Kara Geideman and Dr. Bert O’Neil are both gearheads: They love the Indy 500 — Kara has attended six times — and they even have a membership at a track where they race a Corvette and a BMW.
That’s why they decided there would be no other option for them than to elope somewhere that occupies a special place in their hearts — Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The pair from Westfield tied the knot in the bleachers just ahead of the 110th running of the Indy 500 on May 24. Bert wore a checker-print suit while Kara donned a formal wedding dress.
Among the hundreds of thousands of spectators who attended the race Sunday were 120 friends and family of the couple. They traveled from across the country to join in the couple’s special day, the newly married Kara O’Neil said.
“We decided to do something that we both truly enjoy,” she said. “We’ve camped at the Coke lot in previous years, so we brought everyone to camp in the lot with us this year and we’re all here at the race.”
The newlyweds met through a dating app, and the relationship was “meant to be from the first message,” Kara said. She wanted to elope with Bert, but both wanted their children to be present for their special day, so they looked into the option of an Indy 500 wedding.
Kara contacted the ticket office in October with what she called a crazy idea — securing over 100 tickets next to each other at the most attended motorsport event in the world. Staff supported her idea, she said, and the couple is thankful to the speedway for bringing their dream wedding to fruition.
“Greatest day ever,” the newlywed said, still wearing her wedding veil as she watched the race unfold in front of her.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy 500 wedding: Greatest Spectacle in Racing meets happily ever after
Reporting by Mia Thurow, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
