Blue Harbor Resort and Spa

Friday Evening-Welcome Party

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Spring

Our Wedding

If you ask Mark, we met in high school. Julia isn’t so sure that’s the case. Although, he is probably right. We had mutual friends going back to middle school when he went to school with some of our best friends. The first story of Julia and Mark goes back to our friends, Gene and Kelly’s wedding. Gene told our friends that a “surprise guest” was going to be in attendance. As our friends started rattling off names, Mark Lada was a fan favorite, Julia responded with “who the f*** is Mark Lada?” Little did she know a few years later, he would become her forever. Over the next year or 2, Julia and Mark were in the same place, at the same time with the same group of friends but it wasn’t until both Julia and Mark were living back in their hometown during the pandemic that we “officially” met. Mark kept coming up on Julia’s Bumble (a dating app where the girl has to message the guy within 24 hours or the match disappears), Julia would exit out and go back to it until she was with her friends because she knew he looked familiar. When with friends (separate group from the Gene/Kelly group), Julia showed everybody asking why he looked familiar. One of our friends, Casey, was looking at the app and accidentally “X” Mark, all the girls shrieked and Julia PAID to undo the X and then matched with Mark that night. Plot twist, Julia STILL didn’t message Mark so the match disappeared. A few weeks later, Mark added Julia on Instagram and Julia was so excited thinking it was because he was still interested after she ghosted him on Bumble, only for Julia to later find out that Mark “swears” it had nothing to do with Bumble. A week or so after the add, and after a few glasses (perhaps a bottle of wine), Julia sent Mark a message on Instagram and we have talked every single day since then. Our first date (remember pandemic), was at Bull Dogs in McHenry, during the biggest snowstorm of the season. Julia’s mom asked several times if this was a good idea, and if we should cancel because of the weather. Forget the idea that we were meeting in public, when it wasn’t even legal for bars/restaurants to be open at this time. Julia insisted that she was going on the date and left, as her nerves took the drivers seat (for those that are close to her, surprise surprise), she walked into the restaurant with no mask. Mark initially thought was she was somebody who didn’t listen to the rules, what he later came to find out is she is a rule follower to a fault but her brain has close to no function when nerves are at play. Julia and Mark sat at the most awkward first date table to ever exist, a U shape that was made for at least 10 people, I guess they wanted us to socially distance at the table too. We were there until close, again pandemic, probably 9pm and could’ve stayed longer but for the sake of that snow storm outside, it probably worked out for the best! We quickly realized we had something special and knew forever was our future. A couple moves, our sweet Luca, and almost our wedding later…we can’t wait to see what forever holds!

Our Story

Friday Evening

Please join us Friday evening for a Welcome Party in the Lakeview Presidential Suite at 7pm for appetizers and cocktails.*you will receive an email with details on how to get to the suite on Friday afternoon.* Casual Attire: Please wear what you feel most comfortable in. Whether you plan to hit the waterpark or are dressed for a nice dinner, we are happy if you are happy!

Saturday

Ceremony will begin promptly at 4:30pmPlease arrive at the Lakeside Terrace Lawn between 4:00pm-4:30pm Cocktail hour will begin in the Lakeside Terrace Room from 5:00pm-6:00pm Dinner will be served in the Grand Ballroom at 6:30pm Dancing will follow until 11:30pm in the Lakeside Terrace Room *Cocktail Attire*

Wedding Weekend Itinerary

Photos

Wedding Party

The hotel block is now closed. If you would like to contact the hotel direct and see if they can honor the block discount and/or waive the 2 night minimum, please feel free! There are also a few hotels nearby, however, there will not be transportation to other hotels.

Blue Harbor Resort

Travel

The second main attraction of the weekend is the waterpark which is included with your stay. There is a full (alcohol) bar and snack bar located in the waterpark which also has an&nbsp;arcade and glow in the dark mini golf so make sure you bring your inner child! There is a sit down restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. As for the breakfast, it is an average hotel breakfast buffet. We tried it out during our recent stay and would not recommend it for the price. There are lots of breakfast options available nearby along with a coffee shop in the resort. There is a riverwalk across the parking lot from the resort with cute little shops, restaurants (a wine bar) and a coffee shop.

Julia & Mark

Julia & Mark

Registry

We are so excited to celebrate our wedding with you! Thank you in advance for your generous gift and for celebrating our special day with us!

If you'd like to add to our new home fund, you are welcome to send to our Venmo to avoid being charged the transaction fee (@juleswerd)

Registry

We are so excited to celebrate our wedding with you! Thank you in advance for your generous gift and for celebrating our special day with us! *If you'd like to add to our new home fund, you are welcome to send to our Venmo to avoid being charged the transaction fee (@juleswerd)*

We are so excited to celebrate our wedding with you! Thank you in advance for your generous gift and for celebrating our special day with us!

If you'd like to add to our new home fund, you are welcome to send to our Venmo to avoid being charged the transaction fee (@juleswerd)