Adam Fields and Jamie Boeckmann celebrated their marriage in a traditional Clinton County way.
"Fried chicken and beer at the Legion," said Adam, of Breese. "A Clinton County wedding usually means a large reception. We've seen from between 600 and 800 people. They're usually at the Legion or the KC Hall and there's always fried chicken. People are disappointed if you don't have fried chicken."
Adam and Jamie invited about 500 to St. Augustine Catholic Church in Breese where they married at 1:30 p.m. June 6.Why June? "I wanted early summer," said Jamie, sitting on one of two chairs in the Breese home they recently bought, "Adam wanted fall. Early summer worked out best."Wedding party: Six bridesmaids, six groomsmen and five ushers. Jamie has two siblings; Adam has five.
About the couple: Adam, 27, is an estimator with Arthur J. Lager Monument Co. Jamie, 25, is marketing coordinator for Apex Physical Therapy in Highland. She has a degree in marketing from Illinois State University in Normal, He has an associate's degree in construction management from Southwestern Illinois College.
Parents: James and Eileen Boeckmann and Tom and Jan Hustedde, all of Breese. His father, Mark Fields, died in 1983.
How they met: They both attended All Saints Academy in Breese and Mater Dei High School and knew of each other. "I was watching my family home videos," said Jamie, a petite 5-foot-2. "He was in four of them."
On a February night in 2006, they were with mutual friends at Jimmy Ts, a Breese bar.
"I asked her out," said Adam. "I said, 'Why don't you give me your number?' I waited three days to call her. If you call before, it looks like you're too desperate. If I waited too long, I'm not interested enough."
"I was excited," said Jamie. "He's cute. I figured, if he calls, he calls. I'm not going to get too worked up."First date: Dinner at Popeye's in St. Rose. "It was Mardi Gras weekend," said Jamie. "We met up with friends. It made it easier for a first date."How Adam proposed: "I had some M&Ms made, half with 'Jamie' on them and half with 'Will you marry me?'" Before he proposed, we went out to eat with our parents. It was right before Christmas 2007. When we came back, I had her open a present. As soon as she could read the M&Ms, I dropped on one knee to propose."
"I guess I kind of knew it would be coming," said Jamie. "I had no idea it was going to happen that day. I made all the food for the party (that followed). I didn't know the party was for me."
Was it hard to find a dress? "She had the dress bought two weeks after I proposed," said Adam. "The middle of January we had everything booked. Then we didn't do anything for a year."
"We went to a bridal show in St. Louis," said Jamie. "Me and my mom and his mom and his two sisters. Your Special Day in Fairview was having a trunk show."
Wedding colors: Loden or dark green dresses, silver tuxes.
Bachelorette party: "Friends took me out to the Landing in St. Louis. To Big Bang (a piano bar) -- they bring you up on stage and stuff -- and Morgan Street. We stayed at the Drury Inn. It was a fun night out with the girls."
Bachelor party: Adam had two, a destination trip to the Colorado mountains ("It was as much fun on the road trip out there.") and a party at the park and then on to a few bars.Wedding favor: "At the wedding, we're giving away a tree sapling," said Adam. "A Norway, wood spruce from greenworldproject.com. I like plant stuff. ... They come in a little baggy. I stumbled on them in late April. Later on, we'll go to someone's house and we'll say, 'That's a tree from our wedding.'"
"We were going to do M&Ms," said Jamie. "(The trees) were right up his alley. He's been helping all through it, especially keeping me on track."
They hope guests will like the trees -- and take them home.
"We don't have room to plant 50 extra trees," said Adam.
Music: Live band called Fast Lane. They're guys about our age we have heard playing. We are the first wedding they are doing."Best advice: "Make sure on our wedding day you stop and enjoy it," said Jamie. "Don't let it fly by."
His good qualities: "He has a really good sense of humor. He's level-headed and organized."
Her good qualities: "Have you noticed? It's easy to look at her. She's laid back. She calms me down a lot." Honeymoon: They considered Mexico and the Dominican Republic, but went with Jamaica's Sandals resort in Negril. "We decided to go to a travel agent," said Adam. "It's one less thing to worry about. I've never been out of the country."Where they'll live: On a quiet Breese cul-de-sac. Their 8-year-old house is light brick and siding with green shutters. Adam tends a bonsai garden on the patio alongside a new patio table and chairs, a gift from the wedding party.
Inside, Sammy, their one-eyed cat races around the house. Lucy, their black Lab-golden retriever-boxer mix, watches the action.
Adam had a 900-square-foot "starter" home before they found their 2,500-square-foot ranch.
"We were looking to buy or build when the market was down," said Adam. "Then it got too close to the wedding. We stumbled across this one. It was out of our price range. We threw a number at them and they accepted. We closed on May 8. Four days after we moved in, the sewer backed up in the basement."
Big purchase: On Memorial Day, they bought a seven-piece bedroom set, a couch and a dining room table. Till the furniture was delivered, Adam called their place a two-seater because all they had were kitchen chairs.Shared interests: Sports, Cardinals baseball and family activities.
Something old: "A cake server from my mom," said Adam. "It was one my dad and her used when they married. Dad died in '83. Our names are engraved beneath theirs."
Something new: "I got an afghan from my grandma (Estella Hollenkamp),"said Jamie. "She made afghans for all the grandkids for their wedding showers and quilts for the wedding. She died a couple years ago."
But her gifts will be treasured for years to come.
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