Mark and Bethany met while they were both living in the beautiful “Windy City” of Chicago. They both loved Chicago, and had always felt – as Frank Sinatra’s song says – that it was “My Kind of Town.” They had been dating for about four months when Mark was offered a job with Universal Ensco in Houston, and thus began their long-distance relationship.

During one of his many weekend trips to Chicago, Mark took Bethany to the Amazing Wheel of Fate, a legendary Ferris wheel at Navy Pier. Since moving to Chicago, Bethany had always wanted to ride the massive Ferris wheel, but had not had the opportunity. That beautiful, windy evening, with the breathtaking Chicago skyline as the setting, Mark knelt on one knee and asked Bethany to be his wife. With a simple “Yes,” their story began.

Shortly after the engagement, Bethany moved to Houston to be with Mark, and took a job as a manager for NAGP. With a new job and new friends, Bethany was nervous about planning a wedding alone. Her mom had recently passed away, and the idea of planning a wedding without help frightened her. However, Bethany was blessed with wonderful new friends and co-workers, and acknowledges that without them, she would never have been able to have such a perfect wedding. They acted as wedding coordinators, chauffeurs, cooks, waiters, errand boys, decorators and did just about anything that needed doing for the event.

While searching for the perfect wedding venue, Bethany and Mark discovered the spectacular sites of Austin. They toured the city one weekend, and fell in love with all of Austin’s attractions. From the Capitol, to Zilker Park, to Barton Springs, to the Old Pecan Street Café, they quickly decided that it was “My Kind Of Town,” especially for a wedding.

The couple had long ago decided that they wanted to be married on a lake, and after finding Nature’s Point on Lake Travis, they knew it was a picture-perfect site for the wedding. They were determined to give their guests the opportunity to enjoy Lake Travis and Austin. They rented a beautiful lake house, boats and jet skis for their guests, hoping that their guests would feel as though they were receiving a mini-vacation when they came for the big day. Together, Mark and Bethany planned their dream wedding. Over the months of planning, they tasted cake, interviewed photographers, picked out rentals, made ottomans, cut ribbon and picked out music. With the help of their many friends, they pulled it all together and created an amazing wedding.

Mark and Bethany had both their wedding and reception at Nature’s Point. They used the arbor area for the ceremony, the main house for group pictures, as well as dinner, the toast and the cutting of the cake, while dancing took place in the pavilion. A cool breeze drifted in off the water, adding a perfect ambiance to the night.

Scott La Jeuensse, a good friend and role model, escorted Bethany down the aisle, over a carpet of pink petals. The petals were symbolic of Bethany’s mother’s recent battle with breast cancer. Her mother had never met Mark, but Bethany knew she would have approved of his character and gigantic heart. The ceremony brought tears of joy and comfort to the couple, and Bethany walked down the aisle thinking, “This is the best day of my life.”

The reception took place at the main house at Nature’s Point. As they ate dinner, the guests were treated to a beautiful Texas sunset and enjoyed chocolate-covered strawberries. After dinner, the guests were invited to move to the tree-lined dance area, as Bethany and her grandfather danced their special dance.

After this, the newlyweds began their first dance, which started out slow and romantic, but suddenly stopped and broke out into “Somebody Slap Me,” by John Anderson, a song about a man loving a girl who does her own plumbing and has her own boat.

“Mark and I broke out in song and dance,” laughs Bethany. “The rest of the night was a blur,” she says. They danced the cha cha slide, drank root beer floats and ate doughnuts brought especially for Bethany from her hometown in Ohio. “It was a blast!” she says. The weather held off until the last dance, when raindrops began to fall.

“Mark and I still talk about the wedding every day,” says Bethany. “It was an amazing, perfect wedding.”

Bethany had the very good fortune of winning the grand prize of a Marriott sweepstakes. The lucky couple won a honeymoon trip, which includes seven nights at any Marriott in the world. In the new year, Mark and Bethany will be taking a trip to Phuket, Thailand, and different parts of Australia. A perfect ending to a wedding in “My Kind Of Town.”

Austin Resources

Florist:
Bouquets of Austin

Musicians:
Acsa Mosqueda

Venue:
Nature’s Point – Lake Travis

Photographer:
Eric Doggett

Rental Car:
Advantage Rent-A-Car

Linen, Table and Dishes Rental:
Marquee Rental

Wedding Cake:
Matty Cakes

DJ:
Terry Dean with Complete Music

Caterer:
All Fired Up

Honeymoon Suite:
Driskill Hotel

Guests’ Accommodations:
Doubletree Hotel