ST. CHARLES – Kristen Sommerfeld and Eddie Cornelio went to Batavia High School together and both graduated in 2002.

They had the same group of friends, but never dated – until 11 years ago when Cornelio was in New York finishing school and Sommerfield was on a business trip.

“We connected on Facebook and I asked, ‘Will you show me around?’ And we sightseed around Times Square and he took me to Canal Street,” Sommerfeld said. “He gave me a kiss when we walked back to the hotel and I knew it.”

The couple married Sept. 23 at the pavilion in Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles and Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns performed the ceremony.

From where their relationship began to their nuptials was a journey of love.

‘You’re young and in love’

After that fateful New York kiss, Sommerfeld and Cornelio maintained a seven-month long-distance relationship between Geneva and New York.

“You’re young and in love and you want to see each other,” Sommerfeld said. “We made it work. We were broke at the time. … We had phone dates and booked ... $99 air fares. I flew a lot of red eyes into the JFK.”

Cornelio finished school for air traffic management, eventually landing a job at O’Hare International Airport.

Ironically, Geneva Park Board Trustee Jay Moffat – a retired air traffic controller himself – mentored him and was expected to be at the wedding.

Sommerfeld took marketing classes, ultimately working in marketing for small businesses since she was 19, building a portfolio and getting a lot of experience before her current role as coffee house manager.

After moving to the area from New York, Cornelio lived with two buddies from high school and Sommerfeld lived with a girlfriend.

They moved in together after dating for two years, first in the apartment above Sergio’s Cantina on First Street and then in Chicago when their apartment was renovated to become the 1910 Bar. The couple has since relocated to Geneva.

Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse

Many in the Geneva community know Sommerfeld as the creative and effervescent manager of Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse, as she creates promotions that bring hundreds of people to Geneva’s Third Street.

Everything from Harry Potter’s birthday to “Star Wars,” Earth Day to “Stranger Things” – Sommerfeld thinks up specialty drinks and treats to go with themed decorations. The promotions frequently benefit a local nonprofit, such as TriCity Family Services.

And it was at the Harry Potter’s birthday event July 30 that Burns noticed Sommerfeld’s engagement ring.

“Eddie proposed to me on my birthday, July 27,” Sommerfeld said.

It was her 34th birthday; Cornelio turned 34 just before the wedding.

“I thought it was important for an immediate … recognition that we celebrate them with applause,” Burns said.

And as Burns had recently become a wedding officiant, he offered to perform their wedding – free of charge – in recognition of all that Sommerfeld does to promote the city.

“Eddie and Kristen have entrusted their special day to me, to celebrate their love and the next chapter of their lives,” Burns said.

Cornelio said it meant a lot for Burns to volunteer to do something like that.

“I know he appreciates everything Kristen does for the city and all the events she puts forward and her role in the chamber,” Cornelio said.

A Fox Valley wedding

Eddie Cornelio and Kristen Sommerfeld’s wedding and nearly all of its accoutrements were local to Kane County: The rehearsal dinner was at Penrose Brewery in Geneva, Spare Wheels Transportation in St. Charles provided transportation services and the reception was at The Haight in Elgin.

Cornelio and the six groomsmen got custom suits from Jos. A. Banks in the Geneva Commons and Sommerfeld’s dress came from David’s Bridal in Aurora. The bridesmaids’ dresses were purchased online.

The jewelry was from State Street Jewelers in Geneva; 02 Salon did all the hair and local makeup artist Tanya Gomberg did all the makeup; Sergio’s Cantina provided the food; Town and Country Gardens did the flowers; Sabrina Siegers of Siegers Photo & Video provided photography; Graham’s 318 Coffeehouse made a red velvet wedding cake, cake pops hand-dipped in chocolate and chocolate covered Oreo cookies as wedding favors.