March 25, 2017
Photograph by Lyell Photography
“I was born and raised in Mt. Adams, which is pretty rare,” says Rebecca Reilly (née Stanley). Another rarity? Her love story with husband Patrick. Not many long-distance couples actually go the distance, but these two beat the odds. “We met at Monk’s Cove [a Mt. Adams bar], I asked her out, and then I went to Miami for three weeks,” says Patrick, then a medical student. “I moved back, we started dating, and then I moved to Chicago for eight weeks.”
Once Patrick got a residency at a hospital in Cincinnati, Rebecca moved to Chicago—for two years. “We were rarely in the same city at the same time,” Rebecca says. “Everything should have been against us, but it actually was really easy.”
Photograph by Lyell Photography
Their wedding, on March 25, 2017, was an ode to Mt. Adams as much as it was their own love story (much like their watercolor save-the-dates, which were also a nod to their favorite place). After Rebecca’s and Patrick’s first look at the 21c Museum Hotel downtown, the couple met the bridal party for some photos. They stopped at Eden Park to snap some more and then headed to Crowley’s, the Mt. Adams bar Rebecca’s family has owned for 80 years. The ceremony was at Holy Cross-Immaculata, a historic church in Mt. Adams. Afterward, they marched up Pavilion Street—led by a bagpiper—to the Monastery Event Center for the reception, where they dined, danced, and enjoyed Holtman’s Donuts in lieu of a traditional wedding cake.
Despite the envy-inducing photos by photographer Stephanie Lyell of Lyell Photography, not everything went off without a hitch. “I bought all my candles for the reception from IKEA and they didn’t stay lit for more than 30 minutes,” Rebecca says, adding that she didn’t care—a feat, she acknowledges, easier said than done. “Try not to sweat the small stuff,” she advises. “Don’t get hung up on every detail because it really doesn’t matter in the end.” Adds Patrick, “Just having a room full of family and friends is what made the day great.”
Photograph by Lyell Photography
The couple may now live downtown, but Mt. Adams is where their hearts will always be. “Everything about Mt. Adams is so special to us,” Rebecca says. “The minute we got engaged I knew we had to get married there.”
Photograph by Lyell Photography
Photograph by Lyell Photography
Photograph by Lyell Photography
Photograph by Lyell Photography
Photograph by Lyell Photography
Photograph by Lyell Photography
Photograph by Lyell Photography
Photograph by Lyell Photography
Photograph by Lyell Photography
Ceremony: Holy Cross – Immaculata | Reception and Catering: Monastery Event Center | After-party: Crowley’s | Flowers: Petals-n-Glass | Bus Rental: My Party Bus | Dress and Accessories: BHLDN | Alterations: Margaret Oldfield | Bridesmaid dresses: BHLDN, Show Me Your MuMu, LuLu’s, Jenny Yoo | Tuxedos: The Black Tux | Hair: Black Rabbit Salon | Makeup: Makeup By Karina | Bagpiper: Gerry Fritsch | Church Musician: Doug Donoghue | Church Vocalist: Emily Bates | Reception Band: Airwaves Band | Officiant: Fr. Pete St. George | Doughnuts: Holtman’s Donuts | Custom Doughnut Bags: Etsy, The Laguna Collection | Various Prints: Etsy, Charming Endevours, Always Sunny Co., Little Creek Creative | Invitations and Save-the-Dates: Whodre
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