Rehearsal Dinner

St John's Parish Catholic Church

Church Rehearsal

The Fox Den at Ooh De Lally

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Castle Unicorn

Reception

Party Bus!

Our Wedding

It's a love story...

It all started in November 2021, when Christina walked into her new job in Omaha and spotted Tyler, standing between cubicles, passionately informing a handful of visitors of Omaha's best BBQ. He was wearing torn jeans and a T-shirt, his dark hair pulled into a bun. Christina heard his voice booming from 20 feet away and thought, “That guy's obnoxious...” but she also couldn’t help but notice his charisma and the way he was making everyone laugh. At that same moment, Tyler noticed Christina: her sneakers, hair tied with a black ribbon, and a quiet confidence that drew him in.Soon enough, they were placed on the same project, where a friendship blossomed. Tyler showed respect for Christina's designs, and Christina took genuine interest in Tyler's nerdy hobbies. They joked and bonded over conversations about their families, friends, and of course, their cats.After a trip to Wisconsin, Christina brought back Spotted Cow for Tyler. Tyler found Christina's small, thoughtful gestures like this endearing. The two began to spend more time together: they would get lunch, talk about life at her kitchen table, and drift toward one another in group settings. Christina playfully pried into Tyler's dating life and offered to set him up with a girl from barre class (surprise: she never followed through on that).Christina was impressed by Tyler's acts of service and consistency, even as a friend. Her bike broke; he showed up and fixed it. She needed a computer cord; he vanished and reappeared with the right one. He also cooked meals for her (like the kind that require 100 ingredients and a few hours to make!). Needless to say, the two enjoyed each other's company, and the line between friends and more-than-friends got blurry.Love is patient, and that's exactly how this love felt. After a long bike ride on a warm Sunday in July 2024, they finally admitted their feelings to each other (after Christina somewhat bullied Tyler into it). Turns out the friendship they were scared to risk had already become the foundation of something greater.Now, after a few years of divine timing, laughter, and hours that passed like minutes, they can't wait to spend the rest of life together! It's a monumental gift to find such a partner, and to be able to celebrate it with all of you.

Our Story

Photos

Best friend since age 4. Always known to make any event extra fun! She’s generous, adventurous, and a sage advice-giver. 

Jeanna

Best friend since college. They lift heavy things, play games, and nerd out over shiny cardboard together.

Justin

Best friend since high school. Food and travel enthusiast and full of empathy. Has a zest for life and also enjoys long walks through the cemetery (really!).

Megan

Friend since college. Once biked for 350 miles from Pittsburgh to DC with Tyler, colloquially known as senpai, and a fellow cardboard enjoyer.

Mickey

Friend since kindergarten. Enjoys a challenge and can talk to anyone! Fun fact: she also has a pickleball podcast.

Kristin

Friend since college. Vacation aficionado, rave connoisseur, and “what happens in Colorado stays in Colorado.”

Hoang

Friend since high school. Grounded, loyal, and shares a love for specialty coffee and Target finds. Ask her about moving cross-country.

Lauren

Christina's eldest brother. Deep thinker, organized trip planner, funny without trying. Ask him about F45 or Hyrox.

Andrew

Coworker-turned-friend. Bonded over Runza, trip planning, and Taylor Swift. Shes witty, a well of random knowledge, and a speed-reader.

Maddie

Christina's older brother. Calm and collected with a goofy side and a love for novel experiences! Wouldn't let Christina date in high school - and she won't let that go.

Nick

Tylers younger sister. Creative event planner, sneaky-good-cook, and mama of two (plus lots of farm animals!)

Brooke

Christina’s younger brother. Travel-oriented, confident, and comes out of DJ retirement at LEAST twice a year! 

Matt

Christina's niece with a heart of gold! Enjoys gymnastics, sparkly things, and babysitting her siblings. 

Seraphia

Christina’s youngest brother. Imaginative, reflective, and infected with whatever makes you want to run a marathon. Ask him about national parks.

Marilise

Watson

Ridley

Caleb

Cody

Note: It's impossible to summarize our best friends in a few short words! We love this crew and will brag about any one of them any day.

Wedding Party

What Is Cocktail Wedding Attire?

Cocktail Dresses to Add to Your Cart ASAP

What Guys Need to Know About Dress Codes

First and foremost, we want you to dress to feel confident and like yourself. Beyond that, we encourage you to show off your style in cocktail attire! Add some personality, and have fun with accessories. We don't want to see everyone in black and navy. It's a celebration, after all!Vibes of the reception venue: Castle Unicorn is open-air, on 400 acres of private land. It's really everything an Iowa castle has to offer (take that as you will).Terrain/weather: There will be a gravel parking lot as you arrive at the venue, and then you will be shuttled to an area with pavement, green space, and reflection ponds. Consider bringing a jacket if it's chilly.Ideas for men:Dress pants and a button-down shirt, blazer and tie optional. If you're looking for color suggestions, light blues, beiges, and sage/olive greens are welcome. Lace-up dress shoes, loafers, and oxfords are great shoe options.Ideas for women: Knee-length, tea-length, or midi dress; a jumpsuit is more than welcome, too! Opt for dressy flats or heels that won't sink into the grass.Things to avoid?Jeans. Bucket hats. Cutoff tanks (much to Tyler's dismay).The bridesmaids will be in merlot (dark red) - ladies, please avoid this color unless you want to be asked to give a speech.

Dress Code

[Update as of July 23: Fully booked! We apologize for the inconvenience. Please try another hotel listed below.] ABOUT THIS HOTEL:Named the #1 Marriott Autograph Collection hotel in ALL of North America, we picked this hotel for our guests based on its awesome location (across from the modernized Gene Leahy park, and walkable to the Old Market) and customer service. We trust it will make an amazing home base while you're in Omaha, whether you're visiting for the first time or taking a staycation! OUR CONNECTION:This is where Tyler proposed, making it very special to us! 💍 (Check out the ballroom balcony to see the exact spot.) Plus back in 2022, Christina was commissioned to make an illustration of the hotel, its restaurant, and its bar for the hotel owners.

The Farnam, Autograph Collection

We don't have a block here but it's a good option for larger groups (every suite includes a couch) and offers free made-to-order breakfast. The location is excellent, right in the Old Market, and there is a paid parking lot.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Omaha Downtown Old Market

Beware there is construction going on all the time in downtown Omaha now! We suggest to plan for valet parking.

Hotel Deco Omaha, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Hotel

Experience Omaha like Tyler and Christina do!

The Joslyn is one of the best architectural gems of Omaha. It was closed several years for renovations, reopened last year, and has been winning awards ever since. And it's free! Tip: Don't miss the Fountain Court on the second floor. Also, the cafe in here is an underrated spot for a quick coffee or snack. Christina really thought Tyler was going to propose here but he kept her guessing. PS: Most of our engagement photos were taken here.

Joslyn Art Museum

We&nbsp;adore&nbsp;this&nbsp;European&nbsp;cafe!&nbsp;It&#39;s&nbsp;great&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;cheese&nbsp;board,&nbsp;BREAD&nbsp;(wow,&nbsp;the&nbsp;bread),&nbsp;and&nbsp;wine&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;daily&nbsp;changing&nbsp;menu&nbsp;that&#39;s&nbsp;hand-written&nbsp;and&nbsp;sometimes&nbsp;legible&nbsp;(in&nbsp;a&nbsp;charming&nbsp;way).Tip:&nbsp;Buy&nbsp;a&nbsp;bottle&nbsp;of&nbsp;wine&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;shelf,&nbsp;sit&nbsp;outside,&nbsp;and&nbsp;people-watch.&nbsp;Also&nbsp;time&nbsp;moves&nbsp;slower&nbsp;here,&nbsp;and&nbsp;service&nbsp;reflects&nbsp;that.PS:&nbsp;Some&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;engagement&nbsp;photos&nbsp;were&nbsp;taken&nbsp;here.

La Buvette Wine & Grocery

Giant pretzels and beer! This place has a large indoor/outdoor space, and our co-working office is actually attached to it, too, so it's a hangout of ours. Tip: Friendly for families and big groups.

Big Grove Brewery & Taproom - Omaha

New science museum. They have a cafe, Fig, that is along the riverwalk too. Sometimes on Thursday nights, they stay open late for just adults.

Kiewit Luminarium

Omaha&nbsp;is&nbsp;very&nbsp;proud&nbsp;of&nbsp;its&nbsp;zoo!&nbsp;Check&nbsp;out&nbsp;the&nbsp;rainforest,&nbsp;desert&nbsp;dome,&nbsp;and&nbsp;aquarium.

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

This coffee shop is a staple! Beautiful building with art-deco vibes. It has a drive-thru and is open late, too. Christina gets the granita (with a side of chocolate espresso beans if she's feeling wild), and Tyler gets the cold brew. Tip: Best for small groups, unless you want to sit outside among the firepits. Best to go during non-peak hours.

The Mill on Leavenworth

Adorable neighborhood coffeehouse with plants and hand-crafted drinks. Coffee is air-roasted and they make their own almond milk. Fun fact: Christina's great-aunt used to live in this exact house back in the 70s! What a small-town-Omaha thing...

Myrtle&Cypress Coffeehouse

The Old Market Passageway, specifically, is a place I wouldn't want visitors to miss. It's got art galleries, quirky stores, and if you're lucky you might even find the hidden garden. The Old Market as a neighborhood is charming with its brick streets, restaurants, and shops. Worth a stroll!

The Old Market

If you're an old soul, you might love this shop full of amazing stationary items, like fountain pens, wrapping paper, journals from Japan, and rubber stamps. Tip: You must find the shop-cat named Parsnip!

Shop Five Nine

Originally the train station of Omaha, this is now a museum with rotating exhibits and an old railcar in the lower level. The lobby is breathtaking, like stepping back in time.

The Durham Museum

A cute gift shop full of "made in Omaha" goods, like mugs, socks with Warren Buffet's face on them, popcorn, hot sauces, t-shirts, and magnets.

Made in Omaha

Things to Do

Registry

TRANSPORTATIONWhere should we park for the church ceremony?You may part in the faculty parking lot across 24th Street (northeast corner of 24th and California).Where should we park for the reception?Look for signage for parking near the base of the hill in a gravel lot, and then a shuttle (similar to an airport shuttle) will take you up the hill to the venue.How do I get to the reception?Please refer to the map here: https://www.castleunicorn.com/find-us.htmlWhat if I have accessibility needs?Reach out to Christina or Tyler and we'd be happy to accommodate you alongside the venue staff. (Side note: Christina is very passionate about this topic after having torn her ACL.)What's the distance from Omaha to the reception?25-35 min driveWill there be a shuttle to the reception?No, there will not be a shuttle to or from the reception. Please plan for a safe ride or Uber. (Wedding party members, you will see a 'party bus' invitation on your RSVPs.)TIMINGIs there a gap between wedding and reception?Yes, there are several hours between ceremony and reception. Might we humbly suggest our "Things to do" page for a list of our favorite places?When should we get to the events?Please arrive at the church by 10:00 for the 10:30 ceremony. Arrive to the reception at 5:00 for cocktail hour or 6:00 for dinner.TEMPERATURE/WEATHERIf it's cold, will there be heating?The church is heated, and the reception venue has heat lamps if needed. If it's chilly in late October, consider bringing a jacket, as the venue is open-air.If it's hot, will there be AC? The church has AC, but the venue is open-air. If it's hot, there will be fans -- and a breeze from being up on the hill.OTHERAre kids invited?While we love your little ones, our wedding will be an adults-only celebration, with the exception of our siblings' kids. Parents, we hope you can join us for a night off!Is there an open bar?Beer, wine, and seltzer are on us! If you prefer mixed drinks or liquor, please bring cash or a credit card to purchase them at the bar.

Christina & Tyler

Christina & Tyler

C&T

Wedding Day

10:30 AM

Ceremony

5:00 PM–11:00 PM

Reception