About us

The Bride

Sarah was born in Detroit, Michigan and was raised in Battle Creek, Michigan, graduating from Battle Creek Central High School. After high school she was accepted into Michigan State University where she was a member of the Michigan State University Marching Band as an alto saxophone for four years. Sarah received her Bachelor of Science in Retail Management and began her career with American Girl in Chicago, IL.

Sarah's parents are Alfred and Kathy Spiteri who currently live in the cereal capital of the world, Battle Creek, Michigan. Sarah has a younger sister Emily, who is living in St. Paul, Minnesota and planning on going back to school to get another degree, this one in Early Childhood Education. Kathy works as a teacher in Marshall, MI and Alfred works for the Federal Government in IT.

The Groom

Gordon was born in Western Springs, Illinois and spent his childhood in the suburbs of Chicago, as well as a short period of time in Connecticut, before going on to college at Michigan State University. Once at Michigan State Gordon fell in love with Sarah and computers! Although he received his Bachelor of Arts in Finance, he works in IT for the Linn Group at the Chicago Board of Trade as their IT department.

Gordon’s parents are Robert and Mary Knoppe and they call LaGrange, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, home. Gordon has an older sister, Joanne, and a younger brother Ryan. Joanne is happily married to Michael Clyde and is in the noble profession of teaching English as a Second Language at a middle school near their home in Westchester, Illinois. Ryan is currently studying Finance at Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL and will be graduating soon! Robert and Mary own their own business.

Our Story

Gordon and Sarah met while attending Michigan State University while waiting for the Amtrak train to take them home to the Chicago suburbs (Sarah’s family was living in Bartlett, Illinois at the time). From there they dated for their remaining college years and survived Gordon studying abroad in Bruschal, Germany for a semester and Sarah graduating and moving to Chicago a year and half before Gordon received his degree.

After graduation they decided to wait on becoming engaged until BOTH of their student loans were paid off, even though they had long realized they had a special and unique love between them. During this period they moved in together in the great South Side neighborhood of Bridgeport, in Chicago, IL, where they currently live with two cats.

Finally, after nine years of dating, Gordon actually somehow still manage to surprise Sarah with his proposal on Sunday, April 26, 2009. After driving around the city looking for the “perfect shot” Gordon brought Sarah to the Adler Planetarium for his perfect picture. As he was setting up to take the picture, he had her pose facing the city so her back was towards him. Once he was “finished” taking the shot he told her to turn around and there he was! Down on a knee with a beautiful engagement ring and SNAP went the camera. We will have that memory, our love and picture forever.