How did you two meet?
Anna Leigh: "We met in 2014 through our mutual friends who were dating at the time. I was a junior, and he was a senior in high school. We met for the first time on Halloween night. I remember seeing him across the room at a party, and thinking he was so handsome. We hung out with our friends the next day, and I was so nervous I barely talked to him. I thought I missed my chance, but when the night was over he asked for my number, and we haven’t stopped talking since. He called me and asked me on a date the next weekend, and I remember being so impressed with how kind and polite he was."
Zach: "We met at a Halloween party my senior year of high school. Anna Leigh and her friend were about to leave the party when they approached me. I remember thinking that Anna Leigh was really cute. The next day my friend invited me over and told me that we would be hanging out with Anna Leigh and her friend. After hanging out that night, I knew I wanted to continue to get to know Anna Leigh, so we exchanged phone numbers and have talked every day since."
How and when did Zach propose?
Anna Leigh: "Zach and I had been dating for a while, so I knew it was coming but I wasn’t completely sure when. He took me on a double date with our friends to a nice restaurant. We had just gotten our puppy, so Zach suggested we go home to let her out after dinner and would meet back up with our friends after. When we got out of the car I started walking to the front door, but he grabbed my hand and started leading me towards our back gate. When he opened the gate, there was a candle lit path leading to a tree filled with string lights and pictures of us from the past five years of dating. He took me over to the tree and got down on one knee. It was so sweet and romantic! When we walked inside, my sister and all of our closest friends were there waiting to celebrate. It couldn’t have been more perfect!"
Zach: "I proposed on February 29, 2020. I texted my friend and his girlfriend to help me out with
getting Anna Leigh distracted. We decided to all go out to a nice dinner. While we were at
dinner, I had Anna Leigh’s sister and a couple of friends come over to our house and set up a
candle walkway and decorate the backyard with old pictures and lights. When we returned
home from dinner, I walked her to the backyard and got down on one knee and asked her to
marry me."
Anna Leigh--what's one of the things you admire most about Zach?
Anna Leigh: "There are so many things that I admire about Zach, but one thing that really stands out is his patience. Patience isn’t a strength of mine, and he has taught me so much about slowing down and enjoying life instead of anxiously waiting for the next big event. He is slow to anger even when his patience is tested, and he can calmly handle any stressful situation."
What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
Anna Leigh: "We enjoy going on walks, hiking, and watching new shows together. We also have a Goldendoodle named Stella that we love to spend time playing with."
Zach: "Anna Leigh and I enjoy getting out and being active with our friends. We like to go on road trips and sight see around the southeast. We also enjoy sitting back and watching new TV shows."
Zach-- what's one of the things you admire most about Anna Leigh?
Zach: "I admire how much she cares for everyone. She is always willing to go out of her way to make sure that others are happy. She knows exactly how to cheer me up if I have had a bad day. She is willing to set aside her plans if she knows that something is important to me. Overall, she truly cares about me, and I know that if I ever need anything, she will go out of her way to make it happen."
What was each yall's favorite part of the wedding day?
Anna Leigh: "It’s hard to pick just one thing, but our first look was so special! I had some nerves (in a good way) up until that point, but as soon as I saw him all of my nerves went away. I felt like I could take a deep breath and relax because I finally saw my person. From that point on, I couldn’t stop smiling. The whole day could not have gone more perfectly."
Zach: "My favorite part of the wedding day was getting to celebrate with all of our family and friends. Looking back at the day, there was not one single thing that I can complain about. The entire day was so fun, and I can truly say that it was one of the best days of my life."
What's next for you two?
Anna Leigh: "We are staying here in Huntsville, AL. It is our hometown, and we love being so close to our friends and family! We have lots of travel plans for the coming year, and we are looking forward to enjoying out time as newlyweds!"
Vendors:
Ceremony Venue – First United Methodist Church
Reception Venue – The Roundhouse
Planner – Susan Rutenburg
Florals – In Bloom
Catering – Carlton’s Catering
Band – The Flashbacks
Dress & Bridesmaids Dresses – Birch on Main
Wedding Cake – Debbie Hardaway
Groom’s Cake – Batter Up Cake Bakery
Drapery & Lighting – Shindigs & Such
Videographer – Colby Knight (Southern Wedding Films)
Hair – Salon Ka-Terra
Makeup – Cosmetics by Mackenzie
Invitations – Lindsey Jennings Art & Design