboretum and 12.6 mi (20.4 km) from Brookfield Zoo.Distances are displayed to the nearest 0.1 mile and kilometer.  Lilacia Park - 3.5 km / 2.2 mi  Yorktown Shopping Center - 4.2 km / 2.6 mi  College of Dupage - 5.7 km / 3.5 mi  Wheaton College - 6.4 km / 3.9 mi  Billy Graham Center Museum - 7.3 km / 4.5 mi  Drury Lane Theater - 7.4 km / 4.6 mi  Dupage County Historical Museum - 7.6 km / 4.7 mi  Oakbrook Center Mall - 7.8 km / 4.9 mi  York Woods County Forest Preserve - 8.5 km / 5.3 mi  Cosley Zoo - 9.5 km / 5.9 mi  Adventist GlenOaks Hospital - 10 km / 6.2 mi  Oak Brook Golf Course - 10.3 km / 6.4 mi  Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve - 10.4 km / 6.4 mi  Odeum Sports and Expo Center - 10.5 km / 6.5 mi  Sea Lion Aquatic Park - 10.9 km / 6.8 mi  The nearest airports are:Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) - 37.5 km / 23.3 mi Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) - 40.6 km / 25.2 mi Chicago, IL (DPA-Dupage) - 23.7 km / 14.7 mi Chicago, IL (PWK-Chicago Executive) - 41.5 km / 25.8 mi The preferred airport for Crowne Plaza Lombard Downers Grove, an IHG Hotel is Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Take advantage of recreation opportunities including an indoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center. Additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and a fireplace in the lobby.Featured amenities include a 24-hour business center, express check-in, and express check-out. This hotel has 7 meeting rooms available for events. Free self parking is available onsite.Enjoy American cuisine at Glen Prairie, a restaurant which features a bar/lounge, or stay in and take advantage of the room service (during limited hours). Buffet breakfasts are served on weekdays from 6 AM to 10 AM and on weekends from 7 AM to 11 AM for a fee.

Crowne Plaza Lombard Downers Grove

Near Yorktown Shopping CenterStay in one of 151 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Your bed comes with down comforters and premium bedding, and all rooms are furnished with double sofa beds. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature designer toiletries and hair dryers.When you stay at Hyatt Place Chicago/Lombard/Oak Brook in Lombard, you'll be in the business district, within a 10-minute drive of Oakbrook Center Mall and Morton Arboretum.  This hotel is 7.3 mi (11.7 km) from Wheaton College and 14.3 mi (23 km) from Rosemont Theatre.Distances are displayed to the nearest 0.1 mile and kilometer.  Yorktown Shopping Center - 1.4 km / 0.9 mi  Oakbrook Center Mall - 4.5 km / 2.8 mi  Drury Lane Theater - 4.7 km / 2.9 mi  Ty Warner Park - 6.5 km / 4.1 mi  Oak Brook Golf Course - 6.6 km / 4.1 mi  York Woods County Forest Preserve - 6.7 km / 4.2 mi  Lilacia Park - 7.4 km / 4.6 mi  Veterans Memorial Park - 8.2 km / 5.1 mi  Morton Arboretum - 8.2 km / 5.1 mi  Twin Lakes Golf Course - 8.5 km / 5.3 mi  Belmont Prairie Nature Preserve - 8.6 km / 5.4 mi  College of Dupage - 8.6 km / 5.4 mi  Twin Lakes Park - 8.8 km / 5.4 mi  Odeum Sports and Expo Center - 10.9 km / 6.8 mi  Sea Lion Aquatic Park - 11.6 km / 7.2 mi  The nearest airports are:Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) - 28.7 km / 17.9 mi Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) - 40.4 km / 25.1 mi Chicago, IL (DPA-Dupage) - 29 km / 18 mi Chicago, IL (PWK-Chicago Executive) - 40.5 km / 25.2 mi Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities including an indoor pool and a fitness center. Additional features at this hotel include complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and a television in a common area. Getting to nearby attractions is a breeze with the complimentary area shuttle.Featured amenities include complimentary wired Internet access, a 24-hour business center, and express check-out. Free self parking is available onsite.Enjoy a meal at the restaurant or snacks in the hotel's coffee shop/café. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge. For your convenience, a complimentary breakfast is served daily from 6:30 AM to 9:00 AM.

Hyatt Place Chicago/Lombard/Oak Brook

Fitness Center Free Shuttle Free WiFi No pets allowed

Marriott Hotel- Oak Brook

Travel

The Morton Arboretum offers a wide variety of fun activities, events, tours, and classes for all ages and interests. Here you'll find an oasis of 16 miles of hiking trails and nine miles of paved roads, perfect for hiking, running, biking or just exploring. From a guided tour on an open-air tram to the award-winning Children's Garden and Maze Garden, to seasonal exhibits and lunch in The Ginkgo Restaurant overlooking Meadow Lake, the Arboretum is a unique place to explore, discover, escape, and connect with trees and nature.

The Morton Arboretum

Lilacia Park is world-renown horticultural showcase that features over 700 lilacs and 35,000 tulips annually. In 2019, the park was named to the National Register of Historic Places for its significant contribution to horticultural history in the United States.&nbsp;The park has numerous benches, walking paths, commemorative&nbsp;<a href="https://lombardparks.com/gift-brick/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bricks</a>, historic structures, scenic lookout areas and more. Lilacia Park hosts many special events each year including the&nbsp;<a href="https://lombardparks.com/mutt-strut/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mutt Strut Annual 5K &amp; 1-Mile</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://lombardparks.com/movies/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Movies &amp; Concerts in the Park</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://lombardparks.com/jubilee/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jingle Bell Jubilee</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://lombardparks.com/holiday-lights/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Holiday Lights</a>, and more

Lilacia Park

Yorktown Center is a shopping mall located in the village of Lombard, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The mall's anchor stores are JCPenney, Marshalls, and Von Maur, with one vacant anchor store that was once Carson Pirie Scott.

Yorktown Center

A premier shopping destination in Chicago's western suburbs, Oakbrook Center is a spectacular outdoor mall located near I-88 in Oak Brook, Illinois – just 30 minutes from downtown Chicago. Visit our Directory to discover all Oakbrook Center has to offer, including an expansive selection of department stores, specialty stores, and an abundance of one-of-a-kind dining and entertainment experiences.

Oakbrook Center

When you come to Axeplosion you'll learn quickly that we aren't just muscle and beards. We are here to provide a safe an reliable axe throwing experience for all genders and ages, not just lumberjacks and ninjas. Our staff will work with your group and teach you how to safely throw axes.

Cynthia & Ehiwe

Cynthia & Ehiwe

Registry