Gretchen and Brad

Five Star Vendors:

Venue: Longue Vue Country Club http://www.longuevue.org/

• Event Coordinator: Hanna Paul

• Chef: Philip Braverso

Decor: Mosaic Inc. @partymosaic Lead Designer – Lisa O’Brian

Transportation: ACE (Antique Coach Excursions) – Lead Driver – Alex  https://www.facebook.com/antiquecoachexcursions/

Ceremony: Reverend Dennis M. Wargo @YourOfficiant

Makeup: Jae Lee Paredes @jaeleeparedesmakeup

Hair: Sammie at JL Makeup Studio @jlmakeupstudio

Kohler Flowers: Owner and floral extraordinaire: RJ Kohler www.kohlersflorist.com

Dress, Alterations, Veil, Jewelry: Clarissa Boutique: http://www.clarissaboutique.com @Clarissa Boutique

Cake: Bella Christie @BellaChristieandLilzsSweetBoutique

Photography: @kristitelnov

How they met:

Brad and Gretchen met on October 7th, 2015 during the Pittsburgh Pirate vs. Chicago Cubs Wild Card game. The Pirates were having a great season and hopes of entering the Division Series were high. Then Chicago’s pitcher, Jake Arrieta, threw a complete-game shutout, striking out eleven batters and allowing only five hits. By about the 6th inning, the game was seemingly over and it was time for a change of scenery. Brad and Gretchen independently ventured into a few bars along the North Shore before arriving at McFadden’s. With a few thousand Pirate fans inside McFadden’s, all wearing black for the fan based “black-out” besides Gretchen who was wearing gold, Brad noticed Gretchen from across the room. Right about that same time, Brad’s brother-in-law, Darin, also noticed Gretchen and commented that “there was the girl he should talk to.” Darin could not have been any more right, and Brad went over to introduce himself and offered to buy her a drink but she declined as her cousin was already in line to buy drinks. As luck would have it, Gretchen’s cousin, Kaska, was standing at the bar next to Brad’s cousin, Tyler. Brad discerned that such a coincidence warranted a round of shots. Without hesitation, Tyler got the message and announced that he was buying the ladies a round of shots. Then Kaska declined, stating that she had a boyfriend and couldn’t accept. Tyler quickly hurdled the objection by assuring Kaska that the shots were actually for his cousin and another girl. Finally, the group delighted in a refreshing beverage and phone numbers were exchanged. Three weeks passed with no opportunity for a date, but finally, on October 31st, Brad and Gretchen went on their first date to Butcher and the Rye. Brad, always a gentleman, arrived early to reserve seats at the bar. Similarities abound most important of which, they both consider their siblings to be their best friends and love sports. Gretchen’s Uber ride arrived and the night was over but the rest is history.

@Kaska Komosinski is now engaged to her then boyfriend, Jim Barringer, and they will be married on September 2nd, 2018.

@Tyler Dillinger is now engaged to Liz Heiles and they will be married on May 18th, 2019.