St Pius X Catholic Church

Ceremony

Rehearsal Dinner

Old Oaks Winery

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Casual Welcome Party

Our Wedding

James and Michaela's love story is truly one for the movies. The two met at James' sister's wedding (Stephanie Geddes). Stephanie and Michaela met at their first nursing job in 2019 at Prentice Women's Hospital and bonded over working night shift on the Mother Baby unit. A couple years later when Stephanie and Alex were tying the knot, Michaela went up to James during the wedding reception and introduced herself. The two spent the rest of the night dancing together while the other wedding guests were clapping and cheering them on because you could tell how smitten they had become in just a few hours. James likes to say that Michaela was playing hard to get, so their first date finally took place a few weeks after the wedding. James and Michaela fell quickly for each other and thank (God) every day for their life choices that drew the invisible string connecting them closer and closer. On March 22, 2024, James surprised Michaela with a belated birthday weekend getaway to an unknown location (or so she thought a birthday getaway). They reached their destination of Greencrest Manor in Battle Creek, MI, which is where the two of them met in 2022. This venue doubles as a bed and breakfast in the winter and a wedding venue during the rest of the year. James told Michaela he had always wanted to bring her back to the place they met because it holds a special place in his heart. The plan was to spend the weekend at the bed and breakfast until Michaela was surprised with the sweetest proposal arrangement and before she knew it, James was down on one knee and Michaela couldn't say yes fast enough through all the tears. After a night of celebrating and calling family and friends, the newly engaged couple traveled back to Chicago where Michaela thought there were dinner plans with James' family. Little did she know another surprise was in the works. After arriving to Bev's in Naperville, Michaela was shocked to see family and friends who had traveled from places as far as New York and Kansas City to celebrate the two of them. She couldn't believe all these people kept the biggest secret from her for weeks.&nbsp;It's safe to say that James pulled off the best surprise of the century, and Michaela can go the rest of her life without another surprise because nothing could ever top this.

Our Story

Hailey Hauldren

Michael Slaviero

Daria Guzzo

Alexander Geddes

Lauren Hird

Brendan Hird

Maria Jobeun

Dakota McNulty

Molly McMillin

Joseph Lang

Reagan Bush

Matthew Berman

Stephanie Geddes

Matthew Prusak

Vanessa Kochinke

Thomas Stevenson

Ethan Vlasic

Harrison Bush

Matthew Zarse

Sebastian Kochinke

Wedding Party

Photos

A discounted block of rooms has been set aside and available by using the link below or calling the hotel directly and asking for the Hird Patrick Wedding Block prior to August 25.

The Axis Moline Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

There will be a shuttle taking guests from the hotel to the reception and back, but not to the ceremony.

A discounted block of rooms has been set aside and available by using the link below or calling the hotel directly and asking for the Hird Patrick Wedding Block prior to August 26.

Element Moline

Stoney Creek Hotel Quad Cities - Moline

This airport is less than a 10 minute drive away from the hotel blocks. Most flights to MLI connect in Chicago (O'Hare), which is roughly a 2.5 hour drive to the Quad Cities, if you would rather rent a car and drive.

James & Michaela

James & Michaela

J&M

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Casual Welcome Party