Wedding Day

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

Ceremony

The Meridian

Reception

Our Wedding

Our StoryLydia's Version Okay, so here’s the thing: Shaun and I have technically known each other forever. We grew up in the same church, but somehow, we were always in our own little worlds. I was busy with my group of friends, and Shaun was… well, around, but not really on my radar. Except for this one summer in 2019, when I kinda had a crush on him. I even told my friend Jennise, who, of course, teased me about it for&nbsp;years. Still, nothing happened, and life went on.

But as I got closer to his sister Sherlin, our families started hanging out more—backyard barbecues, trips, the usual stuff. Looking back, I guess our lives were already starting to overlap, but we didn’t really see it yet.

Then, in July 2021, we went on this trip to Puerto Rico, which was supposed to be just a fun vacation. But that trip? It turned out to be so much more. Between the sun, the ocean, and all the time we spent together, Shaun and I really got to know each other in a way we never had before. We talked, laughed, and bonded over the little things, and by the end of the trip, we had built a really strong friendship. It wasn’t about romance back then—it was just about genuinely enjoying each other’s company and realizing how much we clicked. Looking back, that trip was the foundation for everything that came after.

Fast forward a little, and we both ended up working at DTE—me in marketing, him in engineering. It was like God wasn’t done throwing us together yet. We’d chat about work, reminisce about Puerto Rico, and slowly got closer. Then Shaun pulled this clever move: he changed his new hire paperwork appointment to match mine so we could spend the day together in Detroit. We ended up hanging out at Belle Isle, just talking and enjoying the day, totally unaware that this little moment would come full circle later.

But, of course, timing wasn’t on our side just yet. We had to walk through a difficult road to prove our love. As much as we cared about each other, we eventually decided it would be better if we were just friends. It wasn’t an easy choice, but sometimes, you just have to let go and trust God with it. “If you love something, let it go, and if it comes back, it’s yours forever,” right? Then one day, Shaun casually hit me up with an “extra ticket” to a Michigan vs. Ohio State game (uh-huh, sure,&nbsp;extra). I said yes, obviously, and we had the best time. Michigan pulled off this epic win after eight years, and honestly, it kinda felt like love was winning too.

Things really took off after that. In March 2022, Shaun took me to dinner at Highlands in Detroit and officially asked me out. The skyline, the moment—it was perfect.

We made a promise to keep God at the center of our relationship, and from that point on, everything just clicked. We grew together, laughed a ton, and built something so much deeper than either of us expected.

Then came July 12, 2024. Shaun brought me back to Belle Isle—the exact spot where we’d spent that day years ago, completely clueless about what was ahead. With the Detroit skyline behind us, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was such a full-circle moment, and honestly, I couldn’t have written it better if I tried.

From childhood acquaintances to lifelong partners, our story hasn’t been what I expected—but it’s been better than anything I could’ve dreamed. Now, we get to do forever together, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Our Story

Photos

Reanna Mathew

Josiah DeSmyther

Shriya Singh

Tyler McCartney 

Rayna Rajkumar

Phile Rennie

Urja Patel

Allen Jacob

Aakriti Kundal

Tobin Thomas

Fareen Zahid 

Joshua Sam

Andrea Thomas

Kasril George 

Tabitha George 

Abby Kurian

Neo Charalambides

Alyssa Mammen

Joshua Abraham

Sherlin Ninan

Jeffy Ninan

Wedding Party

Q + A

A limited number of rooms available at a discount from June 5, 2025 to June 8, 2025. Please use the link to book! Last Day to Book : Thursday, May 15, 2025 If no rooms are available on the website or you’d like to add extra days, please contact Natalie at (248)-349-6377 to adjust your reservation. To extend your stay, book the available days through the system, then call the number above and request an extension. Be sure to mention the Abraham Chacko Wedding room block. For any further questions, please text Lydia at (586)-843-9072.

Sheraton Detroit Novi Hotel

Travel

EXPLORE 

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation

Campus Martius Park

Detroit Institute of Arts

Detroit Riverfront

Belle Isle Conservancy

Michigan Science Center

The BELT

GMRenCen

FUN ACTIVITIES

The Yard at Corktown

C.J. Barrymore's

Detroit Zoo

Topgolf

Dave & Buster's Livonia

Yates Cider Mill

SHOPPING

Somerset Collection

Twelve Oaks Mall

BEST QUICK EATS

This place is famous for their iconic Detroit style pizza!

Buddy's Pizza

Grab some of the best wings you will ever try!

Detroit Wing Company

Grab some delicious fast casual Mediterranean food!

2941 Mediterranean Street Food - Bloomfield Hills

This place is famous for their hot chicken sandwiches!

Dave's Hot Chicken

BEST EATS

Bakersfield DET

Our FAVORITE ramen spot in Detroit!

Johnny Noodle King

Best place to come for authentic Italian food!

La Lanterna

Upscale Lebanese restaurant with delicious food!

Leila

This place has amazing Cuban inspired street food and drinks! Must try their burgers, fries, and batido's!

Frita Batidos Detroit

Highly recommend checking this place out, they have amazing burgers and drinks!

Grey Ghost Detroit

This is a modern Mediterranean inspired restaurant that has great dinner options.

Cibo Detroit

Want to enjoy the breathtaking views of Detroit while having delicious food and drinks? Come check this place out!

The Monarch Club

Another amazing rooftop to enjoy the amazing Detroit views while having great food and drinks!

Lydia & Shaun