Marital Bliss

From the proposal to the honeymoon, how three local couples said “I do.”

Couples get married in Wichita all the time. But what do they do to create an extraordinary day? We took a close look at three weddings that happened within the past year—one couple had just entered the workforce, another were young professionals, and a third got together after they found themselves suddenly single in mid-life. Who reigned supreme in the romance department? We’ll let you decide. We also give you permission to borrow some of their enchanting ideas and make them your own.

Terry and Jeannie Nunemaker
Ages: Terry, 58; Jeannie, 51
Hometowns: Jeannie, Wellington; Terry, Rose Hill
Work: Terry, retired from work as director of Boeing’s engineering department; Jeannie, nursing, and retired from family farming
Wedding: Friday evening, May 12, 2006, at St. Mary’s Cathedral

Terry and Jeannie Nunemaker were both widowed when they met each other at Wichita’s Spiritual Life Center. They’d known each other five months when Terry proposed—on bended knee. Terry gave Jeannie a large, loose diamond with a card inside that said, “Will you marry me?” The two went to Burnell’s together and picked out a ring setting.
Jeannie’s friends offered to give her bridal showers, but she declined. Both had complete households from years of marriage, so rather than registering for gifts, they asked friends for gift certificates.

Terry did much of the legwork and wedding coordination since Jeannie was busy working and helping her son with the family farm. The rehearsal dinner was at the Candle Club. On the day of the wedding, a limousine picked up Jeannie and delivered her to the Inn at the Park, where she got ready.

The couple’s family was an integral part of the wedding ceremony. Jeannie’s sister was her maid of honor and her brother walked her down the aisle. “Before we went out, one of my sisters said, ‘Let’s just pray.’ It was very emotional and meant so much to me,” Jeannie says. At the end of the Mass, Terry recited some Robert Burns poetry to Jeannie.
A team of Belgian horses pulling a carriage drove the couple to the Twentieth Century Club for the reception. Guests received commemorative wine glasses. Terry recited more poetry to Jeannie, then the couple danced together.

They spent a week in the Dominican Republic, near Punta Cana, and at the Christ Church section of Barbados, where they parasailed, snorkeled, rode horses along the beach and dabbled in some deep-sea fishing.

Looking back: The DJ may have played some songs they weren’t fond of, the organist mixed up the song order and the limousine got lost picking up Jeannie, but in the end, they say, it all made for a fabulous, memorable evening.

THE DETAILS
Invitations: Wedding Inspirations. Hired a calligrapher through Maxine’s.
Photography: AVP Multimedia
Flowers: JR Koontz
Music: They auditioned several organists and vocalists, and also had a trumpeter at the ceremony.
Bride and groom’s cakes: Cameo Cakes
Caterer: Michelle Murray from Beyond Delicious in Derby


Charlie and Amanda Wells
Ages: Charlie, 28; Amanda, 26
Hometowns: Amanda, Andover; Charlie, Newton
Work: Charlie, Associated Advertising: Amanda, American Energies
Parents: Marty and Lyndy Wells, Bob and Julie Shaw
Wedding: 5:30 pm, Saturday, October 14, 2006, Eastminster Presbyterian Church

Charlie and Amanda met at Redrock Canyon Grill, where they both worked as servers. Charlie proposed to Amanda the day after their four-year dating anniversary. He set up candles and flowers, and read the First Corinthians passage about love. They bought Amanda’s ring at Barrier’s and were engaged for 11 months.

Amanda had two bridal showers. Together they had one couple’s shower, and Charlie was given a Golf-Tool Invitational the day of the wedding (golf in the morning, lunch and tool shower following). The bachelor and bachelorette parties were held over the same weekend in Oklahoma. Charlie and the boys went on a river trip down the Illinois River, and Amanda and the girls went out for shopping and dinner at Cal’s in Tulsa.

The rehearsal dinner was a crab boil, a Jimmy Buffett-style dinner at the Wichita Country Club. “The whole place was decorated like the islands,” says Charlie. “We also showed a slideshow of photos of us growing up, our family and friends, and then us together.

Amanda’s custom-made dress came from Oklahoma City. Her mother made seven chocolate-brown bridesmaid gowns. Eight tuxes were rented from the Tux Shop.

“We stayed in the same hotel as the reception (the Marriott) and our guests, so we didn’t leave in a car afterward, just received a sending off of clapping and cheering when the reception was over,” says Charlie. The couple honeymooned in Maui, Hawaii. They’re making their first home together in Crown Heights.

Advice: “Don’t stress out,” Charlie says. “Remember why you’re going through all of this—that the ultimate goal is to get married. All the other things aren’t worth getting too stressed out about.”

THE DETAILS
Favorite gifts: Waterford china (her), new Calphalon cookware (him)
Gift registry: Barrier’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, Williams Sonoma and Target
Best part of it all: Getting married


Yule and Vanessa Jabara
Ages: Yule, 25; Vanessa, 24
Hometowns: Vanessa, Schulte; Yule, Derby
Work: Yule, Galaxy Audio; Vanessa, Landscaping/Student
Parents: Brock and Gloria Jabara, and Joe and Linda Garza (Yule); Keith and Rose Adair (Vanessa)
Wedding: 7 p.m., Friday, October 13, 2006, at St. Mary’s Cathedral

Vanessa went to Newman University with the girlfriend of one of Yule’s friends. Both ended up at the same party. “We talked a bit,” says Yule. “Later, I called Jessica and asked her for Vanessa’s phone number. When we went on our first date, we hit it off right away. We’ve been together ever since.”

Yule proposed at midnight on New Year’s Eve of 2005 when the couple hosted a large party. As the clock struck midnight, he got down on a knee and asked the big question.
The couple had two wedding showers. The first was thrown by Yule’s Aunt Jane and was held at Adrian’s restaurant. Vanessa’s sister (her maid of honor) and some other family members threw the second at Torre’s Pizzeria.

Yule and his buddies started off their bachelor party at The Loft in Old Town. Vanessa and the ladies took a limo to The Pub in Old Town. “The limo was fun,” Vanessa recalls, “but limited the number of people that could attend—I could only invite nine girls.”
The couple learned a new marriage skill even before their wedding. “We compromised on having a religious ceremony,” says Yule. “Vanessa wanted to get married in a Catholic church. I wasn’t planning on it, but it was an easy compromise.” A friend played acoustic guitar before and during the ceremony. The couple selected music they both liked—Knights in White Satin, and an assortment of Led Zepplin.

Their reception at Botanica was catered by Chris Cakes—a pancake and sausage buffet. “We wanted to do something different, that nobody had ever had at a wedding reception,” Vanessa says. “I think we achieved that. The pancake lady flipped pancakes through the air and the guests had to catch them on their plates.”

Tip: “Start planning for the wedding ASAP,” says Vanessa. “Don’t wait until the last minute to start; there are a lot of details. Also, you can save some time by doing your registry online rather than going to the stores.”

THE DETAILS
Gift registries: Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target
Wedding attire: Bride’s and bridesmaid’s dresses were purchased at Parrot-Fa-Nalia. Tuxes were rented from S&K Menswear.
Favorite gifts: Silverware, dishes, pots & pans
Gifts to wedding party: Best Buy and Coleman Factory Outlet gift certificates for the guys; a massage gift certificate for the maid of honor.