by Kristen Kucharski
INTRODUCING ASHLEY AND NIK RUZAS OF NAPERVILLE & TINLEY PARK
According to Daphne Rose Kingma, beloved therapist; relationship expert; and author of a dozen books about love, relationships, and living through crisis, “weddings remind us that our lives have meaning and that love is the strongest bond, the happiest joy, and the loveliest healing we can ever experience”; hence, why Silver Cross Hospital Nurse, Ashley Wightkin (26) of Naperville and Glazer, Nik Ruzas (29) of Tinley Park just couldn’t wait another full year to formally bind their commitment when their wedding was postponed due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The couple had originally planned a ceremony officiated by Ashley’s Godfather, Steve Wightkin with seven bridesmaids, fourteen groomsmen; a reception at the Fishermans Inn in Elburn, a cake from DeEtta’s in Naperville, flowers from Busy B’s, and a DJ from Music Mania in Naperville. They had plans to honeymoon in Mexico and live happily ever after in Tinley Park.
Plan A turned to Plan B and then unexpectedly converted to Plan C when the virus hit the groom personally. The original big wedding scheduled for August 7, 2020 metamorphosed into a small wedding on August 8, 2020, and subsequently switched to a quaint backyard wedding on August 22, 2020 after his 14-day quarantine.
As Albert Ellis would say, “The art of love is largely the art of persistence;” and so the Mother of the Bride, Kim Wightkin of Naperville transformed into a wedding planner and did everything from building the arch, arranging the flowers, and making the cake; while the bride’s youngest sister, Emma (18) became the photographer; and her youngest brother, Jack (20) functioned as the DJ. The couple’s rescue dogs Mya (Dog of Honor) and Mac (served as Best Dog) excitedly formed the wedding party.
“Everything came together exactly as planned,” Kim shares. “Including the amazing weather.”
Nothing can stop true love and the couple looks forward to their honeymoon this month in Rivera Maya, Mexico as well as their dream wedding on July 9, 2021.
