From Benet to Bali

By Lisa Arnett
April 2026 View more Better Together

Two high school sweethearts celebrate their longtime love

Back when they were students at Benet Academy in Lisle, Lauren Kelliher and Alex Senak were often guilty of disrupting their English class. “Alex would make me laugh so hard—it was impossible to keep it in,” she says. His excuse? “I remember Lauren having the best laugh in the world, so I always wanted to hear it, every hour of every day,” he says. Though they insisted they were just friends for some time, they eventually admitted there was a spark there and started dating.

After graduation, he headed off to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and she to the University of Missouri. “We like to say that we had two college experiences,” says Senak, who grew up in Glen Ellyn and now works as a crude oil scheduler for BP. “I would take Greyhound buses eight or nine hours from Champaign to St. Louis to Columbia to spend time with her and her friends, and then she would drive to U. of I., and I’d get to show her around my campus.”

In 2024, Senak masterminded a surprise reunion with three of their best friends from Benet—one traveling all the way from London—and proposed on the beach along the lakefront. “Though we had been together for 14 years at that point, I really didn’t see it coming,” says Kelliher, who grew up in Naperville and now works as a managing editor at White Deer Publishing.

They gathered with family and friends for a traditional Catholic ceremony on Oct. 11 at St. Petronille in Glen Ellyn, where Senak attended elementary school. “One of my favorite moments was during the sign of peace, we got to go down the line of my bridesmaids and his groomsmen and our parents and individually check in with everyone,” she says. At their reception at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, the bride’s two sisters and the groom’s two brothers gave a group speech, passing the mic from youngest to oldest. Chicago-based vocal trio Jersey Girls sang their first dance song, “How Sweet It Is” by James Taylor, and Senak and his mother surprised the crowd with a dance to “I’ll Be There for You” by the Rembrandts. “When I was a kid, anytime the Friends theme song would come on, we’d dance around the kitchen,” Senak says. “It was a lot of fun and a nice moment for my mom and me.” The couple honeymooned in Bali, with a stop to sightsee in Singapore first before enjoying a sunrise hike, jungle excursions, and plenty of relaxing on the beach.

Wedding Details

Venues
St. Petronille Catholic Church, Glen Ellyn; Cantigny Park, Wheaton

Bride’s attire
Wolsfelt’s Bridal, Aurora

Bride’s hair and makeup
The Bridal Beauty Team and Rare Bird Beauties, Chicago

Bridesmaids’ dresses
Azazie

Groom’s attire
Suit by Zeglio Custom Clothiers, Chicago

Groomsmen’s attire
Men’s Warehouse, Wheaton

Rings
Bryn Mawr Jewelry Co., Chicago

Invitations
Custom illustration by Telia Garner, Atlanta

Floral
Petal Station, Naperville

Dessert
Cake by DeEtta’s Bakery, Naperville

Entertainment
Jersey Girls, Chicago

Photography
Lin Brothers Studio, Chicago

Photos: Lin Brothers Studio