Castle-Like Vibes

By Lisa Arnett
March 2025 View more Better Together

A Darien couple marries at the historic Haley Mansion

Naperville native Katie Gordon wasn’t so sure about dating apps, but as a senior at North Central College in downtown Naperville in 2019, she decided to give Bumble a try. It wasn’t long before she connected with Kyle Yaeger, who grew up in Lockport and Homer Glen. “I was very apprehensive about it, so I literally didn’t go out on a single date besides with Kyle,” Gordon says.

That one date was all it took to spark a lasting connection. Dinner at now-closed Naperville restaurant Ted’s Montana Grill turned into a four-hour-long conversation. “I was very impressed by him,” Gordon says. “He was so sweet, and he has a huge family, and the whole time he talked about all of his siblings and nieces and nephews. I was just enamored by that,” she says. Yaeger was equally charmed by Gordon. “She was so easy to talk to, and the time just flew by,” he says. “She is super selfless and puts literally everybody before herself.”

They started dating exclusively shortly after and moved in together in 2021. In late 2022, Yaeger planned to propose to Gordon on a trip to Savannah, Georgia. When Hurricane Nicole forced him to cancel, he pivoted and planned a last-minute weekend in Galena instead. “It’s since become our favorite place, and we go at least once a year,” Gordon says.

Finding a wedding venue big enough to accommodate their guest list of 300-plus was a tall order, but they quickly settled on the Haley Mansion in Joliet—an 1890s estate with castle-like vibes—for their celebration last August. “It was just so beautiful, and the outdoor space where we wanted to get married was perfect,” Gordon says. “We were blown away from the start.”

Gordon and Yaeger are members of Good Shepherd Church in Naperville, and they asked the church’s creative arts executive minister, Ryan Hammer, to officiate their ceremony. “He’s actually the son of my first-grade teacher at Graham [Elementary School in Naperville],” Gordon says. “One thing we loved is that instead of facing the crowd, he actually stepped down into the audience and stood in front of us while he was speaking—then our parents could see our faces the whole time.”

Their first dance to “Better Together” by Jack Johnson was followed by father-daughter and mother-son dances. “Then I did a surprise dance with my mom to honor her,” Gordon says. “Growing up, I loved Taylor Swift, and we went to concerts together from sixth grade on. So we danced to ‘The Best Day,’ and it was really sweet—she had no idea!”

They now live in Darien with their Australian cattle dog mix, Ryder, and are looking forward to a delayed honeymoon in Hawaii to visit Pearl Harbor in Honolulu and relax on the beach in Maui.

Wedding Details

Venue and catering
The Haley Mansion, Joliet

Wedding planner
Kelsy Granby of Without a Hitch Event Decor Co.

Bride’s attire and accessories
Maggie Sottero gown from The Crystal Bride, Geneva; bracelet by Cartier; Badgley Mischka shoes

Bridesmaids’ attire
Birdy Grey

Hair and makeup
Ross Brides and Jenna Kantsedal

Groom’s and groomsmen’s attire
Emanuele Tuxedo, Elmhurst

Florals
Florals by Steen, Homer Glen

Cake
Fiene’s Bakery, Naperville

Rings
Kelly Jacobson Studios, Naperville

Transportation
Naperville Limousine, Naperville

Entertainment
Amata Strings and Moving N Grooving DJs

Photography
Eight Hands Photography, Mokena

Katie GordonPhotos: Eight Hands Photography