Katie and Kevin

Katie & Kevin

From one match maker to another, Kevin Darling introduced his best girl friend Taylor to her now husband Pat. From there, Taylor introduced her beautiful cousin Katie Cowhey to Kevin.

Katie says, “Kevin went to St. Norbert College with my cousin Taylor and through the years I would hang out with my cousin and her college friends. We’ve known each other since 2013 and once we were at a point when we were both single, I reached out to him to see if he wanted to go to a Friends themed pop up bar (which I knew was his favorite show along with mine) and from there our friendship turned into a relationship right off the bat. We both got along as if we’ve been together forever and we knew then that we were each other’s “forever person.”

As expected, the two hit it off. After years of dating, the two went to Yellowstone National Park in October of 2020. It was a special time, as it was as the world began to open up amidst pandemic.

When asked about the special engagement, Katie says “He took me to hike around and we went to take pictures in front of a hot spring.”

Kevin then handed off his phone to a woman walking by with her husband to ask to take pictures.

“I was positioning myself in front of the spring and he whispered to her to ‘keep snapping’ and after 1 or 2 pictures he got down on one knee.” Luckily, the woman had an iPhone herself and was able to slip it into video mode to capture the moment live which Katie and Kevin can now cherish forever.

When it comes to choosing “the” dress, Katie was joined by her bridal party, mother and future mother-in-law.

She says she came in knowing herself and her own style. And she did. She tried on many dresses – ballgowns with beading, shimmery mermaids, and finally – where she felt her best – a fit and flare, silk crepe Justin Alexander Signature wedding gown.

“The moment Addie zipped me up and we both looked in the mirror, I felt flutters inside my stomach and saw the look on Addie’s face which confirmed that my dress was THE one.”

The dress shopping crew cheers’d and celebrated Katie finding her perfect dress.

Fast forward to December 4th, 2021, Katie is getting her hair and make up done, and lastly – the pièce de ré·sis·tance – slipping on and buttoning up her wedding gown.

It was then time to make her way over with her bridal party to “Our Lady of Wayside Church” in Arlington Heights – where Kevin’s parents were married 32 years prior.

The party began once the couple, their party, and their guests arrived at Gaelic Park in Oak Forest, and ode to both families’ Irish heritage.
“My favorite part of the wedding was when the DJ opened up the dance floor and Santa came to surprise everyone to Bruce Springsteen‘s “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town”. In that moment, I felt everyone relive a little bit of their childhood with the magic of Santa and the look of happiness in everyone’s faces.”
A tidbit of sentimental info?

“We are a split home of Packers vs. Bears fans which keeps us busy during football season. We are expecting our first baby, a baby girl, and our biggest dilemma is who she is going to cheer for. Myself being a Bears fan is pushing for her hometown of Chicago but Kevin being a Packers fan wants her to root for green and gold while Rodgers is still playing.”

The couple welcomed their first baby girl on September 10th, 2022. What was once a match-making fantasy became a loving family of three.

Photography: Captured by Kelly