Going the Distance

By Lisa Arnett
October 2025 View more Better Together

Guests traveled from all over the world to celebrate this couple

Newlyweds Jamie Hennessey and Mauricio Robles have some advice for singles on the dating apps: Don’t be stingy with your distance settings. They happened to connect on Hinge in 2021 while Hennessey was living in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood and Robles was living in Ottawa, Illinois. “I don’t know how far my distance was set, but for whatever reason it must have been far enough because we were a two-hour drive away,” says Hennessey, who grew up in Naperville and now works as an account manager for Cintas in Romeoville. “Right away he was like, ‘Hey, I’d love to meet you.’ ”

Robles drove to Chicago so they could meet for afternoon coffee. The conversation was flowing so well that they lingered in a park afterward and then decided to go out for an early dinner together. “I remember paying for my parking spot for three hours thinking, ‘This should be more than enough,’ ” says Robles, who is originally from Monterrey, Mexico, and works as human resources manager for Devanco Foods in Carol Stream. “Well, we had such a great time and ended up spending like five hours together. I ended up getting a parking ticket—and I’ve still kept it to this day.”

They had been dating for two years when Robles planned a surprise proposal on a trip to Hawaii in 2023. Because they discussed getting engaged when Robles finished his MBA program in 2024, Hennessey was truly shocked when he pulled a ring box out of his pocket while they were watching the sunrise on the beach. “I had no idea,” she says. “We had never looked at rings, but he did know that I wanted to be surprised.” The surprises continued at dinner that evening when they were joined by Hennessey’s parents and sister as well as Robles’s mother and brother. “My mom was so funny because she was like, ‘Can you believe I haven’t told anybody?’ ” she says.

At their April 24, 2025, wedding at Mesón Sabika in Naperville, they were surrounded by friends and family who traveled from Mexico, Canada, France, Sweden, and New Zealand to spend the day with them. “I remember seeing everybody and feeling so grateful to have them there to support us,” Robles says. His longtime friend Isaac, who is a pastor in Mississippi, officiated their ceremony, which included the couple’s own vows. “I had always dreamed of my wedding day, but I dreamt about the things: The shoes, the limousine picking me up,” Hennessey says. “Those aren’t the things I dream about anymore. I value the comfort and feeling of home I have in our relationship. My life is so much more now.”

Second only to watching Hennessey walk down the aisle, one of Robles’s favorite parts of their wedding day was a mariachi performance during the cocktail hour. “It was such an amazing time,” he says. “My dad and his siblings, my aunts, they are such good singers and they were out there singing with the mariachi and requesting songs and just enjoying the live music.”

In August, they honeymooned in Budapest and a number of cities in Greece. “My cousin is in his last year in the European Football League so we [went] to see him play in Budapest,” she says.

Wedding Details

Venue and catering
Mesón Sabika, Naperville

Wedding planner
Amy Harloe of Happily Ever After by Amy, Naperville

Bride’s attire
Gown from Wolsfelt’s Bridal, Aurora; party dress from Crystal Bride, Geneva

Bride’s accessories
Badgley Mischka heels from Nordstrom, pearl earrings by Tiffany

Bridesmaids’ attire
Jennie Yoo, Chicago

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

Invitations
Kelly Reif Stationery Studio, Naperville

Florals
Floral Events, Naperville

Dessert
Cake from DeEtta’s Bakery, Naperville; strolling cannoli vendor from Paradise Bakery, Chicago

Photographer
Rachael Watson Photography, Batavia

Entertainment
Ceremony music by Fretless Music, Westchester; cocktail hour music by Mariachi Real de Jalisco; reception DJ from Dream House Productions, Chicago; photo booth from Shutterbooth, Chicago

Photos: Rachael Watson Photography @rachaelwatsonphotography