July 12, 2008
Lissa and Clay Bill met through mutual friends while living in Chicago. It did not take long for the two of them to realize they were meant to
be. On one of their first dates they had gone to
play tennis (it was about 100 degrees), when
Lissa fainted and fell into a fence. Her face was
cut pretty seriously and Clay had to take her to
the emergency room. They recall looking like a
"bad ESPN commercial." Clay was wearing a
Michigan State t-shirt and Lissa was wearing
a Michigan t-shirt (which at this point, was
covered with blood). Lissa ended up with five
stitches on her face (more stitches than dates
together). Clay sat there with her the entire time, holding her hand. Lissa knew then, she wanted to marry him. A month later, Clay cut his foot and they again headed back to the emergency
room together. The receptionist looked at them
and said, "Not you two again, I remember you!"
After dating a year and a half, Clay proposed
on bended knee to Lissa. Once the reality
of being a bride set-in, Lissa and her mother
Gwen MacGregor, began the planning. (It had
been humorously rumored by friends that Gwen
had begun planning Lissa's wedding soon after
giving birth)! Together, they decided to host all
the wedding festivities in the heart of South
Bend's downtown area. The thoughtful planning
that went into making the entire celebration
convenient for their guests is characteristic of
the kind and considerate MacGregor family.
Every element was within walking distance for
their guests. After the ceremony at the First
Presbyterian Church, the bagpiper led their
guests (all walking) to the historical Morris
Performing Arts lobby for cocktails and hors
d'oeuvres. Some of Lissa's family dressed in
kilts, adding warm tradition to their celebration.
As guests entered The Ball Room of The Palais
Royale, no detail was spared. Lissa and Clay's
guests were seated at intimate square tables
covered in apple green damask linens. Two
different types of centerpieces adorned the
tables-half of them on vintage pedestal bird
baths, and the other on tall fluted glass vases,
abundantly overflowing with pale shades of
pink roses, peonies, hydrangeas and accents
of apple green flowers. The room was truly
breathtaking! The candlelit tables and added
pin-lighting were essential in making this
an elegant and welcoming occasion. More
importantly, Lissa and Clay shared with their
guests a memorable evening filled with dancing
and celebrating their love-everything their
families had hoped for them.
I asked Lissa what advise if any, she would
extend to future brides and she replied, "Put
your dress on at 6 am the morning of your
wedding because however long you get to wear
it-it's never long enough!"
Lissa and Clay both feel that after all the
planning, their weekend was magical and clearly the best of their lives.
First Presbyterian Church
South Bend, IN
Reception Location:
The Palais Royale
South Bend, IN
Wedding Coordinator:
Imagine Events
Anne Landis, Event Planner
Granger, IN
Caterer:
Masterpiece Creations
South Bend, IN
Photographer:
Jennifer Mayo Studios
Coloma, MI
Videographer:
Rufus Ayres
Granger, IN
Wedding Gown:
Justina McCaffery
Belle Vie Bridal Couture
Chicago, IL
Hair/Nail Salon:
Bangs Salon
South Bend, IN
Tuxedos:
Bernardo's
Mishawaka, IN
Wedding Rings:
JR Fox Jewelers
South Bend, IN
Flowers:
Poppie's
Polly McCarthy, Designer
South Bend, IN
Invitation:
Festivities at the Crockery
Granger, IN
Wedding Cake:
Adam's Cake Shoppe
Elkhart, IN
Reception DJ:
Chicago Mobile DJ Productions
Mark Rankin, DJ
Chicago, IL
Bagpiper:
William Brockie
Rehearsal Dinner:
LaSalle Grill
South Bend, IN
Transportation:
Vintage Rolls Royce
Honeymoon:
Caneel Bay-St. John, USVI
and The Four Seasons
Nevis, West Indies