Saint James Roman Catholic Church

Wedding Day

Wedding

Old Orchard Country Club

Reception

Our Wedding

Our Story

The Church

St. James Roman Catholic Church

<a href="http://www.stjamesah.org/">Click here</a> to visit the St.&nbsp;James website.

820 North&nbsp;Arlington Heights RoadArlington Heights, IL 60004

Our Engagement

Our Saugatuck Engagement

It all started with a weekend getaway to the quaint, Lake Michigan shore town of&nbsp;Saugatuck,&nbsp;MI. Saugatuck has a special place in Robby's heart, as his family has been coming here every summer&nbsp;since he was a baby.&nbsp;After arriving late Friday night to their bed & breakfast, Robby and Desiree got up early on Saturday, September 8th&nbsp;(no small feat for Dez!) and walked around downtown Saugatuck. After visiting numerous "trinkets and trash" shops, antiques stores, and art galleries, where we&nbsp;purchased&nbsp;his and hers oil paintings&nbsp;(adorable?! ridiculous?!), we split a delicious pizza and craft beers at a local brewpub and enjoyed the Michigan football victory over WMU.&nbsp;&nbsp;After walking off the pizza and beer, Robby played his violin for Desiree for&nbsp;the very&nbsp;first time!&nbsp;Desiree was ecstatic, as she&nbsp;had&nbsp;been waiting for this moment for the ENTIRETY&nbsp;of their relationship. She&nbsp;(of course) took pictures--little did she know it would be her engagement story!&nbsp;After serenading Desiree with a private concert in a beautiful, waterside&nbsp;gazebo, Robby proposed most unexpectedly by&nbsp;asking Desiree to hand him a rosin box from the front pocket of his violin case, which turned out to be a ring box! Robby got down on one knee&nbsp;and, unfortunately for Robby, Desiree has&nbsp;NO&nbsp;IDEA what a rosin box looked like; she thought he was tying his shoe.&nbsp;Soooo, she nonchalantly&nbsp;handed him the&nbsp;"rosin box" and turned&nbsp;around to walk back to her seat in the gazebo. It was not until Robby asked her to turn around and&nbsp;said, "Dez, will you marry me?"&nbsp;that she realized it was a proposal and&nbsp;exclaimed, "Is this really happening?!&nbsp;Is this real life?! OF&nbsp;COURSE I&nbsp;WILL&nbsp;MARRY&nbsp;YOU!!" She grabbed his face and kissed him. It was perfect and&nbsp;magical!&nbsp;

Details

Photos

Desiree and Megan met on the school bus in 7th grade and have been best friends ever since!&nbsp;Way back in&nbsp;1998, they became close friends because they lived in the same neighborhood, loved getting straight-As, played softball on the same team,&nbsp;and enjoyed sharing books with each other. To this day, Megan recommends the BEST books to Dez, with Astrophysics for People in a Hurry&nbsp;by Neil DeGrasse Tyson being the latest. Seriously, check it out. Nowadays, Megan is a geneticist who just completed her post-doc and is getting married 3 weeks after Dez and Robby! Congratulations, Megan! Desiree is so blessed to have Megan, who is always there to celebrate triumphs and show empathy during tough times.&nbsp;Megan&nbsp;also gives the best advice, including dating advice (not that Dez needs that anymore--but trust me, there was a time...), and is always first to help Dez in a time of need.&nbsp;She is&nbsp;(still) smarter than Desiree, and always will be!&nbsp;However, Dez still cares that she&nbsp;inexplicably&nbsp;won the Distinguished Scholar in&nbsp;Science award over Megan during&nbsp;senior year of high school. Yes, she still has&nbsp;it and yes, it is still majestically displayed in her 2004 scrapbook. Desiree&nbsp;is&nbsp;beyond&nbsp;thrilled to have Megan as her&nbsp;Maid of Honor! Megan lives in Bloomington,&nbsp;Indiana, with her fiancé,&nbsp;Mike.

Megan Goodall

Ted is Robby's first cousin, and from the time of childhood, they have always been very close.&nbsp;Beginning with humble origins, where the two playmates would build up giant Lego constructions and smash them together (those were the halcyon days, and probably peak Robby &&nbsp;Ted) to celebrating all the events together that brought them into adulthood and beyond, Ted has always been like a brother to Robby. Robby is very proud of all that his cousin Ted has accomplished in his life, and  is beyond honored to have Ted as his best man on this special day of celebration. Ted lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, Wenwen. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 

Ted Coale

Having examined the other groomsmen, one might be shocked to know that Robby and Geoff did not actually know each other in elementary school, high school, or even college!&nbsp; Making up for lost time, however, Geoff married Robby's sister, Michelle, in 2015, and has (voluntarily!) been part of the wacky Freeman family ever since. In the happy years that they have known one another, Geoff and Robby have traveled together on many advenutres, from the warm Caribbean, to the shores of Lake Michigan. If there is one thing that is clear, it is that there are many more incredible trips to come. Robby is proud to have Geoff as his brother-in-law, and as his friend. Geoff lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with his wife, Michelle. 

Geoff Fasen

One fine day, in August&nbsp;2005, Desiree threw a "Welcome Back" party in her West Quad&nbsp;dorm&nbsp;room. After many months of hearing about "Amanda Byrne" through their mutual friend, Chris, Desiree invited her and they&nbsp;finally met! After a great evening together, Nicole turned to Dez and said, "I really like Amanda. She should definitely be&nbsp;our friend." Desiree instantly agreed, and the rest is history! Desiree and Amanda have been extremely close ever since their West Quad&nbsp;days in Michigan House. After countless nights at the Heidelberg, trips to the Limited (RIP!), the famous Cruise of a Lifetime,&nbsp; a decade together in Chicago, and&nbsp;hours-long conversations about life, boys, and everything in between, Dez and A.Byrne personify what it means to be "besties."&nbsp;Desiree is extremely touched and grateful to Amanda for nursing her back to health after major surgery, both in the hospital and after. Amanda is, and always will be,&nbsp;a brilliant role model, confidante, and&nbsp;&nbsp;traveling companion!&nbsp;Desiree cannot wait&nbsp;to stand&nbsp;proudly next to her&nbsp;Matron of Honor in September! Amanda lives in Downers Grove, Illinois, with her husband, David, and son, Evan.

Amanda Puplava

Once upon a time in 2004, in an elevator at&nbsp;Mary Markley Hall, Nicole and Desiree&nbsp;met on their way to the laundry room. It was the beginning of&nbsp;freshman year at Michigan, and&nbsp;both were&nbsp;eager to make new friends...especially one who lived&nbsp;in the same hall (6th&nbsp;Van Tyne,&nbsp;Damn We're Fine!). Within days, Nicole and Dez&nbsp;were&nbsp;inseparable and formed a lifelong&nbsp;friendship! After becoming&nbsp;roommates the following year, Nicole&nbsp;let Desiree become&nbsp;a marching band and Arabic Club&nbsp;groupie, and Desiree let Nicole teach her how to wear something other than&nbsp;t-shirts to parties. She may not know this, but Nicole is the reason Desiree made her first investment into&nbsp;"going out shirts" that did not have a Tigers,&nbsp;Red Wings,&nbsp;or&nbsp;other sports&nbsp;logo on them. LIFE. CHANGING.&nbsp;Despite the Peace Corps. taking Nicole to Morocco for 2 years, followed by jobs&nbsp;in Atlanta,&nbsp; Panama, &&nbsp;Honduras,&nbsp;Nicole always&nbsp;finds a way to talk, laugh, and stay&nbsp;best friends&nbsp;with Desiree. Through FaceTime, Hangouts,&nbsp;and&nbsp;much-anticipated visits&nbsp;to Chicago, Nicole is always there for Desiree, even if she isn't&nbsp;actually&nbsp;"there."&nbsp;Robby can't wait to FINALLY meet Nicole in person, and not just through the computer! Desiree can't wait to show Nicole the ultimate "going out dress" for her wedding.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nicole lives in&nbsp;in Tegucigalpa, Honduras,&nbsp;with her husband,&nbsp;Eric O'Bryant.

Nicole Wojcik

Coming off the heels of being high school classmates, Scott and Robby grew close as friends in the years since, with&nbsp;evergreen summer nights spent hanging out in parents' basements, to memorable camping trips. Their ease at traveling and having fun together culminated when they journeyed to the world's premier board game convention in Indianapolis! "Nerding" out was never this easy. Scott, ever the inventive entrepreneur, has created board games and axe throwing businesses alike (but has yet to combine them!). Robby is very impressed with Scott's accomplishments, and is just as proud that he has Scott as his friend.&nbsp; Scott lives in Chicago, Illinois. &nbsp; 

Scott Hollander

Natalie is Desiree's younger sister, and they have been close for most their lives. Once Desiree grew out of resenting Natalie for moving into her bedroom as a baby and&nbsp;tackling Natalie for no reason (which was somewhere around age 5-6), they became great friends and partners in crime. Well, not actual crime...just&nbsp;the occasional mischief. As kids,&nbsp;Natalie taught&nbsp;Desiree how to use her sewing machine to hem pants (clearly, a necessary skill in the Lauricella household), &nbsp;bake pies and cakes, and properly hold garter snakes in the backyard. Desiree taught Natalie how to break into the attic of the house and hide candy "for later"&nbsp;under the fiberglass insulation (side note: That is&nbsp;so&nbsp;toxic!&nbsp;How are we alive?!), watch WWE wrestling on&nbsp;Dad's tv when they were supposed to be in bed, and&nbsp;how to annoy Sophia when she banned us from going in her room. As adults, Natalie taught Desiree what really happens during&nbsp;childbirth when she asked Desiree to be in the room for Giovanni's birth, and Desiree taught Natalie that a glass of&nbsp;Boone's Farm is always&nbsp;delicious after a long day of parenting. Or after a long day of work as a hospital&nbsp;nurse. Or after nothing&nbsp;at all. Desiree loves her sister very&nbsp;much, and she is thrilled to have Natalie drive her tricked out minivan to Chicago to be in&nbsp;the wedding.&nbsp;Natalie lives in Jackson, Michigan, with her husband, Larry, and their five children:&nbsp;Victoria,&nbsp;Griffin, Liam, LJ, &&nbsp;Giovanni.

Natalie Craft

Friends since high school, Matt and Robby quickly bonded over their shared love of bands such as Talking Heads, and quirky home videos made on VHS&nbsp;tapes.&nbsp; The best foreshadowing for their good friendship to come, however, was their shared birthday of March 29.&nbsp; How fortuitous is that?&nbsp; Throwing co-birthday parties over the years has become a time-honored tradition&nbsp; for these two friends, and Robby looks forward to continuing it for years to come. Robby is truly honored to have Matt stand with him on his wedding day, and as a side note, to continue to share a deep and abiding love of synthesizers with Matt for all time.&nbsp; Matt lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Matt Meshalum

Sophia is Desiree's older sister, and the reason that Desiree has good taste in music. Ever since they were very young, Sophia would enlist Desiree and Natalie to help her write songs, play in our family band, and&nbsp;listen to all of the 80s and&nbsp;90s&nbsp;classics on her extremely impressive Sony boombox. Sophia was always the lead singer, which Desiree now realizes was for the best--Desiree cannot carry a tune, but Sophia is not only a&nbsp;talented singer, but a gifted guitar player. Together, they perfected&nbsp;numerous Janet Jackson, Madonna, Hanson, Michael, Mariah, and Whitney Houston songs that eventually made their way into&nbsp;karaoke bars across the country. As adults, Sophia and Desiree have bonded over their shared experiences as female&nbsp;lawyers on opposite sides of the country. Desiree is very excited to be a bridesmaid for&nbsp;Sophia, who will be married this June in Hawaii, and can't wait for Sophia to do the same for her sister in September. Sophia lives in Santa Monica,&nbsp;California, with her fiancé, Jon.&nbsp;

Sophia Lauricella

Ever a man with charm in his gait and a mischievous glint in his eye, Sean's unlimited capacity for fun matched well with Robby's outgoing nature. It didn't take long after high school for these two to become close friends, and intense Game of Thrones speculators. When will the next Game of Thrones book come out? Only the gods know for sure, but Robby certainly didn't expect to be married by this point (there's still time)! Life is full of surprises, and Robby is grateful that Sean has always been there to experience those twists, cliffhangers, and joys together. Sean lives in Seattle, Washington.&nbsp;   

Sean Nelson

Desiree is excited to add&nbsp;another sister to her family, and she loves her new sister-in-law-to-be, Michelle. Upon first meeting each other at Michelle's house in St. Paul, Michelle and Dez became instant&nbsp;friends and learned that they have tons in common. Desiree is pumped to join Michelle in&nbsp;the Freeman/Fasen traditions of lying on the beach&nbsp;at Lake Macatawa, biking around the Twin Cities, and tearing up the Boca Grande, FL, bar scene! Dez also volunteers to&nbsp;hold&nbsp;everyone's&nbsp;coats again&nbsp;during the annual family Turkey Trot 5K, since it is&nbsp;too early in the day&nbsp;for her to muster the strength to run. Desiree can't wait to tear up the dance floor with&nbsp;Michelle, and she is so grateful to have her as a bridesmaid! Michelle lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband, Geoff, and adorable puppy, Olaf.

Michelle Fasen

There was a moment once, ages ago in high school, when Matt and Robby awkwardly hung out for the first time (Matt did not think at the time that Robby was "cool"), not yet seeing the bright future that lay ahead of them as friends. For several years after that point, Matt and Robby would constantly ask each other in jest, "wait, did I know you two  years ago?" Over time, this question became more than a little  redundant, and fell out of rotation.&nbsp; From these inauspicious beginnings, a beautiful friendship has blossomed. Robby is honored and touched every day that he is friends with Matt, and looks forward to Matt being a part of  the many special celebrations to come. Matt lives in Chicago, Illinois.

Matt Pflaum

Ryan is Robby's dearest friend from his college days at Miami University, as they met freshman year at a magic show, but quickly discovered that they lived in the same dorm! They&nbsp;became fast friends and roommates for the remainder of their exciting tenure at Miami, trying (and sometimes succeeding) to keep one another out of trouble. Robby had the great privilege of being Ryan's best man at Ryan's wedding in 2016, and is ecstatic to return the favor and have Ryan stand with Robby at his wedding in 2019. Ryan lives in Laurel, Maryland, with his wife, Rachael,&nbsp;and their&nbsp;two children.

Ryan Poyar

Desiree and Andie met on the first day of law school orientation and became fast friends. Since they both are the middle child of three daughters in an Italian family, Andie and Dez bonded instantly and often over the last 10 years. From Justinian Society bocce ball tournaments, to Vegas pool party concerts (Ja-SON Da-ruuuuuuulo!), to sleepovers at Andie's with Lydia,&nbsp;Grace, & Rose, Desiree is so thankful for her friendship with Andie! Desiree and Andie (still) enjoy watching Jersey Shore, Real Housewives, and Teen Mom, despite ridicule from&nbsp;Robby &&nbsp;Chuck. Andie is one of the most loyal, caring people that Desiree has ever met, and she is proud to call Andie one of her closest friends and her bridesmaid! Andie lives in Woodridge, Illinois, with her husband, Chuck, and daughters, Grace and Rose.

Andie Trucco

Joey and Desiree first met during their first year of law school and have remained super close ever since! They spent two years as roommates in Chicago living--and living it up--in the Gold Coast! Dez takes credit for helping Joey become an excellent cook, and&nbsp;she credits Joey with helping her learn the difference between foundation and blush. If&nbsp;it weren't for Joey, Desiree would have no idea how to put on makeup!&nbsp;Joey is kind, intelligent, and gives excellent advice on everything (i.e. that we should go to Mass and pray for success the night before the bar exam--it worked!). Desiree is thrilled to have Joey as a member of her bridal party&nbsp;and is especially grateful that Joey suggested they use her church, St. James,&nbsp;as the venue for the&nbsp;wedding. Joey lives in Arlington Heights,&nbsp;Illinois, with her husband, Phil, and son, PJ.

Josephine (Joey) O'Hagan Hamel

Danny and Robby have been close friends for nearly their entire lives, which is not looking too bad now that they are in their 30's!&nbsp; From sharing high school prom, to long summer night hangouts; from playing tennis games to board games, attending concerts and everything in between, Danny and Robby have done it all. Most importantly, Danny and Robby have always been there for each other, and Robby is very lucky to have Danny as his life-long friend. Now, they can add celebrating Robby's wedding together in 2019 on that proverbial bucket list! Danny lives in Chicago, Illinois.  &nbsp; &nbsp;

Danny Shayman

Sunethra and Desiree are two peas in a pod&nbsp;and share a special bond that extends well beyond their mutual&nbsp;love for&nbsp;the University of Michigan, fiscal responsibility,&nbsp; and a certain&nbsp;Detroit Tigers bullpen catcher/ UM&nbsp;alum (woooo,&nbsp;Jeff Kunkel!). Sunny and Dez are excellent at keeping in touch despite living 2,000 miles apart, and they can laugh about anything, anytime. Sunethra is responsible for helping Desiree learn the art of tough&nbsp;negotiating (both on&nbsp;Devon Avenue and in the board room), and Dez is continually&nbsp;grateful. Desiree is so glad that Sunethra will join her on the altar and&nbsp;dance floor next September! Sunethra lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her husband, Mike Mohan.

Sunethra Muralidhara

Aaron, or "AJ", as he is known to his oldest friends and family, has been a close friend of Robby's since their childhood days of inventing fantastical games on the school yard grounds. These days, instead of running around like maniacs on playground equipment, Aaron and Robby enjoy dancing from one disco-ball infused place in Chicago to the next, with memorable events such as&nbsp; Beauty Bar's "80's Night", or "New Wave Night" at Neo (RIP) to help fire up their imaginations. Never could Robby ask for a better friend than AJ. Robby looks forward to ceding the dance floor at his wedding to Aaron, and his majestic dance moves. Aaron lives in Deerfield, Illinois. &nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Aaron (AJ) Shella

Having known each other since childhood, there have been ample opportunities for Bobby and Robby to share not only ridiculous lives, but also the same name, the same red hair, and practically the same houses. Fortunately, they both seized these many chances to be fools together, and haven't looked back since. Could one be tempted to say that their close friendship appears to "be over 9,000"? Robby would be the first to agree. Robby would also implore Bobby to "get in the jeep", but he has been asking him to do that for years, and it never seems to work out. Maybe at Robby's wedding, they can finally do just that. Bobby lives in Washington, D.C., with his fiancé, Krista. &nbsp; &nbsp;  &nbsp; 

Bobby Strauss

Friends since age 12, when they shared 7th grade homeroom and Spanish class, Laura and Desiree have been the best of&nbsp;friends for over 20 years! Desiree will always hold dear memories of Laura and her working 10,000-piece&nbsp;puzzles on Laura's dining room table, "hanging out" at their favorite store,&nbsp;Meijer, opening the car door at railroad tracks "just to make sure" nothing was coming, being waited on by Jim&nbsp;at The Parlour,&nbsp;and&nbsp;"Swiss Treat" runs in Dez's first car, the Bu (as in Buick). More recently, Desiree&nbsp;always counted on Laura to join her at Rick's (you're never too old for Rick's!), Hunt Club&nbsp;on the night before Thanksgiving, and Barleycorn in Wrigleyville...and staying in on a Saturday night to watch 90s music videos.&nbsp;Laura is always genuine, hilarious, and a great listener. Desiree is overjoyed to have Laura stand beside her on her wedding day! Laura lives in Jackson, Michigan,&nbsp;with her husband, Jason, and daughter, Livia.

Laura Norris

LJ is Desiree's nephew, and he is the apple of her eye! Desiree and LJ have always had a special bond, especially because LJ loves "muhlaxing" on the couch, cuddling, and taking pictures--just like Aunt Desiree!&nbsp;LJ enjoys artichokes,&nbsp;Paw Patrol, and getting a new "mackpack" every year for school.&nbsp;Although he no longer calls her "Aunt Cat" (as in the&nbsp;feline),&nbsp;LJ can't wait to be a ring bearer for his "favorite aunt after Aunt Christina."&nbsp;LJ lives in Jackson, Michigan, with his Mommy, Daddy, three&nbsp;brothers,&nbsp;sister, and three dogs:&nbsp;Titus,&nbsp;Tracker, &&nbsp;Tula. Aunt Christina lives 20 minutes away.

LJ Craft

Giovanni is Desiree's youngest nephew, and her favorite toddler!&nbsp;Desiree and Giovanni met the exact second he began life, because Desiree&nbsp;was in the room when he&nbsp;was born! Giovanni loves candy, Mickey Mouse Playhouse, and not going to bed on time. He can't wait to walk down the aisle with LJ and (hopefully) make it to the front of the church without running! Giovanni lives in Jackson, Michigan, with his Mommy, Daddy, three&nbsp;brothers,&nbsp;sister, and three dogs,&nbsp;Titus,&nbsp;Tracker, &&nbsp;Tula.

Giovanni Craft

Livia is an experienced flower girl ready to steal the show at Robby and Desiree's wedding! Her mom and dad, Laura and Jason, grew up with Desiree and can't wait to see their smart, talkative, beautiful girl walk down the aisle! .....They are excited for Liv to be a flower girl, too.&nbsp;:-P&nbsp;Livia enjoys behaving extremely well most of the time, dancing around the living room, and hanging out with Nana instead of mom. Dez and Robby can't wait to see Liv dancing (slowly) down the aisle! Livia lives in Jackson, Michigan, with her Mommy,&nbsp;Daddy, and all&nbsp;of her&nbsp;teddy bears and stuffed animals.

Livia Norris

Grace is so excited to be a flower girl in HER friend&nbsp;Desiree's wedding! Grace will tell you that Desiree is, in fact, her friend&nbsp;and not her mom's friend...even though&nbsp;Desiree loves being friends with both Grace and her mom,&nbsp;Andie.&nbsp;&nbsp;Grace loves preschool,&nbsp;her dog Jenkins aka "my Jenks,"&nbsp;and playdates&nbsp;with Desiree (when Andie allows it). Although only three, Grace might actually be taller than Desiree by the time the&nbsp;wedding gets here. Stay tuned! Grace lives in Woodridge, Illinois, with her Mom, Dad, little&nbsp;sister Rosie, and golden doodle, Jenkins.

Grace Trucco

Wedding Party

Registry

Q + A

To ensure that you receive the group rate 0f $109.00/night,&nbsp;please register via the website above, or call Bobbie at the&nbsp;DoubleTree Hilton and&nbsp;reference group code: WLF.&nbsp;

Check In Time:&nbsp;3:00pm; Check Out Time: 12:00pm.



 The hotel offers a shuttle to/from O'Hare Airport based on availability.&nbsp;Please call or email Ms. Bobbie Borowski at the DoubleTree Hilton Arlington Heights to schedule the airport shuttle or if you have&nbsp;any questions.&nbsp;

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Arlington Heights

The DoubleTree Hilton will provide&nbsp;guests with a free shuttle to and from Old Orchard Country Club from&nbsp;5:00pm - 11:00pm. Please contact Bobbie Borowski to make advance arrangements for the shuttle, or simply sign up for the shuttle upon check-in.

O'Hare International Airport is approximately 10 miles (20-25&nbsp;minutes in non-rush hour&nbsp;traffic) from the DoubleTree Hilton Arlington&nbsp;Heights hotel.&nbsp;Please note that Chicago has two airports, and O'Hare is significantly closer to the&nbsp;hotel;&nbsp;&nbsp;Midway Airport is approximately 33 miles (45-60&nbsp;minutes in non-rush hour traffic) from the DoubleTree Hilton Arlington Heights hotel. We strongly encourage you to fly into O'Hare Airport.The hotel offers a shuttle to/from O'Hare Airport based on availability.&nbsp;Please call or email Ms. Bobbie Borowski at the DoubleTree Hilton Arlington Heights to schedule the airport shuttle or if you have&nbsp;any questions.

Desiree & Robby

Desiree & Robby

Travel

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Arlington Heights

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Arlington Heights

O'Hare International Airport