MEMORABLE WEDDINGS - Dana & Bobby
The city of Houston is the backdrop for a romantic moment at the reception venue.
Text by Melanie Saxton Photos by Christine Meeker
Dana Ann DiVito and Robert Benjamin “Bobby” Bobeck met on the job during their college years and eventually dated long distance.
Dana attended Clements High and joined the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority at University of Oklahoma, where she graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in history. She works in operating room integration and capital equipment sales at STERIS corporation.
Bobby attended Alief Hastings High and graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor of science degree in business. He’s an account manager and senior buyer at Houston Oilfield Equipment.
A surprise engagement in Australia was followed by a stunning wedding at St. Laurence Catholic Church in Sugar Land and a reception at The Astorian in The Heights on September 9, 2017.
Courtship
In August 2008, Dana began working at Pappasito’s Cantina in Sugar Land. Bobby was working as a bartender while going to UH, and Dana was waitressing during a year off before starting college.
Dana enrolled at the University of Oklahoma and returned home for summer break, and continued working part-time at Pappasito’s. Bobby’s stepbrother was getting married, and Bobby, who had recently become single, was in need of a plus one. He took a chance and asked Dana if she’d join him. They had a great time, and Dana even caught the bouquet.
That summer they continued to casually date before Dana headed back to school in the fall. She invited Bobby to spend a weekend with her in Norman for a Sooners football game. They decided to make it official the following semester and continued dating long-distance until Dana’s graduation. She moved back to Houston and to the love of her life, Bobby.
Proposal
In November 2016, the couple traveled to Australia and New Zealand for a vacation over the Thanksgiving holiday. They flew into Sydney and stayed in a hostel. Dana couldn’t understand why Bobby didn’t feel comfortable leaving his backpack in the community storeroom. Little did she know he had her engagement ring hidden in a pair of dress socks!
After three jam-packed days, they continued to Perth. Dana grabbed the suntan lotion out of Bobby’s backpack and saw the dress socks, wondering why in the world he took them on vacation. Bobby panicked and thought he was caught. However, Dana was clueless.
On day two in Perth, they took an overnight trip to Rottnest Island, or Rotto Island as the locals call it, about 21 miles off the coast. They spent the day snorkeling, biking, hiking and taking selfies with the happiest marsupials in the world — the quokkas. That evening they went on a bike ride to a lighthouse, and as Dana took pictures of sea gulls in the distance, Bobby dropped to one knee, holding a box. Of course, she said YES.
They celebrated at the local bar that night and announced their engagement to family and friends the following morning.
Engagement
They had less than a year to plan their wedding. Registries, food and cake tastings, and bridal showers ensued. Hurricane Harvey hit Houston two weeks before the wedding day. Dana raced to Pearland the day Harvey hit to pick up her wedding programs and dinner menus. Her bridal portraits were rescheduled due to flooding, and some of the guests’ car reservations were cancelled because people in Houston desperately needed cars. Their honeymoon had to be rescheduled due to Hurricane Irma making landfall in Florida the day of the wedding.
Dana’s mother and Aunt Kathy had tracked down three sixpence pieces and presented them the night before the wedding to tuck into Dana’s wedding shoes and Bobby’s front pocket as a special memento. One was from 1915 — the year Dana’s great-grandmother Helen Keefe was born, one was from 1928 — the year Dana’s grandfathers, Joseph Capitan and Anthony DiVito, were born, and finally 1933 — the year Bobby’s maternal grandfather David Carpenter was born.
The Wedding
The couple’s traditional Catholic wedding was themed “You are my greatest adventure in life!” due to their love of travel.
Floral and Décor:Two large floral arrangements of orange snapdragons, green bells of Ireland, James Storey orchids, red and green antique hydrangea, wheat, bittersweet, jasmine vines, privet and orange hypericum berry graced the the altar. Pews were adorned with wheat and roses (symbols of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority), and green antique hydrangea. Wheat also appeared in the groom’s boutonniere and the bride’s bouquet to symbolize “strength together.”
The Wedding Party: Deacon Dennis Henderson served as officiant. In attendance were parents of the bride, Christine Capitan and Hector John DiVito, and parents of the groom, Jana Kahlich and Walter Bobeck II.
Maid of honor Amanda Suzan Dortch stood with bridesmaids Michelle Alexander, Yasi Ettefagh Micek, Cori Leigh Reese, Claire Elizabeth Tilton and Kara Nicole Goldstein. Aislynn Isabella Kator was junior bridesmaid.
Best man Michael Stein stood with groomsmen Robert Revenaugh, Austin Azinger, Travis Bielert, Ronald Sipps and Tamer Tannos. Mason Kator and Quinn Kator served as ring bearers.
Attire:The bride carried her grandmother’s rosary beads (her “something old”) and wore a long-sleeve Chantilly lace Monique Lhuillier gown with a keyhole back and a floor-length horse hair-lined tulle layered skirt and train. The bodice, sleeves and skirt were beaded with clear and iridescent beads and a blush ribbon belt with stones tied at the waist. A custom Sarah Gabriel Chantilly lace cathedral veil with blusher, Sarah Gabriel earrings (her “something new”), her mother’s opal and diamond ring (her birthstone and her “something borrowed”) and Manolo Blahnik Hangisi satin pumps (her “something blue”) completed the ensemble.
Bridesmaids wore Bill Levkoff cherry red floor-length dresses with various bodices. The groom wore a Combatant Gentleman tuxedo with a steel grey tie, initialized cufflinks and dress shoes. Groomsmen, ushers and the fathers of the couple wore the same tuxedos. Groomsmen wore red ties to match the bridesmaid dresses and were gifted initialized cufflinks. The fathers wore steele grey ties to match the groom and initialized cufflinks. The bride gifted both fathers tie clips engraved with “Daddy, I loved you first,” and “Thank you for raising the man of my dreams.”
Top Wedding Moments: The bride’s father walked her down the aisle to the Bridal Chorusby Wagner and became emotional just before the doors opened. At the end of the aisle, he hugged the groom as he gave his daughter away. The couple exchanged traditional vows, a first and second kiss, and were introduced before making their way back down the aisle.
The Reception
The travel theme flowed into the elegant cocktail hour and formal dinner at the 1920s Art Deco-inspired venue with exposed brick, dark wood floors and Edison bulbs.
Floral and Décor:Antique airplanes, motorcycles, bicycles, mini-globes and mini-travel trunks were featured on tabletops. Silver and gold mercury votives and tall candelabras lit up the space, with roses, eryngium, bells of Ireland, ivy, hypericum, seeded eucalyptus, hanging amaranthus and cascading greenery adding to the ambiance. Marquee “D&R” letters were displayed in front of the head table.
Tables showcased white linens, red napkins for a pop of color, table number holders with vintage postcards, antique table numbers and white plates edged in gold. Antique paper luggage tags were tied with brown yarn to vintage window shutters that the bride sanded and painted to serve as the seating chart.
What-A-Burger taquitos and honey butter chicken biscuits were served as late-night bites.
The Cakes:The five-tiered wedding cake comprised divine white with Amaretto buttercream filing, butter raspberry with raspberry torte filling and Italian cream with cream cheese filling. Frosted in buttercream, each layer had a different shape and design and featured gold, white, and red sugar flowers, topped by a traditional “Mr. and Mrs. Bobeck.”
The groom’s German chocolate Craftsman tool box cake was covered in colored fondant and Alief ISD, UH and Ford truck bumperstickers. Opened drawers revealed tools and a Crown Royal bag.
Top Reception Moments:The couple’s first dance was to I Won’t Give Upby Jason Mraz. Father and daughter danced to If We Hold on Togetherby Diana Ross. Mother and son danced to Rod Stewart’s Forever Young.
The Polish Bridal Dance ensued, with everyone surrounding the bride. The groom fought his way (no punches thrown) to get to the center of the circle. The bride’s family lifted him over the circle of people so he could carry her off the floor.
Dana’s Alpha Omicron Pi sorority sisters received a red rose boutonniere, and one brought the “loving cup” from the sorority house. The groom sat in the center as the bride and sorority sisters circled around, sang and passed the cup.
The Exit: Guests waved sparklers, and the Sugar Land Trolley whisked the newlyweds to their hotel.
The Honeymoon
The newlyweds enjoyed a glorious week at Sandals La Toc Resort in St. Lucia.
The maid of honor, junior bridesmaid and bridesmaids wear coordinating outfits as they strike a pose with their bride.
The bride’s lovely Monique Lhuillier wedding gown hangs on a custom “Mrs. Bobeck” hanger.
The bride is buttoned into her gown, with her maid of honor attending to the keyhole back of Chantilly lace.
Something Blue: the bride paired Manolo Blahnik Hangisi satin pumps, displayed amidst an arrangement of colorful flowers.
Bridesmaids sipped from glasses customized just for them as they prepared for the big day.
The couple’s “first touch” as they prepare to begin their lives together, themed in the sentiment of “You are my greatest adventure in life!”
The groomsmen reveal their festive grey and red socks, which coordinated with the wedding attire.
The groom reads a love note written by his bride before they exchange vows.
The bride reflects on a love note written by the groom.
An emotional father of the bride escorted his beautiful daughter to the altar to the Bridal Chorus by Wagner.
They did it! The joyous newlyweds make their way back down the aisle after exchanging vows at St. Laurence Catholic Church.
A wooden sign commemorated the event and welcomed guests to the wedding reception at the Astorian in The Heights.
Bridesmaids in their lovely cherry red Bill Levkoff floor-length dresses surround the bride.
The travel-themed reception included vintage bicycles, airplanes and luggage amidst the tabletop centerpieces.
The groom’s cleverly designed red Craftsman tool box cake was quite the hit.
The five-tiered cake frosted in buttercream was decorated with gold, white and red sugar flowers with a topper.
After their exit, Mr. and Mrs. Bobeck were whisked away to their hotel onboard the Sugar Land Trolley.
The bride with a posse of the groomsmen in their colorful red ties and black suspenders.
The mother of the groom dances with her son to one of her favorite songs, Forever Young by Rod Stewart.
Double the kisses! The bride is kissed on the cheek by her groom on one side and her father on the other.
The bride glows as her entourage admires the stunning floor-length skirt and train.
