Karyn and Kevin October 18, 2008

Music brings together the perfect pair

Karyn Bishoff and Kevin Schwitters paths first crossed without them even knowing it during high school. It sounds like the perfect making for a love story about high school sweethearts, but it’s not. Despite attending the same high school, Karyn and Kevin would not meet until years later when a mutual friend introduced them.

They finally met in 2007 when Karyn and her friend Dana went to an event, Art Scene, one evening in downtown Rockford, Ill. Kevin, a musician, was performing at one of the venues. Dana introduced the two that night.

The two would have their first official date a few weeks later. It didn’t take long to see what was happening. “When we met, it was immediate,” says Karyn. “We both share a strong appreciation for music, animals, and friends and family. Kevin was everything I had hoped I would find.”

A short eight months later in December 2007, Kevin prepared to ask Karyn to marry her. The two had discussed it, but he still wanted the actual moment to be a surprise. Kevin says, “I had all these ideas about whether it should be on Christmas or New Year’s, or when we went on vacation in Florida with my parents. I decided to make it before all that though. I surprised her one night when she got home from work.

Karyn walked in the door to a lit Christmas tree with Christmas music playing and says she knew immediately something was up since they had dinner reservations for later that night. “I was shocked. It was very magical.

Since the couple loves autumn, they knew they wanted the wedding to be in October. Karyn did the majority of the planning herself, wanted the wedding to be personal and to truly reflect her and Kevin’s personalities.

The wedding had a woodland autumn theme, with plenty of birds’ nests, pumpkins and gourds to accent the season. Leading up to the big day, the couple hosted a pumpkin carving party. They then used the pumpkins – carved with their initials, hearts and even a dove – as decorations on their wedding day.

The ceremony and reception were both held at the Klehm Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. The day was the perfect transition from summer to Autumn, not too hot or too cold, with the leaves at the perfect stage of coloring, Kevin says.

Karyn wore a Paloma Blanca designed Dupiani Silk dress in pearlescent cameo pink with a rouched bodice. It had vintage broaches at each strap and silk buttons all the way down the back/train. To complement the vintage eel of the fress, she wore vintage jewelry from her mother and grandmother. A string quartet made up of members of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra played “And I love Her” by The Beatles as her father walked her down the aisle.

The bridesmaids wore mix and match dresses in a formal collection of orange with handcrafted jewelry made by sister-in-law, Nicole Schwitters. The men wore espresso brown tuxes with camel vests.

The flowers were the perfect accent for an autumn wedding. The floral arrangements included sunflowers, roses, lotus pods, eucalyptus, eggplants, cockscomb, wheat and berries. The boutonnieres for the men were masculine, with pinecones and a variety of grasses.

The reception was held in a room that overlooked the gardens. Karyn and Kevin wanted to make sure the affair was green and eco friendly. One way they kept things green was by having tulip bulbs in recycled gift boxes from Tree Beginnings, Inc. as their favors. The table linens were persimmon orange, chocolate, and cranberry by BBJ Linens.

Since Karyn is a vegetarian and Kevin is a vegan, they kept their menu vegetarian- and vegan-friendly. “We didn’t hear too many complaints,” Karyn says laughing. They had a special newlywed cake that was a vegan carrot cake. While dietary needs were important, they also wanted it to be a fun party. The candy buffet and apple cider with cinnamon sticks were fun for the kids in attendance, and music by close friends and loved ones made the night fun and added a personal touch.

The personal touches kept coming; Keving sang “I’m in Love With A Girl,” by Big Star for Karyn. The two had their first dance as husband and wife to Camera Obscura’s “I Love How You Love Me,” a cover of the Bobby Vinton song. “We wanted something unique and a little obscure but still a really romantic song,” Karyn says.

Karyn and her father danced to “She’s Come Along,” a song he wrote for her when she was born. Kevin and his mother danced to “In My Life,” by The Beatles. The dancing lasted all night long. “We had a really good party bunch,“ Karyn says. “We closed the place down and went passed our curfew, “she laughs.

Kayrn and Kevin’s love for music and nature created a beautiful and personal day for them to share with their family and friends.