First Love, Again

By
August 2024 View more

These high school sweethearts married in a spring wedding in Naperville

Bianca Gonzalez and Matthew Perez

While volunteering for an open house for prospective students at St. Charles North High School, sophomore Bianca Gonzalez and senior Matthew Perez found themselves talking to each other more than anyone else. “There was just something about him—it was a natural attraction. He was so kind and so genuine,” says Gonzalez, 27, now a human resources manager at Reyes Holdings in Rosemont. Perez, on the other hand, couldn’t believe this bubbly, outgoing beauty was interested in him. “I thought it was a joke that she would even talk to me,” remembers Perez, 29, a project manager at Escarpita Construction in Franklin Park. “I’m not an extrovert by any means, but with her, I couldn’t stop talking with her that whole night.”

Though these high school sweethearts went their separate ways after graduation, they reconnected years later, focusing first on their friendship and then rekindling their romance in 2018. In 2022, Perez surprised Gonzelez with a proposal during a family photo shoot at Abbey Farms in Aurora. “The photographer asked us if we had any other poses we wanted to do, and Matthew said, ‘Hold on, I have one more pose.’ And that’s when he dropped to a knee,” Gonzalez says.

For their April 27 wedding, they primped at Hotel Indigo and then strolled out to the Naperville Riverwalk, where tulips and flowering trees were in full bloom, for their first-look portraits. They then headed to the Crawford in Naperville, where Samuel Cardoso, a family friend and pastor from the bride’s church, Downers Grove Seventh-day Adventist, married them in a short but sweet ceremony. Before the reception began, they stole away to the bridal suite to cut their cake and savor their first minutes of marriage, just the two of them. “We had that time to ourselves to have our private moment, and that was so beautiful to me,” Perez says.

For their first dance song, they chose “Until I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez, which they felt aptly captured their story of falling for a first love all over again. Their guests enjoyed playing pool in the billiards room, posing in a digital photo booth, and grazing from dining stations featuring custom pasta dishes, carved meats, and bananas foster flambéed to order.

Both avid Formula 1 fans, the bride and groom agreed it was worth delaying their honeymoon until May 2025 to see the F1 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Spain.

Wedding Details

Venue
The Crawford, Naperville

Bride’s and bridesmaids’ attire
Essense of Australia gown and Sorella Vita dresses from the Crystal Bride, Geneva

The bride's shoes

Rings
Brilliant Earth, Chicago

Bride’s hair & makeup
Patty McGuire Hair & Makeup Artists, Aurora

Groom’s and groomsmen’s attire
Men’s Wearhouse, Wheaton

Catering
Noteable Events, Lombard

Dessert
Heart-shaped cake from Area 51, Naperville; sheet cakes from Costco; sweets station from Noteable Events

Florals
Head table arrangements, bouquets, and boutonnieres by Catherine’s Gardens, Oak Forest; ceremony and reception arrangements by Lisa Wesley, aunt of the groom

A table decorated with wedding flowers and wedding decorations

Entertainment
DJ and emcee by Nicky Avalo Studios, Westchester

Videographer
Heliaster Morais, Chicago

Photography
Karly Ellis Photography, Chicago

 

Photos: Karly Ellis Photography