Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern

Rehearsal Dinner

Ss. Cosmas and Damian

Wedding Ceremony

Majestic Hall

Wedding Reception

Our Wedding

Luke and Sydney first met on June 27th, 2013, at the New Family Event at Trinity High School, exchanging greetings with the rest of their new classmates. They would go on to have gym and theology classes together during their freshman year, as well as attending many of the same sporting events and social group gatherings - still simply acquaintances for now.

June 27th 2013~ In The Beginning 

Luke and Sydney started becoming closer close when they were more directly introduced through their own mutual friends, Best Man Elijah Whitman and Maid of Honor Krysta McKnight. From there, by way of chatting between classes and watching each other practices, their feelings for one another began to come to light.

Coming Together

After opening up and sharing how they felt for each other, Luke and Sydney chatted more frequently, culminating in him asking if she wanted to join his family on a trip to the movies that Monday - June 27th, 2016, as it happens, exactly 3 years after they had first met. The girls went to one movie and, due to both a booking mistake and a newfound passion for animated fish, the young couple saw Finding Dory. As they waited for the movie to start, Sydney informed Luke (a point that is still debated to this very day) that, despite this being a date, they were not dating as he had not officially asked her to be his girlfriend yet. Luke took the apparent hint and asked her said question, which Sydney happily accepted, before offhandedly betting he would get sick of her in 3 months. It would appear she has lost that bet.

First Date

Luke and Sydney spent as much time as they could together senior year, both inside and outside the classroom. They performed in the Trinity Drama club together in many productions, took a trip with fellow classmates to Washington D.C., and attended Homecoming, Winter Formal, and Prom together. They graduated side by side as the Class of 2017.

Senior Year

Shorty after their first anniversary, Sydney and Luke began attending separate Universities in Ohio; physically apart, but still (and always!) together. Luke attended The Ohio State University, studying for his Bachelor of Arts and Science in Psychology. During his time at OSU, Luke joined, and subsequentially became the president of, a Top 50 OSU Student Organization, The Buckeye Pokémon League - (Go Buckeye Battlers!), worked as a school librarian and as a lien cook at the iconic Sloopy's Diner, and even preformed a University drama production. Sydney attended Kent State University to get her Bachelor of Arts and Science in Child Psychology. Sydney joined the Kent State Colorguard, performing countless halftime shows alongside the Golden Flashes Football team. She followed in her fathers footsteps by working as a Kent State Security Officer, keeping the students safe (mostly from themselves) and joined the National Honors Society for Psychology Majors. The couple may have not been able to see each other every day, but they sure did talk - by way of call or text, the couple checked in on one another whenever able, happily sharing their developments in University and life, and looking forward to the next time they would meet - which was never far off, yet always felt like it was. Their summers back in their adjoining hometowns were spent finding unique and memory making ways to spend their time together. Sydney graduated from Kent in 2020, with Luke and his family in attendance before going on to Graduate school at Case Western Reserve University. Luke graduated shortly after in 2021, with Sydney also in attendance - from a short distance away, watching him be one of the few to happily sit through the pouring rain - he returned the favor by being present when she received her Masters of Applied Social Science.

College Years

A few months after graduation, Sydney moved to Columbus to be with Luke and his roommates, Krysta and Eli. Sydney took some time off to appreciate her educational journey before beginning her work as a Residential Psychologist at The Buckeye Ranch, while Luke worked as a Paralegal while preparing for and taking his LSAT in preparation for Law School. Having been apart so long and wanting to commemorate both their graduations and the lifting of the even more distance-imparting Covid restrictions, the couple took a long talked about trip to Ireland together. Halfway through the journey around the entirety of the island, they stayed overnight at Oranmore Castle in , and woke up feeling like royalty the morning of June 27th, 2023 (that fateful day yet again!) Travelling along the very edge of the western coast, they arrived at the Cliffs of Moher, a scenic overlook . It was much to misty for any kind of sightseeing, so they walked through the countryside to where they would be staying the next two nights - an old schoolhouse that had been converted into a private home. In the stone garden in the back, the couple had a (seemingly) impromptu dance to one of Sydney's favorite songs, ending with a spin for her, and taking a knee for Luke as he proposed on their 7th anniversary there in Ireland - and the rest is soon-to-be history!

The Proposal

Our Story

Engagement Photos

Photos Through The Years

Photos

Madison Schieda

Oldest Cousin of the Groom, Closest Thing to a Big Brother He Has

Andrew Tsakalas

Krysta McKnight

Best Man, Best Friend of the Groom, Best Pal a Guy Could Have

Eli Whitman

Nicole Beckas

Cousin of The Groom, Life of the Party, and Overall Amazing Man We're Proud to Call Family

Stephen Tsakalas

Taylor Patton

Old Friend of the Bride, New Friend of the Groom, Always Welcome in our Lives

Rick Mansfield

Scarlett Jefferson

Friend and Roommate of the Groom from OSU, Here to Help Keep Up the Club and Buckeye Spirit

Justin Azer

Colette Jefferson

Friend of Pretty Much Everyone, And Always a Joy to Have Around

Thomas Dollard

Catriona Jefferson

Cousin of the Bride, That the Groom is Happy to Be Able to Now Call Cousin Himself

Aiden Allen

Freya Schieda

One of the Groom's Youngest Cousins, the Perfect Young Man for this Special Honor

Sydney & Luke

Sydney & Luke

Travel

Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square, an IHG Hotel