| | | | | | | | | | | Kimi & Chad: A Casual Celebration in Oklahoma City | | | | After approaching Kimi in a restaurant in downtown Oklahoma City, Chad admits, "I made a fool out of myself." But she gave him her phone number anyway and a first date was successful. The second date, however, started off with an unfortunate discovery for Chad, when he went to pick Kimi up at her house and inquired about all of the boxes he saw. Chad remembers, "My heart dropped upon learning that Kimi was moving to Austin for her pharmacy residency." But two months of long-distance dating later, Chad moved to Austin, Texas and, as they say, the rest is history.
 THE BRIDE Kimi Boedeker, 28, professor at the University of Oklahoma
THE GROOM Chad Vesta, 31, auditor
THE DATE June 1, 2002
THE SCENE The ceremony took place at the Westminster Presbyterian Church and the reception in the Bricktown Ballroom in Oklahoma City.
The one-carat solitaire engagement ring that Chad bought shortly after the couple moved back to Oklahoma City, in July of 2001, was burning a hole in his pocket for three weeks before he finally popped the question. The adventures and struggles of moving into their new home kept interfering with his hopes for a special moment until an afternoon of sunning and swimming at his parents' house finally presented the perfect opportunity.
After going inside to get Kimi a "surprise," Chad sent a treat, hidden on a floating chair, over to Kimi in the pool. When she found the box, Kimi remembers being in shock but after Chad resurfaced next to her in the pool, she shouted, "Yes!"
Kimi became "the most organized bride" her wedding day coordinator had ever seen. While friends joked as her three-ring binder grew too large to fit in her bag, Kimi took a hands-on approach to her planning. She looks back on assembling the 200 programs, 200 bags of birdseed, and 200 favors and is proud that she was able to do so much herself (along with the support, help, and advice of her matron of honor and her future mother-in-law).
Kimi chose an A-line strapless, silk, diamond white gown with chapel-length train by Angelina Bridal Couture. To complement her two-tiered veil, she chose a classic, understated tiara and kept the rest of her jewelry simple, but full of meaning. After her grandmother passed away six months before the wedding, leaving Kimi her engagement ring, Kimi had the diamonds from the ring made into a solitaire necklace and earrings, which she wore on the wedding day. "They were the perfect accessory," she remembers, "and the perfect way for me to keep her with me that day."
Kimi's younger sister, who is also a seamstress, created the two-piece ensembles worn by the five bridesmaids. Matching earrings and necklaces, a gift from the bride, complemented the charcoal-colored silver sleeveless dresses. They carried eight red roses each, tied with silver organza ribbon. Kimi's two young nieces, ages six and three, served as flower girls and also wore dresses created by Kimi's sister that matched the bridesmaids and carried pomanders of white spray roses and English Ivy.
Chad chose a classic four-button tuxedo by Oscar de la Renta and accented it with a white vest and tie. The groomsmen and two ring bearers sported three-button tuxedos by Ralph Lauren with platinum vests and ties.
After guests were seated to the sounds of a string quartet and trumpet soloist, Kimi, accompanied by her father and clutching a bouquet of 23 white roses, began her walk down the long aisle of Westminster to "Trumpet Voluntary." "I saw Chad's face light up when he saw me. He smiled and I can't even describe the joy I felt in my heart," she remembers.
Kimi let the classic elegance of the architectural elements at Westminster serve as decoration enough, accenting only with candles for the ceremony. The Presbyterian service began with a call to worship after which the minister asked for affirmation from the families and guests of their support for and commitment to the marriage. Kimi and Chad exchanged traditional vows and rings, which were blessed, lit a unity candle, and after a musical interlude, exited to Mendelssohn's "Wedding March."
After arriving at the reception site in their car that the groomsmen had jokingly decorated in rival school Oklahoma State colors, Kimi and Chad walked into the ballroom -- decorated in tulle-wrapped twinkle lights and silver planters filled with red and pink geraniums -- to the University of Oklahoma fight song. "This is for all who decorated Chad and Kimi's car," the DJ announced. Chad remembers, "The whole place erupted with cheer and it was just like being at a football game."
The couple took the floor for their first dance to Etta James' "At Last" which had become their song years before when they were first falling in love. Afterwards, Kimi and her father danced to Frank Sinatra's version of "The Way You Look Tonight" and then Chad and his mother followed up with Natalie Cole's "Unforgettable."
Because Kimi and Chad wanted the reception to feel more like party, they opted to serve guests food from a casual buffet of cheese, vegetables, and fruit -- including an amazing fruit dip that friends still rave about -- as well as hot items such as Swedish meatballs, seasoned chicken strips, stuffed mushrooms, and spinach artichoke dip.
Despite Kimi's reservations about having a "boring" white wedding cake, the four-tiered French Vanilla cake with combed buttercream frosting turned out to be delicious. Chocolate lovers were also in luck: the groom's cake was a chocolate fudge torte with chocolate icing, topped with chocolate-covered strawberries.
As the evening came to a close, Kimi says she felt she had succeeded at making the reception a party for everyone when she saw his mom on the dance floor dancing with her friends to B52's "Love Shack." Guests were given five Jordan almonds each as favors that symbolized Kimi and Chad's five marital wishes -- health, wealth, happiness, children, and longevity in life.
When the party finally wound down, everyone showered the newlyweds with rice as they left in their decorated limo and headed home to rest up for their early morning honeymoon flight the next day. Once they arrived, Chad carried his bride over the threshold and into their home, where he had a dozen roses and champagne waiting for them.
-- Lizzie Bailey
Photography © Larry Foster
For the ingredients that make up this wedding, see right-hand column of this page.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | © 2002 The Knot Inc. All Rights Reserved | | | | | | | | INGREDIENTS | | | CEREMONY SITE Westminster Presbyterian Church (405) 524-2204
RECEPTION SITE Bricktown Ballroom (405) 236-4143
OFFICIANT Randall Spindle, Westminster Presbyterian Church
PHOTOGRAPHY Larry Foster, Foster Wedding Photography (405) 321-1972, Norman
VIDEOGRAPHY Brent Manning, Visualize IT (405) 615-6737
WEDDING GOWN & VEIL Moliere Bridal (405) 728-0485
HAIR STYLIST Village Head Quarters (405) 751-0121
FORMALWEAR Tom's Formalwear (405) 605-3113
FLOWERS The Flower Garden (405) 375-5252, Kingfisher
RENTAL EQUIPMENT Marianne's Rentals (405) 751- 3100
ENTERTAINMENT DJ Brian Smith, Chameleon Entertainment (405) 521-9199
CATERING Debbie Lowery, Johnnie's Catering (405) 751-0688
WEDDING CAKE Tammy Morgan, Red Velvet Bakery (405) 330-8127, Edmond
TRANSPORTATION Baron's VIP Limo Service (405) 752-2080
PLANNING A WEDDING IN OKLAHOMA CITY? Find your florist, caterer, reception site and more in The Knot Oklahoma City resource directory.
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