The Morton Arboretum

Wedding Day

Guest Arrival

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Our Wedding

Nick and Kiya meet in an elevator Our paths first crossed in an elevator at Arizona State University on the first day of classes. From that point on, we spent nearly every day together.

August 2018

Kiya moves to Louisville and Nick moves to Los Angeles Kiya graduated college and took a job in Louisville, KY. Nick moved to Los Angeles, CA to finish his last semester. The relationship continued as distance wasn't a problem for us.

December 2019

Nick moves to Louisville, KY With the fear of the pandemic and Nick graduating via Zoom, he decided this was the perfect time to finally take the next steps in the relationship and move in with Kiya. (Nick was in charge of this page, can you tell? XD)

May 2020

Nick + Kiya move to Nashville, TN As the pandemic started to loosen its grip on the world, it was time to make a drastic change. With nothing keeping us in Louisville, we decided to move states in pursuit of new opportunities.

March 2021

Nick proposes to Kiya A six year romance across four states: We were destined to be together. On August 24, at Arrington Vineyards in Franklin, Tenn., we got engaged and wedding planning began.

August 24, 2024

Kiya + Nick say 'I Do' After nearly eight years, we take the next steps into a new era of our relationship — as husband and wife.

May 1, 2026

Our Story

Kamia

Michael

Caitlyn

Wedding Party

Getting There

Guests flying to Illinois should plan to fly into either of these two airports.

O'Hare International Airport

Chicago Midway International Airport

Where to Stay

We have a room block at the <a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1753369505470&amp;key=GRP&amp;app=resvlink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chicago Marriott Naperville</a>. Room Rates:King - $139 per nightQueen - $159 per night These rates are available for 2 night stays from April 30 - May 2. Book by April 2, 2026 to lock in this rate. This hotel is 9 minute drive from the wedding venue.

Chicago Marriott Naperville

We have a room block at the <a href="https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/LISLE/G-GATI" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hyatt Regency Lisle near Naperville</a>. Room Rates:King - $105 per night2 Doubles - $125 per night These rates are available for 2 night stays from April 30 - May 2. Book by April 9, 2026 to lock in this rate. This hotel is a 4 minute drive from the wedding venue.

Hyatt Regency Lisle near Naperville

Getting Around

For those flying to Chicago:We HIGHLY recommend renting a car. The wedding venue and nearby hotels are 20-30 minutes away from either airport. There is very limited public transit when navigating the suburbs. When visiting the city:If you are planning to explore Chicago while you are visiting, we recommend these two options: Public Transit You can take a Metra train from many of the Chicago suburbs to downtown. Once you arrive in Chicago, you can walk, take a bus, or ride the CTA around the city. This method is best if you want to see multiple parts of the city in one day. Driving Parking can be tedious and expensive in Chicago. This method is best if you plan to visit one specific location or a location not easily accessible via public transit. You can of course drive to the city, and then use public transit to get around.

Travel

Garden Party Formal is a dress code blending elegance with outdoor comfort, meaning polished but relaxed semi-formal attire with lighter fabrics, brighter colors, and floral patterns suitable for a garden setting, less rigid than traditional formal wear but more dressed-up than casual. Think floral dresses, lightweight suits, jumpsuits, and dressy separates in breathable materials like linen and cotton, often with pastel shades or botanical prints, to navigate grassy lawns comfortably while looking chic.

As to not match the bridal party, do not wear white or dark brown.

Dress Code

Arbor Doughnuts

Assorted Fruit

Brunch

Appetizers

Breakfast BreadsSignature Ginkgo Salad

entrées

Country-Style Biscuits and GravyCrème Brûlée French Toast Marry Me Chicken

sides

Hickory-Smoked BaconBreakfast Potatoes

Dessert

Chocolate and Vanilla Wedding Cake

Q + A

Following the ceremony and reception, guests have free access to the arboretum all day.

Kiya & Nicholas

Kiya & Nicholas

Things to Do

The Morton Arboretum

The Art Institute of Chicago

Field Museum

Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Conservatory

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

Shedd Aquarium

Adler Planetarium

Maggie Daley Park

Architecture River Tour