Jo & Tim
are getting married!
Sunday, February 18, 2024
The wedding of
Johamary Peña and Timothy Karl Swast
will be on
Sunday, February 18, 2024
at Starved Rock, Illinois.
The wedding of
Johamary Peña and Timothy Karl Swast
will be on
Sunday, February 18, 2024
at Starved Rock, Illinois.
It was a cold January day when Tim and Jo matched on Coffee Meets Bagel, a dating app. Tim asked Jo about growing a balcony garden; Jo asked Tim about his Amtrak travel (for everyone who's heard this story before, we'd forgotten about the sequence until we checked the chat for this story!). After connecting over their appreciation for Amtrak travel, Jo asked Tim to coffee.
They met at Collectivo, a cute coffee shop in Lincoln Park. Jo's first impression of Tim was, "Wow, look at that tall man." Tim's first impression of Jo was that she was sweet and a great conversationalist. They walked away from that experience open to meeting for a second time. And a third time. And a fourth time...
Over the next several weeks, Tim and Jo explored Chicago. They enjoyed each other's company over pizza, french fries, and of course, ice cream. They had many long conversations, often during long walks around the city.
Tim asked Jo if she wanted to be a couple in February—she responded by asking for more time. In March, Jo answered by taking Tim on a photographic scavenger hunt around the city that ended with her asking him to be her person. He said yes!
What followed next was a whirlwind of adventures. They met each other's families and friends, traveled from coast to coast (like a tour—The Tim and Jo Tour of 2022), and continued learning about each other's values, goals, and needs. Jo fancied Tim's thoughtful and prepared approach to life, while Tim admired Jo's creativity and consciencious demeanor.
Together, they've danced salsa, grown beets from a balcony, and riden tadem bicycles (for a more detailed account of their adventures, see Tim's newsletter). They began to dream of a future where they continue to learn together.
Tim asked Jo to marry him on a beautiful sunny day in January. She said yes! And now, they're preparing for the part of their story where they get to celebrate their love with friends and family.
Our story is better with you. Join us as we tie the knot and kick off the next chapter to our story! #sweñaconmigo #dreamwithme
Starved Rock Lodge
One Lodge Ln.
Oglesby, IL 61348
Starved Rock is a state park about a 2 hour drive southwest of downtown Chicago. There are few transit connections, so if you're flying in we recommend renting a car. Contact Jo & Tim if you need to coordinate a ride from the airport.
Rooms are available at Starved Rock Lodge under our hotel block.
Rooms may be available at market rate. Nearby hotels:
Be in a seat by 4:45 pm.
Jo and Tim are getting married in a bilingual self-uniting (Quaker) ceremony. This tradition does not involve an officiant. After a moment of silent reflection, Jo and Tim recite their vows to each other. Then, friends and family are invited to take turns sharing a message of love and support with the couple. Once the message sharing is complete, everyone signs the marriage certificate.
After about 45 minutes, those who have more messages to share can leave a message in our audio guestbook phonebooth.
How to prepare:
Guests of all ages are welcome to participate—we would be thrilled for your little ones to share their thoughts!
Reception to follow.
Please dress however you are comfortable and remember layers. We encourage you to check the weather in Oglesby, IL, USA as you pack.
Your presence at our wedding is the best present. In lieu of wedding gifts, we encourage you to consider donation to Nourishing Hope, a local nonprofit working toward a hunger-free Chicago. However, for friends and family who have expressed interest, we have created a gift registry for convenience at The Knot.
