Posted by chicagomedia.org on October 28, 2008 at 11:36:51:
27 is the magic number
Orland residents win $27,000 Dream Wedding from Star96.7
For Sandburg high school sweethearts Dayna Dixon and Adam Crabb, nothing except maybe a little more sunshine could have made Friday, Oct. 17, better for them. The Orland couple of more than eight years tied the knot at the Narnia Estates in Lemont after being announced as winners last March in Chicagoland radio station Star96.7's $27,000 Dream Wedding giveaway.
Oddly, the number '27' seems to follow the couple closely.
"Adam and I started dating on March 27, 2000, my sophomore year and his junior year," Dixon said. "We got engaged on Jan. 27 and we were looking to get married sometime next year on a 27."
The couple, after looking through the calendar, wasn't having too much luck finding a date that involved their special number. After flipping through the radio station one day in the car, they heard the announcement for the contest.
"I told Adam, 'Maybe this is what 27 means for us,'" Dixon said.
So Dixon wrote the story of their engagement and entered the contest.
The Engagement
Crabb, a flight instructor at Lewis University, took Dixon, the acting director for enrollment at Benedictine University, for her first night flight on Jan. 27 to see the Chicago skyline.
"We were flying in the sky and it's winter — it was really pretty with the streetlights and the glistening snow," Dixon said.
As they came over Lake Michigan to see the skyline, Dixon pointed out a crown-shaped building near the Sears Tower.
"We had heard on architectural tours that the architect designed it to look like his wife's ring so she could see it from heaven," Dixon explained.
As Dixon talked about the building, Crabb said over the headset, "Yeah, but is it as pretty as this ring?"
In his lap, was Dixon's engagement ring.
"It was amazing. The diamond in my ring is the one my dad had given my mom," Dixon said.
According to the station, the contest drew nearly 100 entries.
"When we entered, we didn't know if we were going to get picked, but they called us and we were one of three finalists," Dixon said.
The three finalists were announced on Feb. 27. Dixon was at work when she got the call on March 12.
"Scott Childers from the radio station called and told me it was bad news if my invites were already printed because I was going to get married on Oct. 17," she said. "It surprised me because he played it off as if I had lost."
"I was screaming and so excited that we had won. They taped my reaction and played it later as a commercial," Dixon added.
The Planning
"As soon as we found out, we knew we needed to get going," Dixon said.
The wedding package included a wedding of up to 150 guests at Narnia Estates in Lemont, with a three-course plated dinner and house drink and bar package with bartenders. It also included security and valet parking.
Prior to the wedding, a couples massage was offered by Golden Serenity Aesthetic and Wellness Spa in Aurora, as well as tuxedo rental for groom and groomsmen from Kosak's Black Tie Formal Wear in Joliet. Rounding out the prize package was $1,000 in bridal wear and accessories from White Carriage Bridal.
"Finding the dress was probably the hardest," Dixon admitted. "I actually found it on March 27."
The bridal party consisted of both siblings of the bride and groom, as well as best friends from high school.
"It was really neat having people in our wedding that had been close to both of us for 8 years or longer," Dixon said.
The Wedding
After getting ready, the wedding party headed out to Isla a la Cache in Romeoville in two limos to take photos.
"We just wanted a stress-free day and to take photos to get them over with," Dixon explained. "Adam and I also wanted a special moment for the two of us, so we met in the forest preserve."
"Seeing Adam before the wedding calmed my nerves and I was just ready to get married," she added.
As the rain continued, the wedding at Narnia was shifted inside.
"It's just gorgeous there. We were set up to go outside, but my bridal party was awesome. The bridesmaids and groomsmen had to set up inside," Dixon said.
"We got pictures of them carrying the chairs in," she added.
Live music was a big part of the special day, with a harpist at the ceremony, pianist for the cocktail hour, jazz trio during dinner and a nine-piece band performing for dancing after dinner.
"Our song was 'Everything' by Michael Buble," said Dixon.
While the couple wasn't able to get married on a day numbered with a '27', their wedding day still had it. Add 10 (for October) and 17 (for the date) together and the result is the magical two-digit number of 27.
"When we first started dating 8 years ago, 27 had significance," said Dixon. "The day we got engaged had 27 as well and I knew it meant something more when I heard that contest on the radio station."
"It's just crazy. My sports number used to be 5, but I think 27 is my new favorite number," she added.
(Heather Warthen, Orland Park Prairie)