Wedding Feature: Cara + Ian
On October 24th, 2020, Cara & Ian said “I do!” We were so honored to play at their gorgeous wedding reception at Mansions on Fifth, a boutique hotel located in Pittsburgh. Like so many engaged couples during this pandemic, Cara & Ian did not have the wedding they originally planned. However, as plan after plan changed, love always remained.
We are excited to share Cara & Ian’s journey as a couple: how they met, how they adjusted their wedding during COVID, and how they managed to create an incredible final result filled with joy and love.
Tell us the story of how you two met.
Cara was in college and Ian was a teacher in Chicago Public Schools. One of Cara’s roommates had a family friend (a socialite in the city) who was having a housewarming party he wanted us to attend. This family friend always threw the best parties, so we had to go. Ian just so happened to be the co-teacher in his 4th grade classroom. After settling in at the party, a quick scan found us as the only people under the age of 50, so naturally we found each other at the bar. We got to talking and when the party was over, went our separate ways… almost immediately texting each other to meet up later that night at a local college dive. That was 6 years ago and we’ve honestly been together ever since. Little did we know at the time, inviting us to the housewarming party was a total set-up.
What made you decide that this was the right person to be with for the rest of your life?
Cara: We enjoy doing the little things together. Ian can make grocery shopping fun. He’s just my best friend.
Ian: I took Cara to dinner at our (now) favorite restaurant three months into our relationship and I told her that I was done looking. Bold, but it just had to be said. I knew early on that she was the right person to spend my life with.
What do you enjoy most about each other’s company?
Cara: His patience and genuine kindness. He always assumes the best in people, it’s a healthy perspective on life.
Ian: I love cooking dinner with her, it’s a way for both of us to unwind and share our day.
How was your experience with Bachelor Boys Band?
The best experience. Truly one of the best wedding decisions we made. Planning with Andrew was easy, flexible, transparent and organized. The day of, we knew we needed Brandon because he played at Cara’s sister’s wedding and was therefore now part of the Kennedy family forever. For an intimate wedding of 25 guests, they had everyone on their feet the entire night. Their talent was unbelievable, they made us laugh and cry, and gave us a safe night of normalcy when we all needed it most.
What was your favorite song you danced to at your wedding?
Our first dance was so special. Brendan beautifully sang and played, ‘I Get to Love You’ by Ruelle – Which we would guess he didn’t previously know how to play or sing. This is an example of the type of care and hard work the Bachelor Boys put into our wedding behind the scenes. They just figured it out, showed up, and delivered!
Share one special memory from your wedding with us.
Cara’s 92-year-old grandma getting up to dance with us!
What changes did you have to make to your plans due to the pandemic? Do you have any advice or great solutions you found that you would like to share for other couples?
To provide a safe space for our guests, vendors, and venue staff, we had to substantially cut down the guest list from 180 loved ones to 25, which was basically just family. Although we missed our friends and extended family, this was the right call. The day was perfect. Shifting our perspective really helped. We decided that all we really needed was each out (and a witness) so every additional loved one we got to invite was a bonus. And that’s how we decided to view it!