How did you two meet?
Hayes: "Zach and I met in middle school. I was completely in love with him, and he was clearly not on board. I would doodle in my diaries 'I love Zach Giddens' and 'Mrs. Victoria Hayes Vinson Giddens,' and little did I know those doodles were the start of it all. In high school, we were friends and even tried dating my junior year. I was his baseball sweetie and took my job very seriously. I even made sure he had a treat delivered to him via Grams while I was a few hours away at the beach on 30A. Our junior year was a bust, but after a Halloween party our senior year we decided to give it another go. He officially asked me to be his girlfriend in my driveway after school. We dated all throughout college with a brief break before I started graduate school and he started work. I am so thankful for the many years we have been together and even for the time we spent apart. We have learned so much about each other as well as learned so much about ourselves in the process. I also have learned persistence is key-- I have the diaries to prove it!"
How and when did Zach propose?
Hayes: I was told all of our friends were going to a brewery and to be ready at 4. My friends kept me busy all day with lunch and hanging out at one of our parents' house. This was very common that I truly thought nothing of it. I did however experiment with self tanning my arms and hands, which looking back was a bad time to do so! My friend Chandler and I ran to Walgreens to get self-tan remover to try to fix it and luckily we were able to. I am always worrying about something so when my friends seemed somewhat worried about my tan hands, I started to wonder, but not enough to think it was happening that day. I finally went home to get ready and was ready at 3:45 instead of 4. If you know me, you know I am NEVER early. Zach called to see if I would pick him and Hayden up on my way to the brewery. Since I was already ready, I decided I would go ahead and go over. I drove over to what will be our first home to find Zach walking toward me pulling me into the living room. I saw the coffee table had been moved and all the sudden I saw he was down on one knee. I heard many clicks and looked over to find he had even hired someone to take pictures of the day, which he knows I LOVE a good picture. I think I blacked out because all I remember is him asking and me of course saying yes. Getting proposed to by my lifelong love in the middle of what will be our first home was one of the most precious and special memories I have. I do not like surprises, but thus far that was my favorite surprise and the best day of my life."
Hayes--what's one of the things you admire most about Zach?
Hayes: "I have always prayed for a man that would lead my future family and me, and that is exactly who Zach is and what he does. He is a leader. He leads faithfully and gracefully, and often quietly. Although on the field, his players may disagree with the 'leads quietly' part! Zach humbly reminds me that our Lord is sovereign and good even when the world is not. For me, this is the biggest blessing and one of the many things I soooooo adore about him. And he is pretty cuteeeee too, which is just an added bonus!!!"
Zach --what's one of the things you admire most about Hayes?
Zach: "There are many things I admire about Hayes, but the one thing I admire the most about her is her faithfulness. I am so grateful for not only Hayes’ faithfulness, but also her unconditional love and loyalty. She is always there for me, constantly gracious and inspires me to be a better man every day. She is faithful to her family and friends, and committed to always being there for them. She is also faithful to herself, staying true and steadfast to her principles, morals and beliefs. Most importantly, and the thing I admire most about Hayes is her love and faithfulness to the Lord. To me, Hayes is a light to this world and constantly portrays the love of Jesus Christ because of the relationship she has with him. For that, I am so thankful and blessed beyond measure to call Hayes my wife."
What was each yall's favorite part of the wedding day?
Zach: "My favorite moment on the day of our wedding occurred just minutes before Hayes walked down the aisle. I knew I would be seeing her soon enough and we would be officially married in just half an hour. But prior to that, I couldn’t help but reflect on the past eight and a half years we have experienced together. I was standing in the back hallway of the church with my dad and Blake when the ceremony began, waiting and anticipating seeing my beautiful bride. At that time, the hymn 'Great is Thy Faithfulness' was being sung and the emotions began to overwhelm me. I had been waiting for this moment-- to marry Hayes-- for what seems like my whole life. All I could do was think how great our God is, for all He has done for me and for blessing me to have Hayes in my life. That moment, along with the entire ceremony, will be a memory I will never forget. From the time I saw Hayes for the first time to us walking out the church doors as a married couple, it seemed like it was just the two of us. I felt like no one was in the room but us, although we were so fortunate to have so many friends and family members there to support us. It was the best day of my life and I will always cherish how special it was."
Hayes: "My favorite part of the wedding day was the ceremony itself. While I loved it all, that part was so special to me. We practiced most of what that day would entail at the rehearsal, but nothing could prepare me for the emotions I would feel the day of. After almost a decade of dating, I felt like I was at the crossroads of 'my heart may burst' or 'I may burst into tears' at any moment. The only way I can describe what those feelings were all mixed together is this: pure joy. I was fortunate enough to have a lifelong friend sing at our wedding, have my YoungLife leader/friend read scripture, have my youth pastor provide marriage counseling and officiate the big day, have all of my friends and family in one big room, have that one big room be the church I grew up in, and best of all finally have Zach Giddens as my husband. It was the sweetest, most special day of my life, and I will always treasure it."
What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
Hayes: "My perfect date would be watching a TV show or movie with Zach and our two pups, Lucy and Bear. We also really love to do anything where we get to spend quality time together. Walks and Friday date nights (not in the Fall, of course) are a must!"
Zach: "We enjoy Going to breweries and wineries, going to and watching movies, dinner dates, playing with our dogs, going to the beach and pool, going on walks and going to TJ Maxx."
What's next for you two?
Hayes: "Someone asked us when we got back from our honeymoon if we were sad to be back. While of course we didn’t want to leave Antigua, both of us immediately said we are just very excited for this new 'normal.' We have talked and dreamed about a time where we get to do everyday life alongside one another-- and well that time is finally here! We are so excited for our new normal, and the chance to learn more and more about one another along the way."
vendors:
coordinating: Debra Taylor
dress: Affair To Remember
florals: Leaves of Lowell Street
makeup: Makeup by Helen Bonner
hair: Mary Catherine Masters
video: Intelligent Design Productions
reception venue: Del'avant Even Center