Saint Johns Church @ Creighton University

Wedding Day

Wedding

The Scoular Ballroom

Reception

Our Wedding

On the weekend of September 12-13, 2014, Jennifer drove down to Kansas City, MO to visit nursing friends Austin and Cheryl Hunter. Little did she know that Jimmy was in cohoots with Austin and Cheryl, planning the special moment. On Saturday, September 13, Jimmy made the drive to Kansas City to surprise Jennifer. Jennifer and a group of 4 others headed to a small wine bar called "Wines by Jennifer" (how about that?) Once they arrived, they were seated in a small private room. About 5 minutes later, Jimmy nervously entered the room and proposed. It was a great moment as Jennifer was totally shocked. Jimmy and Jennifer then had a fun night celebrating in Kansas City with friends Austin, Cheryl, Sheila and Lauren.

The Proposal

Jennifer and Jimmy first met at Creighton in the fall of 2009. Jennifer was a sophomore at the time and Jimmy was a junior. They met at a party at a house where some of Jimmy's friends lived (The Dewey House). After that night, they talked a bit throughout the winter, but did not really become serious until late spring of that next year. Jennifer then went home to California for the summer, but their feelings did not subside. When they returned for school in the fall of 2010, their relationship was in full bloom and they have been in love ever since.

How They Met

Our Story

Details

Photos

Ben and Jimmy first met in Kindergarten when they joined the same basketball team, and truly have been best friends ever since. They attended the same grade school, high school, and college together. Sharing a passion for both playing and watching sports, they've spent A LOT of time together over the last 21 years. Running around the halls of the hotel in St. Louis during the MVC Basketball tournament with Ben and his brothers are some of Jimmy's best memories. Ben is a competitive psycho and is very good at everything he does. He is a teammate of Jimmy's on their annual golf trip.

Benjamin Bertolini (Friend of the Groom)

Ronnie is the brother of Jennifer. He has a beautiful daughter Billie Chruse and a super cute son Michael, who is the ring bearer for the wedding. Ronnie and Jimmy have enjoyed playing golf together during Jimmy's trips to La Quinta, CA. Ronnie can certainly bomb the ball off the tee, but Jimmy usually wins. Ronnie currently works in construction for his father in La Quinta.

Ronnie Jeha (Brother of the Bride)

Matt and Jimmy have been friends since high school at Creighton Prep, when Matt drove Jimmy to every golf practice his freshman year in the Scion (Matt would want me to point out he had the first Scion ever in Nebraska). Matt and Jimmy share Creighton basketball season tickets together, and therefore have not only invested their time at the Century Link Center over the last 3 years, but also their disposable income into many, many $7 Bud Lights. Matt works in Business Development for Omaha Steaks, and would love to wine and dine any carnivores interested in some high quality steak.

Matthew Foley (Friend of the Groom)

James and Jimmy met in their freshman year at Creighton during the Sig Ep recruiting process.They were great buddies all throughout college, and lived together at 3606 Davenport their senior year. I'm fairly certain they initially bonded over a love of Seinfeld. During pickup basketball, James would pretty much dominate Jimmy playing opposite him at point guard, but whenever they were on the same team it was over quick for the poor saps on the other team. James is from Couer D'Alene, Idaho, and currently works in Merchandise Planning Operations for Target in Minneapolis, MN.

James Souza (Friend of the Groom)

Dan, or "D" as he's widely known, and Jimmy first met in their freshman year at Creighton during the Sig Ep recruiting process. Like James, Dan and Jimmy were great friends throughout college and lived together senior year. Dan is one of the funniest guys around and constantly makes us laugh. As cool as Dan is, his English Bulldog "Dave" is definitely the COOLEST. Dan is a graduate of the Creighton University School of Law and currently lives in his hometown of Des Moines, IA, working for the Lillis O'Malley Olson Manning Pose Templeman LLP.

Daniel Manning (Friend of the Groom)

Brett and Jimmy have been great friends since their days at Creighton Prep. They stayed close after high school and when Brett transferred back to Creighton after sophomore year, Jimmy was flat out pumped. Brett and Jimmy share a love of sports (mainly Tiger), music, and talk daily while listening to the Jim Rome radio show. One of the best trips Jimmy ever went on was driving to Chicago with Brett to see Rage Against the Machine perform at Lollapalooza. Brett currently lives in Los Angeles, CA working in marketing for Revgear Sports

Brett Patterson (Friend of the Groom)

Joe and Jimmy went to Creighton Prep together, but didn't become close friends until freshman year at Creighton University when they roomed together in Kiewit 609 (GOAT room). They've gone on many road trips together following Creighton basketball and logged THOUSANDS of hours playing Guitar Hero. Joe is married to his wife Catherine and currently lives in South Bend, IN, attending the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.

Joe Gibilisco (Friend of the Groom)

Andrew and Jimmy also first met in their freshman year at Creighton during the Sig Ep recruiting process. Andrew lived in the senior year house alongside Dan, James, and Jimmy. Jimmy and Andrew have very similar personalities and often annoy their respective significant others when they're together. He has beat Jimmy in multiple half marathons, which still keeps Jimmy up at night. Andrew grew up in Shoreview, MN and is a Minnesota sports homer. He is currently roommates with Jimmy and Jennifer, and is engaged to Jimmy's longtime friend Claire Zach. Andrew is an Audit Senior at Deloitte, with his main client being Berkshire Hathaway.

Andrew Ives (Friend of the Groom)

Austin and Jimmy became friends through Jennifer, as Austin went through nursing school at Creighton with her. There are lots of laughs when Jimmy hangs out with the nursing school crew, and Austin is a big reason for that.  I'm pretty sure Austin enjoys having another guy around when Jimmy is there, too. Austin is married to bridesmaid Cheryl and currently lives in Kansas City, MO, where he works as a nurse at Children's Mercy Hospital.

Austin Hunter (Friend of the Groom)

Patrick and Jimmy went to both Prep and Creighton together, while also holding many of the same jobs over the years. They caddied together at Omaha Country Club, worked the scoreboard together at Rosenblatt Stadium, and now both currently work at Dundee Bank. Known as "The Captain" before Derek Jeter even picked up a baseball glove, Pat is the captain of Jimmy's team on the boys' annual golf trip. Pat is a diehard Tiger Woods, Nebraska football, Creighton Basketball, Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Twins fan. Pat lives in Omaha and is a loan officer at Dundee Bank.

Patrick Zach (Friend of the Groom)

Like pretty much every guy on here, Jimmy and Pete bonded through a love of sports. They first met at Creighton University and with Pete staying in Omaha after graduation, have become close friends over the years. Pete and Jimmy are partners in a weekly college football pool, and have had a return on investment the last two years that would make Warren Buffett jealous. Pete is a native of Milwaukee, WI and currently teaches 4th grade at Fullerton Elementary School.

Peter Gonring (Friend of the Groom)

Michael was born on October 27, 2014 and is the son of groomsman Ronnie. We're hoping he is walking by the wedding, but he may end up kicking back and riding in a wagon down the aisle! He is very cute and very much loved by his family.

Michael Jeha (Nephew of the Bride)

Kelsey and Jennifer met in their freshman year at Creighton as they lived across the hall from each other in the dorm. Kelsey is adventurous and always open to go out and have fun. She's always been the one to push the limits with Jennifer, like walking to shady areas together to try hole in the wall restaurants. Kelsey is fluent in Spanish and loves spending time in Spain. She currently lives in Kansas City, MO where she works for Cerner Corp. Cerner runs the computer system used by Jennifer's hospital, so despite the distance they are still connected!

Kelsey Conlan (Friend of the Bride)

Jenna and Jennifer met at the young age of 5. Jenna showed up and moved right into Jennifer's room, so right away they started to love each other as sisters do. Jenna does not come as a single package, as she is inseparable with her dog Duke. Jenna is currently working towards her Masters in Psychology at St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA, with a graduation date set for May 2016.

Jenna Narez (Sister of the Bride)

Carolyn is Jimmy's younger sister, so Jennifer and Carolyn met when Jennifer started to come around the family. They always share lots of laughs when they're together. Carolyn and Jennifer share a knowledge (and love) of medicine, as Carolyn is currently in her first year of Pharmacy School at the Drake University College of Pharmacy in Des Moines, IA. 

Carolyn Zuegner (Sister of the Groom)

Annie is also Jimmy's younger sister, so they too met when Jimmy brought Jennifer home. Annie is very smart and outshines most with her artistic ability. She is known to dominate family Scrabble games, although she's starting lose ground as of late. (Jennifer is getting smarter from her Masters schoolwork!) Annie is currently working towards her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with a graduation date set for August.

Annie Zuegner (Sister of the Groom)

Maggie and Jennifer met through their sorority at Creighton, Gamma Phi Beta. Maggie is one of Jimmy's long time friends, so she and Jennifer really started to get close once Jimmy and Jennifer began dating. Jennifer one day aspires to be able to make putts on the golf course like Maggie does. Maggie and Jennifer share a love of Creighton basketball, long walks in the summer weather, sushi dinners, and the Fourth of July. Maggie is a native of Omaha and currently works here as an auditor for KPMG.

Maggie  Kersenbrock (Friend of the Bride)

Cheryl and Jennifer started to get close their sophomore year, as they both battled through the trials and tribulations of nursing school. Along with friends Austin and Lauren, they basically spent every waking hour together. Some of the best memories from college for Jennifer involve late night sleepovers and weekends spent studying with Cheryl. Jennifer was considered by many to be Cheryl and friend Lauren's "unofficial 3rd roommate" (luckily they didn't charge her any rent!). Cheryl is from Hartington, NE, but currently resides in Kansas City, MO where she is an ER nurse at the University of Kansas Medical Center. 

Cheryl Hunter (Friend of the Bride)

Alex and Jennifer met when they were 3 years old, as they were neighbors on Sandstone Road. They grew up as best friends, attending all of the same schools and always running around the neighborhood together (often times barefoot!). Alex had the privilege of visiting Jimmy and Jennifer in Omaha in 2014, which led to a lot laughs reminiscing about their childhood. Alex attended Stanford University for her undergraduate studies and is currently in medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Alex Moore (Bride's Friend)

Kelly and Jennifer met in their freshman year at Creighton as they lived across the hall from each other in the dorm. After becoming great friends, they lived together their junior and senior years. Kelly is a "down to earth" person and would never say a bad thing about anybody. Kelly is from Saint Paul, MN and currently lives in Omaha working for Ardent Mills, which is a new company born from ConAgra Foods. 

Kelly McManus (Friend of the Bride)

Claire and Jennifer met through their sorority at Creighton, Gamma Phi Beta. Like Maggie, Claire and Jennifer started to become closer in Jennifer's junior year when her and Jimmy began dating. Claire is super talented at everything she does, making her and Jennifer's early morning workout classes look like a piece of cake while Jennifer is gasping for air. Claire is engaged to Jimmy and Jennifer's roommate and groomsman Andrew. Claire is from Omaha and is currently a fourth year medical student at the Creighton University School of Medicine.

Claire Zach (Friend of the Bride)

Jennifer and Julie met Jennifer's junior year at Creighton through many mutual friends. Julie and her husband Joe are next door neighbors to Jimmy and Jennifer, which has led to many dinners and late night "porch brews." Julie is very funny and quick witted, always leading to a lot of laughs. Julie is from Omaha and is currently a fourth year medical student at the Creighton University School of Medicine.

Julie Schaefer (Friend of the Bride)

Bella is Jennifer's niece, and is the daughter of Jennifer's stepbrother Nick and Allie Narez. Bella is currently three years old and lives in La Quinta, CA. Bella is extremely smart and has an unrivaled imagination. If she had it her way, she would walk down the aisle in one of her many princess nighties. As Bella told her Nonnie, she is excited to be "Jennifer's beautiful flower girl!"

Bella Narez (Niece of the Bride)

Jennifer started babysitting Isabel in Omaha when Isabel was a tiny 3 months old. She has continued to babysit and get to know both Isabel and her family over the last few years. Isabel is now an energetic 4 year old that could sing you Bruce Springsteen songs all night. Isabel and her parents have become Jennifer's family away from home.

Isabel Vik (Friend of the Bride)

Wedding Party

Q + A

Registry

A block of rooms have been reserved until August 3rd. Please use the link below or call to make your reservation in advance.

Hyatt Place Omaha/Downtown-Old Market

The hotel shuttle will be able to transport you to and from any location within 5 miles for free! The night of the wedding there will be shuttles transporting everyone to and from the Scoular Ballroom.

Hyatt Place 

Travel

The hotel is located in the Old Market/Downtown area of Omaha. There are tons of great restaurants, bars, and shops all within walking distance of the hotel. Below is a list of restaurants covering a wide variety of options. Welcome to Omaha!

Old Market

Modern American Cuisine

The Market House 

Slow Fast Food: Real food made from scratch using the best local ingredients possible. One of Jennifer's favorite spots! :)

Kitchen Table

Farm to table street food! One of Jimmy's favorite spots!

Block 16

European style wine bar

La Buvette Wine & Grocery

Fine dining steak house

801 Chophouse at the Paxton

Swanky vegan comfort food from Isa Moskowitz!

Modern Love

Sports Bar

DJ's Dugout

M's Pub

Blue Sushi Sake Grill Old Market

Twisted Fork

Fun place to grab a cocktail!

The Berry & Rye

American pub that has a wide range of food, two bars and some pool tables!

Upstream Brewing Company

Roja Mexican Grill Old Market

13th Street Coffee and TeaAroma's Coffee HouseScooter's Coffee HouseWheatfield's (Breakfast)Lisa's Radial Cafe (Breakfast on 40th street- 10 min drive- Cash only)

Coffee and Breakfast Downtown Omaha

If you are looking for an activity to do during your stay you can never go wrong with a trip to the zoo. Travelers' Choice awarded as the BEST ZOO IN THE WORLD!--- San Diego Zoo got 2nd best :)

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

The Joslyn Art Museum is the principal fine arts museum in the state of Nebraska.

Joslyn Art Museum

Lauritzen Gardens is a living museum of unique four-season plant displays, maintained to the highest standards consistent with environmental stewardship. It provides memorable educational and aesthetic experiences for all.

James & Jennifer