Corcoran's Grill & Pub

NYE Kickoff Bash

Club Lucky

Welcome Party

Stan Mansion

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Hook and Ladder

After Party

Homeslice

Hungover Brunch

Our Wedding

Halloween. 2021. Midnight. It was a dark and stormy night. Or it wasn't. Unlike most stories involving the work schedule of our heroine, our brave Brazilian flight attendant, the weather has no bearing on this tale. What does bear, what proves critical to the misadventures Jacqueline Barbosa de Sa would soon endure, is that she was given the night off, and, with this newfound freedom, on the scariest night of the year, with the scariest of intentions in mind, Jackie, dressed in her scariest Rosie the Riveter costume, and with her scariest friends in tow (shoutout Luana!), decided to go to the scariest bar they could find: Haligan's. Some hours before Jackie made this fateful choice, the sinister slob of Lincoln Park, Pete Higgins, was making his own choice: whether to put minimum effort into a Halloween costume or wear a normal shirt. He opted for the minimum effort, threw on a Bears sweater, shaved a mustache, stuffed a cigar in his mouth, and went out as Bob Dobrowski (aka himself). That he would go to Haligan had already been determined -- days, weeks, months ago; during this time Pete was going to Hal's all the time (and it was a football Saturday, so, duh). He headed over in the late afternoon, eschewing dinner and opting for trail mix instead, then met his former roommates (future security guards) Taylor and Steve at the bar. What, exactly, occurred over the next few hours has been lost to time and mystery. Whether Pete, Taylor, and Steve had any fun at the bar, or even spoke more than 10 words to each other, is unknown. What went so wrong in Jackie's life that she ended up at a sports bar with sticky floors and cheap Coors Light is similarly forgotten (or edited out for brevity). What is known, what does matter to our tale, is what happened when Jackie stepped foot inside Haligan and saw Pete sitting at the end of the bar, staring at the TV and shoveling trail mix in his mouth. "Who is that handsome devil in the cool Bears sweater guzzling beers like a hero? And why is he eating so much trail mix without chewing any of it? I better go find out," Jackie thought as she made her way towards a semi-buzzed Pete. But one of Jackie's friends felt similar consternation/adoration at the site of an Alpha Male like Pete, and she beat Jackie to him. "Oh well," Jackie thought, "I'm sure some other guy has trail mix here." And she faded into the dark corners of Haligan. But not for long! Within minutes Jackie's friend found her and tugged her elbow. "You better go talk to that guy," she said. "I'm trying to talk to him but he just keeps asking questions about you." Jackie shrugged her shoulders. "OK," she said, nonchalantly, trying to hide the joy bursting inside her. "I'll see what he wants." She approached Pete confidently, as she was then oblivious to the fact that she was actually approaching the beginning of the rest of her life. "Hi," she started. "Do you know who I am?" She gave him a dead-on Rosie the Riveter pose. Pete was instantly smitten by the beautiful Brazilian babe before him. Her dark eyes lit up the room, her tenuous smile dulled his gambling losses, her accent enchanted him. "Rosie the Riveter," he slurred, absolutely nailing his guess in one take. "Why do you have trail mix at a bar?" Jackie wanted to get right to the point. "Do you see a menu? They don't have food. I'm hungry. You want some? It's delicious, and healthy." "It's not healthy," Jackie said to Pete for the very first time, unaware she would repeat this very same line to him multiple times a week for the next four years and beyond. But she did want some, so she reached into his sack of trail mix and pulled out an almond. "Take more," Pete insisted, ever the gentleman. And so she did. And so it goes. And within hours Jackie was walking home with Pete as he directed her to pick up sticks for a fire he planned to make in his apartment. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Our Story

Photos

Bridal Party

My confident, rock and bff. If you ask me what is my earliest childhood memory and I'll tell you it's the day my sister Janine was born. I am what I am because of her. She is funny, loving, has the best energy in the room and gives the best hugs. Love you, Janine!

Janine Barbosa de Sa

Thankfully Eveline and I reconnected about three years ago and I'm so glad we did. She's one loyal friend, driven, fierce and has such a good laugh. She's one of the few people that I can really have deep conversations and I'm so glad we share that. Love ya!

Eveline Castro

Flávia and I met through a mutual friend and I'm so glad we met! She's been my friend for over 15 years and she's always down to do anything from exploring neighborhoods in the Chicago to meeting in London, Paris and Rio de Janeiro. She is one sweet, smart, badass gal and she makes the best sweets. Love ya, Fla!

Flávia Lélis

Julie is one of the most loving and joyful people out there! I'm so glad to have her in my life. She truly cares about people and has been the most authentic in cheering for Pete & I. Love you, Julie!

Julie Kelly

Que linda! I remember being so happy when Pete told me he had a sister. Leah is one of the most genuine, clever, creative, thoughtful, and one of the kindest people out I've met. She is genuinely curious about your life and how you are doing. I'm glad to have her by my side on one of the most important days of my life. Love you and your family so much!

Leah Buchholz

Luana and I met through a friend in common and she was there when Pete and I met. I don't think I wouldn't have talked to Pete if it wasn't for her encouraging me to talk to him the night we met. She's been one great friend, supportive, helpful, adventurous and makes delicious desserts. So glad you will be on my side on our wedding day! Love ya!

Luana Petterson

Mirielle is one of those cool people you want to be friends in high school and I'm so glad to be included in her circle now. She's one of the funniest, smartest, most creative and thoughtful people She is very authentic and she'll speak whats on her mind and I love that about her. I love you and you family!

Mirielle Ulhoa

Groomsmen

Grower of hair, cryer of Chicago Bears tears. Executive Producer and Stunt Coordinator of films such as "The Ghost of GeCaWa" and "Backstreet Backyard Boyz". Heavy K (pictured right) has been scheming with the groom (left) since shortly after this photo was taken. None of their schemes have paid dividends, likely due to all schemes involving poops.  

Kurt Getschow

Breaker of femurs. Dislocater of shoulders. Drinker of 1,000,000 beers. Can be found in groom's basement being yelled at by groom's dad for drinking too much whiskey and falling asleep playing video games. Friends with groom since playing hide and seek with the class hamster in 3rd grade when the dumbass hamster hid under groom's foot and was crushed to death.

Colin Gleason

Face maker. Never calls Christmas "X-mas". An atheist and a democrat, but still loved by the groom's mom. His better half is better. Has a lifetime 1-7 record in fist fights against the groom, starting in 5th grade when the groom had to teach the new kid a lesson.

Collin Moon

Happily furious. Never sarcastic, straight shooter. Knower of South Park lines. Lover of kittens (not in a weird way, seriously, I promise). Slugger of Kühl beers. Former Iowa housemate until he "matured" into an apartment closer to campus.

Ian Swanson

Silly straw slurper. Kicker. Self-described Alpha-male bad boy savior, often described by others as a sufferer of perception gap with a hero complex. One of two "popular kids" (along with groom) in AP Psych senior year at New Trier.

Jon Barron

Whoa Nelly. Mustache connoisseur. Thinker of many thoughts, sayer of long sentences. Peaked in high school. Friend since getting his ass beat by the groom on a Sears School playground in 1st grade.

Matt Kelly

Proud American. Gator Groupie. Enthusiast of manly work performed in jean shorts in Lake Winnebago. Chocolate connoisseur, sucker for sweets; hide your cake! Car driver. Husband to sister, brother to groom.

Michael Buchholz

Questionably human. Member of the Latin Kings gang (according to Winnetka PD). Capable of getting discounts at Chicago bars/restaurants ranging from 100% off to an unexplained 50% increase. Inspired by groom to work in food service since they were delivery drivers at JP McCarthy's and competed over who could do the least work.  

Mike Crane

Excitable boy. Whitest man in Miami. Former one-on-one defender of Shaun Livingston. Boner Champ. 3x Iowa Roommate. Loser of 2009 EA College Football dynasties.

Nick Travis

The best TV watcher in the world. Reader of words, shouter of syllables. Tiki boy grown into a rum man. Coolest cat in Brooklyn and owner of coolest cat in Brooklyn. Fighting with groom since coming into this world, loving each other just as long. Brother.

Tyler Higgins

U-Conn bred, Florida heart. Pizza boy extraordinaire. Official Geese Flock member. Mysterious owner of several spooky stories. Frequent flyer to Bangor, ME. Husband of brother, brother to groom.

Ryan Gilbert

Security Detail

A serious person. Ohio trash. Knower of a plethora of useless information. Common law married to groom after living together for 7+ years (this wedding is difficult for him because it is also a divorce from groom, so give him a lollypop if you see him). 

Steve Cadwallader

Dance move maker. Face-stuffer of rock hard bananas. Allowed in school zones. Had the sheer audacity to be assigned a gym locker next to the groom's as a new kid in 5th grade. Original member of the Big Boy post-grad apartment team.

Taylor Hillis

Music

Mysterious raconteur of the gypsy mountain tribe, wandered to the Great Plains yon about 2010 to start swindling shine. Self-hating Chicago Bears "fan." Wearer of many hats. Spent years competing with the groom for most visits to Hook/Hal's of all time. 

Jacqueline & Pete