The Barn at Fairview Acres

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

First Date

Abby: Mark and I matched on a dating app called bumble. We got to know each other very quickly since Mark was working from home and Abby just started a new job in Galesburg. Mark was duck hunting one of the first days and I remember thinking I'm glad this guy likes to be outdoors like my family. - that notoriously was one of the first and last times he has done that since.

Mark: Abby and I matched on Bumble which was nice because Bumble requires the gal to message the guy first. As you can see above, Abby had a great first line! I could tell instantly from our first conversations that she was special and someone I really wanted to get to know and meet.

Mark: Our first date was not a night out at a fancy restaurant, but an opportunity for Abby to get a good look into my life. I picked up tacos from BR's, met her at the McDonald's parking lot, then we got beers from the Roadhouse drive-thru and sat in the parking lot and ate. I realized that getting onions on my tacos was not the best idea. I also flossed my teeth in front of her after eating. But she was still down to drive to Maquon! She was hesitant when I showed her the pump house at the water tower, but the entire night she showed an interest in what I was talking about and as we drove back to her car I knew I wanted to see her again as soon as I could... Our second date was the next day!

Abby: Our first date we met after I got off work at the McDonalds parking lot in Knoxville and picked up to go tacos from BR's Place and a drive through beer from a bar (COVID). We ate them in the parking lot then Mark asked if I wanted to see Maquon. We went, ran into a few people and then he showed me how to check the water. He also had to mark a JULIE but it had snowed. I remember seeing this guy spray paint snow and think... hmmm. Little did I know that would be the beginning of my time as the unofficial first lady of Maquon. I love how much pride he has for Maquon and how many hours he works to make Maquon a better place for his favorite people.

Beginnings

Abby: I told myself that year I wasn't dating to marry, I was going to focus on myself and growing who I was so when I met Mark, I quickly said I can't date someone until 2022, but if you are still interested then, let's go on a date. When I moved into my house in Galesburg, Mark reached out to see if I needed any help with anything. I said no, the only thing I had left to do was bring in my garbage. He quickly said oh I can do that and was pulling into the driveway before I knew it.

Mark: After a couple months of talking every day and going out, Abby said she wanted to pause and focus on herself. I was very bummed, but held out hope as she said I could ask her out in January of 2022. We stayed in touch and I got to see her a couple more times that year, and finally in December when she was moved in to her house in Galesburg, our story got a new beginning. I did volunteer to take her trash out, and I have been doing it ever since.

Abby: Yes, yes it is all my fault we broke up. I knew Mark was more than just another date. He was certain, meaningful, kind, intentional, extremely loving and I just wasn't in the right place for that yet. It only lasted a week.

Mark: The day after meeting Abby's mom and step-dad, Abby said she was going to need another pause. I was devastated and felt emotions I never had before. Before this, we enjoyed playing Rummikub and Scrabble together. During this pause, we maintained our snap streak despite not talking much, but I had downloaded the Rummikub app and challenged her to a game to keep our spark alive. After a week or so, we got back together and the rest is history!

Abby: Dating Mark feels like being loved completely. He loves me at my worst, and my best. We have been through so many hours of deep talks to and from events and traveling, and after (almost) all of them, we come out with a better understanding of our thoughts and feelings. We have meshed friend groups in the hours spent in Fulton County/Marshall County, visiting Chicago, golfing, and countless other activities.

Mark: Abby and I, like every couple, had our ups and downs. We had good days, great days, and bad days. But we both saw the potential in each other to fight for what we had, work on ourselves, and be together. We continued to grow closer and closer, while meeting more of each other's friends and family. We were on the road to forever. We started looking at rings and discussing our life together and I finally pulled the trigger on her ring. Though I held on to it longer than I should've, I had no doubts that I would propose to her, and I wanted the proposal to be perfect. With the help of Taylor and Emma, I was able to surprise Abby with a proposal on a Wednesday night in July and then another surprise of having some of our close friends and family waiting for us at Abby's house following the proposal.

Engagement 

Abby: I had been sending Mark all the ideas and the Pinterest board from day one. I knew he would do well but I am a planner so I couldn’t help but to snoop and try to smell it out. I remember my friend Keri was having lunch with me on a Monday and I said “Mark just randomly said he has something for me to do on Wednesday for my birthday… it’s July and my bday isn’t until November. Hmmm all day on Wednesday I was going back and forth if it was engagement or just a photoshoot. Finally, when we were walking down the path at Lake Storey, candles surrounding a silly candle with “love” on it. I looked at Mark and said “is this for us” and he looked at me and didn’t say anything- I knew. I couldn’t remember what he said but I remember how I felt. I didn’t want the moment to end. Then when I opened my eyes I saw Taylor (Mark's groomsman) peeking from behind the tree. Him and his wife Emma (bridesmaid) captured it all. Then we went back to the house and Mark had invited some of our favorites to celebrate together. BALLFEST. Then he comes out with multicolored cupcakes. Our engagement was nothing that I sent him and better than I could have imagined. I’m extremely lucky and feel so grateful.

Mark: Since we got engaged, we have been in full wedding planning mode. Abby has taken the lead, as she has helped plan dozens of weddings already, and I have offered input here and there. It has been exciting to discuss our special day and I love to see the joy in Abby as she talks about it, shows me different ideas, and when a decision gets made. We are both very excited for you to be at our wedding and celebrate with us!

Photo: To be known is to be seen… Sara (Abby’s So Chic Boss) had a meeting with Mark and Abby to pick out their wedding invites. When they had made their decision, she said “wait here I have something for you.” She came back with this welcome sign. A few days before the meeting she had a piece of signage left over and made this sign, thinking that it was very much in their colors. Abby and Mark picked out the exact flowers/colors font. ♥️

Abby: wedding planning is in my blood. I’ve been planning weddings and events for a long time, 7 years at the wonderful So Chic. At every wedding, beside my boss, Sara, we would talk about the speeches, flowers, the details and I would imagine that one day this would be my day. All the planning and colors fell into place. Mark and I have talked about what was the top three most important things at our wedding and aligned our decisions in that way. 1. We want our people to be there. 2. We want to be stress free on that day so we want a great photographer and videographer 3. We want to dance the night away. We can’t wait to celebrate accordingly and are so lucky to have people to celebrate the beginning of our lives together as a family.

Our Story

Photos

Abby's best friend since they found out they weren't the only Abbieys in the newly consolidated 3rd grade.  Abbie was the one next to Abby in volleyball and in the cheer section during cheer season. They spent many summers in CO and WY and went off to BU. Abbie now lives in SC but is only a phone call away. 

Abbie Smith

Abby's little sister, and honorary MOH. She is the mom of Cooper (Ring Bearer) & Maizy (Flower Girl). Isabelle and Abby shared a room until Abby went to High School. They either wanted their day beds pulled as close as they could be together or put a piece of tape down their room as a DO NOT CROSS line. Their relationship hasn't changed. They do have a mutual love of sewing/quilting, spending time at the cabin in Wisconsin and trying anything crafty.

Isabelle Colvin

Abby's friend since her first day on Bradley's campus for the Fellows Program. Athena and Abby went on to be in the same Sorority (Sigma Kappa Beta Nu) and forever friends. They share countless memories of Abby's trips to Chicago to see her "Chicago friend" and Athena in Peoria/Galesburg. 

Athena Pylorinos

Abby's friend since her first week of work at KCAP. Tessa worked at Experience Galesburg and Abby at the Economic Dev. Partnership. Quick friends and quick co-chairs of the Young Professionals Network and support each other through multiple after hours opportunities. Abby was also a bridesmaid in Tessa's wedding this Spring in Wilmington! They are truly each other's yin and yang.

Tessa Jones

Abby's friend since Fa La Holiday Party 2021 - A holiday party for the young professionals network which has been a constant in Mark and Abby's relationship. Keri is a constant friend that's birthday is only a few days away from Abby's. Keri and Abby grab lunch or take on a Marshalls trip multiple times a month. Keri is someone that Abby can talk to anything about for hours. 

Keri Dodson

Abby's 2nd favorite Cracker Barrel date. Emma, Taylor, Mark and Abby have spent many nights at Cracker barrel (Mark's favorite restaurant). Emma and Taylor also let Abby help coordinate their wedding. Emma is kind, sweet and probably the funniest one in the group message. Emma is a lover of all things cozy, notebooks and giving gifts (just like Abby). Abby and Mark are so lucky to have a double date duo like them. 

Emma Nelson

Being from Maquon, Ethan and Mark have known each other most their lives, but grew closer together in high school. From late Call Of Duty nights, to golfing for famous bowls (where Mark usually won), to Ethan's moves around the Midwest, and cheering on the Cubs (despite attending 2 Playoff losses), they have grown to be the best of friends.

Ethan Boyer            

Taylor and Mark became close friends while dominating the high school golf scene, and have remained very close ever since. Taylor helped Mark navigate through Blo/No during college and now you can find them going to auctions or antiquing together, and maybe one day you can listen to them on their podcast that they have yet to (and may never) start.

Taylor Negley

Of the 5 Thomas brothers, Ryne and Mark have lived under the same roof longer than the rest. Through Ryne's love of WWE, Mark and Ryne have been able to bond over wrestling most of their lives - despite rarely agreeing on who should win each match. In Nov. 2023 Mark and Ryne took Abby to her first WWE event!

Ryne Thomas

Ever since Adam and Mark were babysat together, Mark has basically been an unofficial member of the Bybee family. Adam and Mark spent almost every day together in the summers growing up playing video games, sports in the backyard, and wrestling on the trampoline. After many years and family vacations later, Mark and Adam remain very close friends.

Adam Bybee

Despite Mark being the better athlete, Beriah and him have been very close friends since kindergarten. Mark helped Beriah become YouTube "famous" with an epic trick shots video around school and Beriah helped Mark become a true outdoorsman while goose hunting. They are a dynamic duo with a karaoke machine and have enjoyed many Sunday Fundays together with great food and friends.

Beriah Quick

With Blake being a few years older in school, him and Mark's friendship has developed and grown over the last decade, with the rest of the Sunday Funday crew. Thanks to some great memories from the Missouri ogre, to the Ricky Stenhouse wreck, to Mark's (rare) horrible golf at WIU - Blake and Mark remain very close friends.

Blake McConkey

Wedding Party

Q + A

This is the family friendly side of the hotel. This is where all of the double queen beds are and a great kid-friendly pool (for our ring bearers and flower girls!)Block closes October 20th!

FunCity Resort Hotel

This is a great 21+ option with no kids allowed. These rooms are one king bed only.Block closes October 20th!

Catfish Bend Inn & Spa

Travel

Such a great place to stop on your way in Friday! Mark and Abby love to go there for special occasions. They have great service and a great drink selection. More of a fancy feel. 

Dinner At Patton Block

One of the best coffee/drink spots in Galesburg. Abby knows the owners and employees very well and you can always count on this place to leave you happy and loving a new drink. Mark likes anything on the monthly menu and Abby likes the spicy chai with cinnamon. 

Orange Cup Side Hustle 

The breakfast buffet is our favorite. Make the trip to visit Maquon, where Mark is the Mayor, if you are from out of town or swing by to celebrate if you live close. 

Abby & Mark

Abby & Mark

Travel

FunCity Resort Hotel

Catfish Bend Inn & Spa