John Murray + Carley [engagement] Birmingham, Ala.

How did you two meet?
Carley: "John Murray and I have lots of mutual friends since we both went to Auburn, but we actually didn’t meet until post graduation! I cheered at Auburn with one of John Murray’s friend’s little sisters, so he got my number from her! John Murray asked me on a date, but I was supposed to go to Auburn to visit friends when he asked me. I ended up changing my plans and going to a friend’s house where I knew John Murray would be there. We talked all night as if no one else was in the room. I thought he was so outgoing, so handsome, and I knew I wanted to continue seeing this boy! That same night he texted some of his co-workers, and said he thinks he met his future wife. It’s basically as close to love at first sight as you can get!"

How and when did John Murray propose?
Carley: "It was Father’s Day weekend, and we were spending the weekend in Fairhope with his family. There was a tropical storm this weekend (bad luck), but the Lord gave John Murray one hour of a beautiful sky. He used this one hour without rain to take me to our 'lunch reservations' at the Grand Hotel. He walked me to what I thought was the way to the restaurant, but it was actually a beautiful garden with a fountain and a small pond. It was the absolute most perfect setting. He got to the perfect spot and quickly hit a knee before the rain started back up again! It was the perfect proposal. After we took a few pictures, the rain started coming down, so we made our way to the, 'She Said Yes' party with all of our friends and family! The whole day was absolutely perfect!"

John Murray-- describe Carley in three words:
John Murray: "Carley is beautiful, kind, and thoughtful."

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
Carley: "Honestly just getting to spend time with John Murray is my favorite thing to do no matter what we’re doing or where we are. We love to travel together, sing in the car, go to church, watch Auburn football/basketball and cook together! It's the little things that make us the happiest! Exploring our future home, Charleston, together is also one of our newer favorite things to do together!"

Carley-- describe John Murray in three words.
Carley: "John Murray is funny, loving and handsome."

Chas + Annelore [6.26.21 wedding] Fairhope, Ala.

How did you two meet?

Chas: "The first time we met was on a deep sea fishing trip. Annelore’s brother-in-law, Alan, who has been my best friend since childhood, set us up."

Annelore: "The first time I met Chas I quickly noticed he was very kind, and just a good ol’ southern gentleman. We had fun together that trip, but it wasn’t until later that I realized he was really interested in me."

How and when did Chas propose?

Chas: "I proposed in May 2020. Annelore wanted to have our pictures taken at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear. In the middle of the photo shoot, I proposed."
Annelore: "When Chas proposed, Meg told Chas to twirl me around a few times, and when I came around to look at him he was getting down on one knee. I screamed and I was totally taken by surprise!"

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
Chas: "We do a lot together. We enjoy hunting, fishing, church, riding horses, eating and visiting with friends and family."
Annelore: "We love spending time outdoors! That is why we are choosing to go on our honeymoon in Wyoming because we love to be outside in nature! One of my favorite memories is when Chas took me hunting at his hunting club. We both got really high in a stand and watched the sunrise-- it was so beautiful and peaceful. We really just love being in each other’s company!"

What was each yall's favorite part of the wedding day?
Chas: "My favorite part was when I first saw Annelore that day. I knew she was going to be beautiful as always, but when she walked down the aisle-- I was blown away!"

Annelore: "I would say seeing Chas for the first time that day was my favorite part too. I was so, so, so excited to see him all morning! People asked me before if I thought Chas would cry, and I would tell them, 'No, I promise he won’t because he is very reserved and tough as nails!!' However, when I walked down the aisle, I saw Chas start to tear up, and I was in shock! So that was my favorite moment!! I also loved getting ready with all of my girls, and I loved dancing with my new husband all night at the reception!!!! The reception was so much fun and so magical!!"

Annelore--what's one of the things you admire most about Chas?
Annelore: "There are SO many things that I admire about Chas-- it’s so hard to pick just one! Chas’ love language is acts of service, so he is not a words guy or a gifts person. But the way Chas loves is by selflessly and quietly serving. I admire that because I believe in living a life by Jesus’ example-- and loving others by serving them is a huge part of that! Chas does so many things to show me he loves me by taking care of me and serving me. He will show kindness and love to others too, and I love that about him!"

Chas--what's one of the things you admire most about Annelore?
Chas: "She is truly a kind-hearted and sweet person. She will go out of her way to do anything anyone asks of her. She’s a good cook as well!"

What's next for you two?
Chas: "Just living life and seeing which roads God wants us to go down."

Annelore: "Chas and I have such a fun life together. I am planning a few adventures in the future, so I will be dragging Chas with me along! I think next we will be looking for some land to maybe build a house! We are looking for something perfect for hanging out outside and to spend time with family and friends!!"

Vendors:

planning + florals: Evan G. Cooper/Evan & Company
dress: Ivory & White
makeup: Kallie Cheatwood
hair: Danielle with Salon Royale
reception venue: The Hope Farm
video: Jeff Bush Videography for 1717 Wedding Cinema

Warner + Anna {6.5.21 wedding} Lake Martin, Ala.

How did you two meet?
Anna: "I met Warner on a rare snow day in Birmingham, Alabama. We were both meeting mutual friends for drinks. My friends told me I would like Warner because he was so funny, but I remember being surprised when he wouldn't even look at me sitting at a table with his friends. He seemed confident and made easy conversation with everyone there. Then, abruptly (or smoothly depending who you ask), he turned to me, extended his hand and said, "Warner Hornsby, pleased to meet ya."

Warner: "It didn't take long for me to notice Anna when I walked into Carrigan's that night. That is to say, I noticed the beautiful blonde girl at the table with all my friends immediately. As I went up to the bar to get a drink, all I could think about was how to impress that girl. I decided, having taken the first few sips of my fresh drink, that I had to "play it cool." So, when I sat down at the table, I made a conscious decision to speak to everybody else first. Some call this the neg game. All I know is, it was very hard not to speak to her. Finally, after what felt like hours (but was likely more along the lines of 15 seconds), I turned and introduced myself. She told me her name was Anna, and the rest is history."

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
Anna: "People always say to marry your best friend, and now I know why-- it is truly more fun to do anything with Warner. We actually love doing the simple things, like having coffee together in the morning, taking walks in the evening or of course spending time at the lake. We also enjoy travelling, golfing, and (especially during COVID) getting into a new good TV series."

How and when did Warner propose?
Warner: "I proposed on July 2, 2020. My whole family was at the lake for the Fourth, and Anna’s mom was also in town to spend the Fourth at the lake with the Hornsby family. Everyone knew what was about to happen-- except Anna. After she got dressed for dinner at SpringHouse, she came downstairs to find that no one else was ready. I told her I needed her help making cocktails on the pier (mint juleps) before going to SpringHouse. When we got to the pier, I had the ring hidden in a flower arrangement, and I proposed while the family watched from the porch, and Warner’s sister took pictures. It was a success when she said yes!"

Anna--what's one of the things you admire most about Warner?
Anna: "One of the things (though there are many) I admire about Warner is the confidence and passion that he brings to everything he undertakes. Whether he is fighting for his clients, or fighting for us to make our flight, he is never afraid to go big. One time when going through security at the crowded Birmingham airport, Warner exclaimed to the entire line that we were going to miss our flight and asked if anyone would mind if we jumped to the front of the line. Everyone in line actually cheered and wished us luck as we ran to the front (and made our flight!). This is what it's like being with Warner. It never ceases to amaze me how he can bring such gusto into anything from woodworking to baking Christmas cookies, to learning a new hobby or teaching me a new skill. We have quite a life of adventures ahead of us!"

Warner--what's one of the things you admire most about Anna?
Warner: "Picking out one thing to admire about Anna is like asking an Alabama fan which national championship is their favorite. Each one is special in its own way, and there’s a heck of a lot to choose from! But, if I had to pick one thing, at least as I sit here writing this, I’d have to say her drive. Anna is a very smart person, but she’s also very driven to accomplish the things that she sets out to do. You can always trust her to do what she says, when she says, and do it well. It’s a tough thing to do, and she does it well."

What was each yall's favorite part of the wedding day?
Warner: "My favorite part of the wedding day was the ceremony. We got married at SpringHouse, and the plan was to hold the ceremony on the lawn and then have the reception inside, but like the song says, some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. It rained right before the ceremony, which meant we had to pull everyone inside SpringHouse. It was cramped and close, and everyone was standing—but that closeness ended up being a special thing to me as I stood there waiting on Anna to walk down the aisle. It was wonderful to have so many friends and family so engaged in the message and moment-- I wouldn’t change it for anything."

Anna: "There were so many special parts of our wedding day, but two of my favorite parts were actually the ones we didn't plan. First, the ceremony, as Warner described, was the most special and intimate. Second, was our first dance! Warner and I both love to dance, but Warner insisted that we shouldn't 'prepare' a dance and should just 'wing it' instead. I was a little skeptical, but we had the most fun during our dance. Our friends and family were packed around the dance floor cheering us on and dancing along! Everyone was so pumped up and it flowed perfectly into the dancing portion of the reception."

What's next for you two?
Anna: "Warner and I are excited to start our lives together in Montgomery, Alabama. We are enjoying some down-time this summer as we settle into our house, and are spending many weekends with family at Lake Martin. We are traveling quite a bit this fall for work and to visit friends and family. After that, hopefully a dog!"

Vendors:
Venue: SpringHouse Restaurant
Hair + makeup: Gypset Beauty Co.
Wedding dress: Ivory & White (Caroline Castigliano)
Bridesmaid dresses: Bella Bridesmaids
Cake: Pastry Art Bake Shoppe
Catering: SpringHouse Restaurant
Flowers: Grace's Flowers
Painting: Lila Graves
Rentals: PRE Events, Auburn
Band: Ascension Party Band

Jared + Rachel {6.19.21 wedding} Auburn, Ala.

How did you two meet?
Jared: "Rachel and I first met in 2017 at a ribbon cutting for the Auburn Chamber. Little did I know she would be the one. I remember leaving the event and telling someone that I needed her number. It took me a while to ask her on a date, and then I finally had the courage to do it. The first time I met her it felt like she already knew me. If you know Rachel, you know she is a talker so it made the date so much better! (I'm not much of a talker). From there I asked her on a second date, and I'm sure glad she said yes!"

Rachel: "Jared and I technically met at an Auburn Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at Greystone Mansion back July 2017 (but I don’t really remember!) Supposedly he thought I was cute and then got my number. He didn’t text me for over a year! We officially met on our first date in November 2018. I thought he was so handsome and super sweet! I left the first date thinking, "That was SO fun (because we got dessert and ya know, that means he must be into you!?). I hoped to hear from him again!" Which I did! Thank goodness he finally texted and asked me on a date!"

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
Rachel: "We love to cook and go on walks! We are both really busy people so every minute of quality time we get together is always the best!"

Jared: "I don't think Rachel knew how big of an Auburn fan I was until we started dating. Living in Auburn, we have the unique ability to make all of the home games for football and basketball. All that being said, Rachel has been a true champ at dealing with my sports-heavy life and being my forever game day date. She understands how much joy it brings me, and it’s really cool that we get to share those moments together now!"

How and when did Jared propose?
Rachel: "Jared told me he had a work event Friday night that we needed to stop by. It was a pretty hectic week, so I really didn’t ask any questions. My boss let me leave work early because he had an event (little did I know Jared had called her to ask if I could leave early haha!) He picked me up, and we drove to the Greystone Mansion – where we first met! I thought it was weird that it was kind of dark inside and no other cars were there. We walked towards the venue and he said, 'We’re not here for a work event.' He said the sweetest, most affirming things-- I cried-- it was beyond perfect! I really had no idea it was going to be that night because my parents weren’t going to be in town, and then they surprised me later and were in Auburn to celebrate!"

What was each yall's favorite part of the wedding day?
Jared: "My favorite part of the wedding was seeing everyone having such a great time, dancing on the stage, and even hearing people to this day talking about how much fun they had. One of the moments I will never forget is getting a picture of my groomsman working so hard to help out before the reception setup in the pouring rain!"

Rachel: "Oh, gosh there are so many! Walking down the aisle to Jared and seeing all of our people in one place there to celebrate us was the most incredible and joyful feeling I've ever experienced! Also, being a wedding planner, so much of my focus tends to be on the reception setup, so getting to walk into that with Melanie, completely in awe of how perfect it all turned out was super special!"

Rachel--what's one of the things you admire most about Jared?
Rachel: "When I think of Jared, I immediately think of James 1:19: 'Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.' He is kind, patient and humble-- all qualities I look up to so much in him."

Jared--what's one of the things you admire most about Rachel?
Jared: "Unlike me, Rachel is so organized, and that is something I admire because I am definitely not! In all seriousness, Rachel is the best person I know. I admire how she loves people and makes everyone feel so welcomed, seen and wanted."

What's next for you two?
Jared: "Well, Rachel wants a dog!"

Rachel: "A DOG!!! And we are getting settled into our new home in Auburn and just excited to start our lives together as the Jordans! (ya know, hopefully with a dog soon haha!)"

Vendors:
Ceremony venues - Auburn United Methodist Church @auburnumc
Reception venue - Moores Mil Club @mooresmillclub
Planning - Melanie Grace Weddings @Melaniegraceweddings
Flowers - Trish Land @trishland
Video - Wakefield Films @Wakefield_films
Hair - Simply Emily Campbell @simplyemilybeauty
Makeup - Beauty by Tori Meijia @beautybytorimeijia
Bride's dress - The White Room @thewhiteroombirmingham
Cakes - Sweet as Cakes @sweetascakes
Monogram & Invitation - Abundant Invitations @abundantinvitations
Earrings - Bone and Arrow @boneandarrowdesigns
Live Painting - Marlee Ledbetter Art @marleeledbetterart
Band - 4 Barrel Funk @musicgardenbands
Tux - The Locker Room @tlr_au
Linens - BBJ @bbjlinen
Send-off outfit - Alexia Maria @alexiamariaofficial
Ring Box - Mrs. Box @the_mrs_box
Bridesmaid dresses - Evening Collective @eveningcollective
Rentals - PRE Event Resources @preeventd
Decor - Prop House @prophousebirmingham
360 Photo Booth - Platinum Entertainment @platinumentnow
Calligraphy - Mary Louise Calligraphy @maryloise_calligraphy
Pajamas - Piyama @piyama
Ring - Dianne's Jewelry @diannesjewlery

Sellers + Cassidy {3.27.21 wedding} Lake Martin, Ala.

How and when did you two meet?

Cassidy: "We originally met at a bar in Birmingham in September of 2017. A mutual friend introduced us, thinking we would hit it off. The following day, Sellers asked me on a date. At the time, I was caught up with my first year of dental school and wanted to focus on myself. I actually said no to the date. A few months later, Sellers was sitting in his class room betting his friends that if he ever saw me again, that he would ask me on a date. That same day, I was headed to class and we passed each other in Volker Hall, a building shared by medical, dental, and other healthcare professional students. We began to catch up, and the conversation ended with him asking me on a date!"

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?

Cassidy: "One of the main things we like to do is enjoy good food together. We love to have long dinners, good wine, and to try new places. Even if we are cooking, we just love to have personal time over dinner and drinks! We also love to spend all of our summertime at Lake Martin. My grandmother lives there, and Sellers’s family also has a house there. We have a ton of friends that have houses there, and it’s just always the best time with friends and family! In the fall/winter, we always take trips to Sellers’s hunting camp. We love just being outdoors with no cell service and fishing together, just soaking in nature’s beauty!"

How and when did Sellers propose?

Cassidy: "Sellers proposed on July 20, 2019. We were having a typical summer weekend at our vacation spot, Lake Martin, AL. Sellers had taken Part 2 of boards that week, so we planned to go to our favorite restaurant, Spring House, to celebrate. Our reservations were early at 5:30 p.m. He said that everything was booked up and that was the only time he could get. We arrived at the restaurant, and the hostess explained that the kitchen was backed up. He said he would take us on a tour of the basement, which I had always wanted to see! The hostess was telling us about all the wines and eventually led us out onto the beautiful terrace in front of Spring House where he proposed!! We then enjoyed champagne on the terrace. After, we had a full meal by ourselves. Sellers explained that my friends and family had no idea. He said that he just wanted this to be about us, and we could celebrate with friends and family later. We always go on the balcony to watch the sunset, so after we ate we headed upstairs. At the top of the stairs were allllllllll of our friends and family for the best surprise ever!!! We laughed, talked, and cried and it was seriously the best night of our lives!"

Sellers-- what's one of the things you admire most about Cassidy?

Sellers: "One of the things I admire most about Cassidy is her charisma. Cassidy has a contagious personality that makes everyone feel loved and cared for. She has the ability to bring a sense of comfort over just about anyone-- even people she hardly knows. She makes the good days great and the bad days bearable. With this loving personality, there is no doubt she’ll be an exceptional mother."

Cassidy--what's one of the things you admire most about Sellers?
Cassidy: "One of the aspects I admire most about Sellers is his consistent selflessness. He will drop everything he’s doing to do even the most simple request that I ask-- or will always lend a helping hand to others who need it. Just this week he has helped me change light fixtures, paint rooms, hang closet shelving and put furniture together all after a 12-hour workday-- and always without a single complaint! Constantly surrounding myself with his attitude humbles me and really does make me a better person."

What was each yall's favorite part of the wedding day?

Sellers: "My favorite part of our wedding day was having all the people we love and care about in the same place to celebrate our marriage. It was just an unbelievable amount of love and support for both Cassidy and I. What people say is true-- it really is the greatest day of your life."

Cassidy: "My favorite part of our wedding day was our private boat we took after our reception leave. One of the boaters at the Ridge Marina drove us around on the most beautiful night while we looked at the stars and had the night to process our ceremony and reception. We were overwhelmed with emotion and really just appreciated being able to have time on the water and under the stars to look back on the best day of our lives."

What's next for you two?
Cassidy: "Sellers and I, after a year apart, have officially moved in together in our new city Louisville, KY. Sellers matched here for General Surgery Residency in March 2020, and I followed. Having graduated from UAB School of Dentistry June 5th, 2021, I will begin working in a private practice setting as a General Dentist here. We will be in Louisville for at least four years and open to see where the Lord guides us next."

vendors:
Ceremony venue: Church in the Pines
Reception venue: Family Lake House – Tom & Kelly Boudreau
Florals + planning: Southern Posies
Hair + makeup: Brittany Massey
Wedding dress: Ivory & White – Monique Lhuillier Bride
Video: Jeff Bush Videography
Cake: Barbs Cakes
Invitations: Empress Stationary
Entertainment: Big Night Dynamite
Live reception art: Marx Studio
Catering: Jennie Weller
Drapery & lighting: On Site Productions
Rentals: Event Rentals United Birmingham
Linens: Nuage Designs Inc

Kane + AnnaMarie [5.15.21 wedding] Huntsville, Ala

How did you two meet?

AnnaMarie: "We were Alabama football game day dates our freshman year of college. My first thought of Kane was that he was funny and had a great personality."

Kane: "I thought AnnaMarie was beautiful and had to work up the courage to go talk to her that first game day date. We became good friends after that and started dating second semester freshman year."

How and when did Kane propose?

AnnaMarie: "Kane proposed at Huntsville Botanical Gardens in the butterfly garden on July 11, 2020. It was the sweetest proposal, and he read two scriptures to me. We celebrated afterwards with family and friends."

Kane--what's one of the things you admire most about AnnaMarie?

Kane: "One of the things I admire most is her ability to always know what to say in any situation to get me through it and make me feel better at the other side."

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
AnnaMarie: "We enjoy going on walks with our sweet dog, Emmie. We really like to cook together and grill out. We are both lake and beach people and love to do that during the summer!"

AnnaMarie--what's one of the things you admire most about Kane?

AnnaMarie: "I most admire Kane’s patience and great personality. Kane can make me laugh even when I’m mad!"

What was each of yall's favorite parts of the wedding day?

Anna Marie: "Our first look and the ceremony repeating our vows was my favorite part of the day."

Kane: "My favorite part of the day was seeing her for the first time at the first look and walking down the aisle."

What's next for you two?

AnnaMarie: "We are currently in Memphis, TN turning the house we just bought into our home. We can’t wait to see what all Memphis has to offer!"

Vendors:
Cater: Talk of the South
Florist: InBloom
Venue: Huntsville Botanical Gardens
Event Planner: Faith Woods
Design: Anna Wynn Event Designs
Band: Lisa and The E-Lusion
Makeup: Kerri Bunn
Hair: Elleven Salon
Wedding Dress: Ivory and White
Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid
Bridesmaid Earrings: Susan Standeffer Designs
Invitations: Please Reply
Crest: The Cardinal Collection
Calligraphy: Lowry Hill
Cater: Talk of the South

Wylie + Holly [wedding] 5.8.21 :: Montgomery, Ala.

How did you two meet?
Wylie: "We met in Birmingham through some mutual friends. My roommate at the time was dating one of Holly's best friends, so I first met her when she came over to hang out with us before going out one night. I remember she sat on the couch next to me, and thinking how confident and amazing she was. I had no idea what to say, so what came out was, 'What's up Holly?' I wasn't even sure if she knew my name. We became good friends and had a lot of fun making each other laugh. Eventually I got the courage to ask her out and luckily she said yes. We haven't looked back since."

Holly: "We are both from Montgomery, and with that comes knowing everyone. I knew of him in high school, but we never spent any time together. Wylie went to Auburn, and I went to Alabama, and after graduation we both moved to Birmingham. Luckily, we shared mutual friends (one of my best friends growing up was dating his pledge brother and now roommate in Birmingham), so we started spending a lot of time together. I remember thinking how funny and cute Wylie was, and I actually encouraged one of my college friends to pursue him… thank goodness that didn’t work out! After the Alabama/LSU game that Fall, Wylie asked me on our first date, and the rest is history!"

How did Wylie propose?
Wylie: "I proposed to Holly on May 23rd, 2020. We were down at the beach with a lot of our friends for a long weekend. I had told all her friends it was happening, and they helped me out a lot with the set up and making sure Holly had no idea. I had asked Holly earlier that day if she wanted to take a walk and a drink on the beach before dinner that night. As soon as we got down to the sand, I just remember saying that I didn't want to wait any longer and got down on one knee. She said yes, turned around, and all her friends and family were waiting on the steps for her. It was absolutely perfect."

Holly: "A group of our friends from high school went to the beach for Memorial Day. It was our friend Mary’s birthday that Saturday, so we had big plans to celebrate—including taking pictures on the beach before dinner. Wylie had asked me earlier in the day if I wanted to take a beach walk with him before pictures. I really didn’t think too much of this ask. I took my time getting ready (looking back, my friends were especially interested in what I was wearing…), before he finally got me out of the house to go walk on the beach. As we were walking, Wylie started talking about how much I meant to him, how the pandemic had put a lot of things in perspective about our future together, and how he really didn’t want to wait any more. I’m sure he said other sweet things, but at that point I was too overwhelmed wondering if this was actually happening or not to listen (if you know, you know). It all became more real when I noticed all our friends taking pictures and filming on the boardwalk behind him. To make it that much sweeter, my parents and brother showed up right behind them. We celebrated briefly on the beach, then went to Wylie’s aunt & uncle’s house to have a bigger celebration with both of our families and friends. It was so perfect. As someone who believes they are very hard to surprise, Wylie pulled off the best one yet!"

Wylie -- what's one of the things you admire most about Holly?
Wylie: "The thing I admire most about Holly is how she has allowed me to be myself and never forced me to change. She is constantly encouraging and pushing me to develop and pursue my goals. She is always there for me and supports me."

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
Wylie: "We have gotten really into reality TV shows (Big Brother, Bachelor, Bachelorette, etc). We also enjoy going on walks and drinking coffee. Just spending time with Holly and talking about our days is some of the most fun we have."

Holly: "We could be sitting on the couch watching reality TV, cooking dinner, lounging at the lake, dancing at a wedding—pretty much everything is better with Wylie around (with the exception of the Iron Bowl every year—we are a #HouseDivided. Roll Tide). Any time spent with him is such a blessing!"

Holly--what's one of the things you admire most about Wylie?
Holly: "I know everyone says it, but I really mean it when I say that Wylie is my best friend. He loves and encourages me so well-- I'm a better person because of him. His ability to make me laugh, comfort me and cheer me on are what make me fall in love with him more every day!"

What was each yall's favorite part of the wedding day?
Holly: "It's so hard to pick just one part of the day, but I'd have to say the ceremony. I've always been a sucker for a wedding ceremony-- no matter the couple or how well I know them-- it always brings me to tears! I knew ours would be no different. I was SO nervous in the moments right before walking down the aisle, but as soon as I was with Wylie-- all of that went away. I was completely overcome with joy! It's an incredibly special thing being able to profess your commitment and love towards one another in front of all your family and friends. And yes, I cried the entire time. :)"

Wylie: "There were so many great moments for our wedding day but I would have to say the reception was the best part. Being able to celebrate getting married to my best friend with all of my friends and family was something I will always cherish. The band, food, drinks and venue were all so much fun, and having all of our friends and family in one place celebrating was something I'll never forget."

What's next for you two?
Holly: "We're currently living in Montgomery, Alabama, where Wylie works for PT Solutions, and I work remotely for Intermark Group (Birmingham). We just got two kittens, Fergie and Reggie, who have totally stolen our hearts! We're so excited to start our married lives together in our hometown, and can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for the future!"

Vendors:
Ceremony- Frazer UMC
Reception + catering- Wynlakes Golf & Country Club
Planning + florals- Evan & Company
Hair + makeup- GLOW
Video- BB Media
Wedding dress- I Do Bridal and Formal
Jewelry (Bride)- JB & Co.
Wedding cake- Cake Designs
Bridesmaids dresses- Show Me Your Mumu
Invitations- Walker 360

Michael + Cat [engagement]

How did you two meet?
Michael: "Even though we’re both from Montgomery, we didn’t actually meet until we went to Auburn. During our freshman year at Auburn, we became good friends and remained friends throughout our time in college. Despite just being friends for a while she was always someone I really enjoyed spending time with. From the beginning Cat was also one of the easiest people to talk to and was truly a great friend that I knew was always going to be there for me. During my fifth year at Auburn when I was getting my Masters in Accounting, Cat was fortunately also still in town. We started going to dinner fairly regularly but still just as friends. The more and more we hung out the more I realized how stupid I was for not pursuing a relationship sooner. From very early on in our dating relationship I knew she was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I’m thankful each and every day for having Cat as my fiancé."

Cat: "I love looking back on Michael and mine’s relationship and seeing how God weaved the most perfect path for us to end up with one another. Even though we’re both from Montgomery, we didn’t meet actually meet until our freshman year at Auburn. Over the next several years, we became great friends. I remember always enjoying spending time with him and how I thought he always gave the best advice. As our friendship progressed so did our care and liking for one another. Ever since our first date, I knew our relationship was something special. I cannot wait to marry Michael!"

How and when did Michael propose?
Michael: "February 6th. I had told Cat we were going to Montgomery for my grandmother’s birthday party on a Saturday afternoon. Auburn was playing Ole Miss in basketball that day so I asked if we could go to Montgomery early and go to her parents’ house to watch the game before the birthday party. Obviously, the birthday party was just a ploy and instead both of our families were waiting for us at Cat’s house. I think I held it together and didn’t spoil anything on the drive-- blaming any nerves I had on the Auburn basketball game coming up. When we got to her house, I parked in the front which I never did so at this point I think she knew something was going on. It was a slightly rainy day so her mom had left us boots and an umbrella at the front door. I then walked Cat through her backyard to their pier on their pond. Her mom and grandmother had set up the pier with flower arrangements. Everything looked perfect. I honestly don’t remember what all I said but I’m so blessed that Cat said yes. We then went back into the house where we were greeted by family. It was truly the best day of my life."

Cat: "I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect day! Michael is a big planner; so, I had an idea that the engagement would be happening soon (because he told me). But I truly had no idea he was going to propose the weekend that he did. He told me the week before that we would be traveling to our hometown to celebrate his grandmother’s birthday. Michael’s mom even called him when he was with me to tell him about the party and that we needed to pick up a sweet card for her. A couple of days before the proposal weekend, he mentioned that we should go a little early so that we could be in Montgomery in time to watch the Auburn basketball game at my parents’ house. As we pulled into the driveway, I started to sense that something was different about that day. Once we got out of the car, Michael walked us through the back yard to our pier. While at the pier, he shared that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and asked me to marry him. We then celebrated the rest of the day with our families. February 6th was most perfect day!"

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
Michael: "Attending Auburn athletic events. In general, I think we both really enjoy going to the games together and getting to spend time together with our families and friends. The first time I met Cat’s parents was at an Auburn basketball game when we were still friends. The first time I travelled with Cat we went to Nashville for the SEC Championship. Our first date was the Auburn St. Louis basketball game in Birmingham and coincidentally enough-- Auburn is actually playing St. Louis again on our wedding date. I knew after our first date if Cat still wanted to date me after seeing me at Auburn athletic events, we had a good shot of making it."

Cat: "Luckily, Michael and I enjoy and are interested in many of the same things! While Auburn athletic events are probably at the top of the list, you can always catch us eating out on pretty much any night of the week! Michael and I are also family oriented, and love spending time with our families."

Michael-- describe Cat in three words:
Michael: "Cat is caring. From the very beginning when we were just friends, Cat was very intentional on genuinely seeing how I was doing. She was always there to help me or provide advice for any and all things I was struggling with. As our relationship grew from friendship to a dating relationship and now an engagement, Cat has become even more caring. Cat is selfless-- she is truly one of the most selfless people I know. She puts everyone before herself, always doing her absolute best to help everyone without thinking of her own interests. Her selflessness is one of the things I admire most about her. Cat is thoughtful. In both our friendship and relationship Cat has always been extremely thoughtful. Whether it’s showing up with a random little gift to make my day or providing the perfect live advice at the right time, Cat’s thoughtfulness is always on display."

Cat-- describe Michael in three words:
Cat: "Michael is patient, thoughtful, and intelligent. He always knows how to read me in any situation. If I’m overwhelmed, he knows how to calm me down. If I’m down, he knows how to cheer me up. If I’m excited, he’s the first to celebrate with me. He knows me so well, and I couldn’t imagine life without him."

Will + Elizabeth [4.10.21 wedding] Montgomery, Ala.

How did you two meet?
Elizabeth: "We met at the end of our senior year on a CRU mission trip to Costa Rica. I was supposed to go on a different mission trip, but my mentor at the time convinced me to go to Costa Rica last minute because she was leading it. I remember being instantly drawn to Will's humor and how he made everyone that he was around feel loved and known. Little did we know, I would be going to Charleston for the summer, and then Will would be leaving for East Asia the week I got back from Charleston for a year."

How and when did Will propose?
Elizabeth: "Will proposed on the most perfect day over a beautiful lookout point in Birmingham on August 28, 2020. I had NO idea he was proposing that day, I was actually 30 minutes late to the proposal because I was getting a new phone at the Verizon store! It was the sweetest moment being able to visibly see the Lord faithfulness throughout the year we had been dating- long distance was not easy, but with the Lords peace, guidance and love we made it!"

Elizabeth--what's one of the things you admire most about Will?
Elizabeth: "I know this sounds cheesy, but Will is the most amazing human being I have ever met, and I am confident that it is because He knows where his value is found. The first time I met Will, I was instantly drawn to him because he had this confidence that I have never seen in anybody-- not the, ‘I'm great’ kind of confidence, but the, ‘I know I am loved by my Father so I want to love everyone that way’ --but then what I truly loved, is that he did not expect anything in return from it. When I got to know Will more, I noticed that he realizes the weight of his sins and knows that he is not perfect, so he is quick to forgive just like Christ forgives us. He is the most patient, loving, kind-hearted man. His strengths are all of my weaknesses, so it is amazing to see Will pick up where I fall short (which is a lot)."

What was each yall's favorite part of the wedding day?
Elizabeth: "It is honestly hard to put a finger on what was my favorite part of the wedding day, but I think the ceremony was it! Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of walking down the aisle with my dad and the doors opening, and I would be staring at the love of my life! I am usually very nervous in front of crowds, but I had this overwhelming peace the entire time! The Lord's love was definitely felt in the room and it was amazing getting to say our vows in front of everyone we love the most. It was definitely everything I have dreamt of and more!"

Will: "I would have to echo Elizabeth in saying that my favorite part of the day was the ceremony! Before it was time for her to walk through the doors, it was such a special moment to look out into the sanctuary and see so many people who have meant so much to us throughout every stage of our lives. Ultimately, however, standing at the altar and staring into Elizabeth's eyes while we said our vows is something that I will never forget. To be standing in that moment and think about how faithful the Lord had been in our relationship to lead us to that moment still and always will leave me in awe of our blessed Redeemer."

Will-- what's one of the things you admire most about Elizabeth?
Will: "There are an innumerable amount of things that I really admire about Elizabeth. She truly knows that she walks in the Spirit and that is evident in so many amazing characteristics that she has. If I had to name a few I would start with how her heart breaks for the things that the Lord’s breaks for as well. She can see all that is going on in our world and can’t help but be stirred up in emotion and pray for this temporary home we all share, ravaged by sin. Through her devotion to the Lord I am sharpened and see that the only thing that we can truly place our hope in is eternity. I can’t begin to describe what an honor it is that I get to share the rest of my life with her. And, if anyone knows Elizabeth, they know that she is absolutely hysterical. She has a tremendous amount of natural wit and humor and can bring a beaming ray of light wherever it is needed."

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
Elizabeth: "We are definitely foodies, so our favorite thing to do is to find new or hole in the wall restaurants! As embarrassing it is to admit, we LOVE Yelp, so we constantly look at it to find new and fun restaurants that we haven’t tried!"

What's next for you two?
Elizabeth: "We are currently living in Homewood, Alabama where I am working with ARC Realty, and Will is working in wealth management at Southwestern Investment Group. We actually just added the newest member to the family, Charlie Akins, the most perfect golden-doodle in the world! We are so excited to see where the Lord leads us, but we are definitely loving where he has placed us right now."

Vendors:
Planning and flowers- Southern Posies
Calligraphy - Mary Grace Jones
Bride's dress- Ivory and White
Beauty- Abby Moorer
Invitations - Jessica Hinton/Empress Sta​t​ionery
Video- Hudson Huffman
Cake- Cake Designs
Venue and catering- Montgomery Country Club

Zach + Anna Leigh {3.6.21 wedding} Huntsville, Ala.

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

Joshua + Peri Lane │engagement│Auburn, Ala.

How did you two meet?
Peri Lane: "Joshua and I met through church in Auburn! We have gone to the same church as each other since freshman year, but we didn’t know each other at all freshman year- we just knew of each other. We did not formally meet until the beginning of our sophomore year. Our church was having a potluck one of the very first Sundays of the semester to welcome new students, and I decided to help serve drinks (which I had never done before) so that I could meet people as they came through the food line. When Joshua came through the line, I stuck my hand out and said, 'Hey I’m Peri Lane, I do not think we have ever actually met.' He was so polite and his kindness struck me. He shook my hand and told me his name and just seemed very genuine-- and his blonde hair was dreamy to me. It is pretty much history from there. The next week we started 'talking' and then very soon after that we started dating!!"

Joshua: "We met at a church potluck at the very beginning of sophomore year. We had been going to church together for the last year, but were in different circles of friends and didn’t get to meet during freshman year. She was the one pouring everyone’s tea, water and soft drinks at the end of the food line. She introduced herself to me, and I was so shocked that someone as pretty as her was initiating a conversation with me. We had a short conversation over the drink table, and that night we talked more at the college devotional. Two days later, I was invited by her friends to her surprise birthday party and the rest is history."

How and when did Joshua propose?
Peri Lane: "Joshua proposed on November 13, 2020! FINALLY!! It was a Friday night. We had been talking all that week about going on a nice date or doing something fun that Friday night. I was thinking like a nice dinner or something, but Joshua had been mentioning bowling all week. I was always trying to give him perfect opportunities to propose, just being helpful like I am-- and I just couldn’t believe he wanted to go bowling when I was giving him the most perfect opportunity and really the last opportunity before finals started to propose. We hadn’t talked about our plans for that night in a few days so that Friday afternoon I was on a walk while Joshua was at band practice (I liked to walk around that time so I could creep on him and listen to them play ), and I got a message from him telling me he would pick me up at 7 and to be dressed nice WITH A WINKY FACE EMOJI!!!!! I was on the phone with my mom when I got the text, and we started reading into what the winky face could mean. I decided that I thought he was just doing that to be funny. I did a little speed walking back to my apartment to get dressed and was all ready for dinner. He picked me up with the most beautiful flowers (he frequently gets me flowers, but these were the most beautiful ones he had ever given me- roses, lilies, hydrangeas and all in my very favorite colors pink and white!!!)! We then went to dinner at a restaurant in Auburn called Acre which Joshua always calls 'The Acre' and I always have to remind him it’s not, 'THE WALMART' --LOL! We had a great dinner, I ate all of his broccoli casserole, and then I started questioning things. I started asking questions trying to find out what we were going to do after dinner so I could try to see how this night was going to go. Since it was getting close to Christmas time there was a particular street in Auburn that already had some lights up, so I asked if we could go ride and look at them after dinner. He told me we could, but that he wanted to get dessert to go so we needed to take it back to my apartment refrigerator after dinner first. He then goes on to say that we may need to run by his house as well because he thinks he forgot his computer. I then said, 'DO YOU HAVE TO DO HOMEWORK TONIGHT?' I was thinking well here goes this-- he has to study for the rest of the night. I then said, 'Well I guess we aren’t getting engaged tonight.' He then told me that he in fact did not have homework, but just wanted to show me something on his computer so that settled that minor setback, but I was still a little ticked about the whole thing, haha ! We left dinner, and he went to check the trunk of his car for his 'computer.' Turns out he actually had it in there so we were good to go (and he was hiding the ring in his computer case)!! We got back to my apartment and as soon as we got out of the car he asked if I wanted to go walk on campus. WHY YES I DO! We walked to campus, and I just knew and it got very exciting! We walked to the spot where we had had our first lunch together which was the first time we ever spent any real time together. After he waited for some random skateboarders to pass he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I SAID YES! I had been longing for that day for so long and was so humbled and excited that it had finally come!!!! It was the best night!"

Joshua: "I proposed on November 13, 2020. Our first date was at Steak and Shake in the Melton Student Center on Auburn’s campus. For our proposal, I wanted it to be somewhere meaningful, so we walked from her apartment (just off campus) to the space next to the student center. I asked her where it was that we had our first date, and she realized what was going on. I got down on one knee and she agreed to marry me."

What are some things you like to do together?
Peri Lane: "We love to play tennis, watch The Duggars and go to Target together. For me anytime with Joshua is 10000000000000x more fun and amazing, so I always long for time with him and want to be with him every second!!"

Joshua: "We love watching awful TV shows and laughing at the people on them (American Idol, Bachelor/ette, cooking shows). She has been teaching me how to play tennis, and we have a blast doing that together-- even if she’s still making up new rules. We love going to eat at our favorite restaurants in Auburn, Acre, if we’re feeling fancy or Tacorita if we want some queso."

Peri Lane-- describe Joshua in three words:
Peri Lane: "Joshua is charming, funny and thoughtful."

Joshua-- describe Peri Lane in three words:
"Peri Lane is dependable, beautiful and thoughtful."

Sepp + Paige│engagement│Birmingham, Ala.

How did you two meet?
Paige: "I always thought that I would meet my husband in Auburn. I prayed to marry a true, Auburn man, and we would live happily ever after-- cheering on our Auburn Tigers. God has a real sense of humor and half of that prayer was answered. I did meet the love of my life in Auburn, at Sky Bar -- icing on the cake! -- but he turned out to be the BIGGEST UGA fan on the planet. We antagonized each other that entire first night-- and the night after. Is it weird that I liked the banter back and forth? Honestly, I think that's what sparked the connection-- that and some encouragement from great friends :) Before we knew it, we were meeting each other's families at Christmas!"

Sepp: "We met at the UGA/Auburn game in Auburn. I have a good friend who went to Auburn, so I went to the game with him and his then girlfriend, now wife, was friends with Paige. We really hit it off after the game even though she was being pretty vocal about Auburn winning... (Thankfully, that’s the last time Auburn has beaten Georgia, so I haven’t had to hear it since.)"

What do you two enjoy doing together?
Paige: "We love eating yummy food/exploring new restaurants, entertaining friends with dinner and games, spending time with each other's families and traveling. Sepp's job takes him some pretty cool places, and I'm happy to tag along when I can!"

Paige— describe Sepp in three words:
Paige: "Sepp is faithful, humble and incredibly hard-working (I know that's four words plus a hyphen, but he needs it, okay?!)"

How and when did Sepp propose?
Paige: "December 18, 2020-- man, did he surprise me! I never thought there was a reality where I would be surprised at my proposal-- I just generally figured everything out. But, we had been on an amazing vacation in Mexico two weeks prior, and I had in the back of my mind that he might propose then. So when that didn't happen, I think I really put down the antennae and thought, "Okay, maybe Q1". Regardless, he pulled it off without a hitch on such a normal Friday. I worked all day, and he had told me earlier that he got us a table at Gianmarco's Wine Bar for dinner (still no flags-- we eat here often). We both had exciting weeks at work, so if anything felt 'extra,' I would have assumed it was a mini celebration for those things! On the way to dinner he mentioned that we had to eat quickly because there was a private party starting at 7:00 (this was close to Christmas so that tracked; lots of Christmas parties happening). We get to Gianmarcos, order dinner, pick out a bottle of wine, just enjoy each other's company. It was perfect. The restaurant starts to clear out, and I notice the time-- we want to order dessert (always) but we're pushing into the private party. I ask the waitress if we need to get it to-go (she's in on the whole thing!) and she very calmly tells me they are running late, and we're good to hang out for a while. So sneaky!!! Then Sepp orders champagne -- definitely more special than a normal Friday night dinner, but I'm thinking, 'Yay! Celebrating our good work weeks!' Ha! Still oblivious. Then Sepp walks around to one of the wine racks and asks me to come look (we always walk around and dream about the bottles we can't afford). I was reluctant because they had just asked us not to touch the bottle because of COVID (such a rule follower). He says "'ust get over here...' and that was the first time I thought, "Hmmmm.' I walk over, and he grabs both my hands in his-- shaking a little, and he gets down on one knee. 'This has been a long time coming, Paige. Will you marry me?' I still get teary-eyed :)

…But that's not all! As we're hugging and crying and hugging again, in walks both of our families and some of our dearest friends! The private party after dinner was for us!! The entire Gianmarco's staff was in on it, and we even have a super special video of the proposal :) Our family and friends enjoyed a meal together and we got to bask in all the love and excitement. Sepp got a few bottles of the wine he 'lured' me in with, and we're saving them for special moments together in the future!!"

Sepp-- describe Paige in three words:
Sepp: "Paige is empathetic, honest and organized."

Brandon + Darby │12.12.20 wedding │Auburn, Ala.

How did you two meet?
Darby: "Brandon and I were set up through a mutual friend after we followed each other on social media. A great friend from my hometown, who was also in my college sorority, was dating Brandon’s best friend from growing up. She devised this master plan to set us up. I was living in Dallas, TX at the time and he had just moved back to Auburn. I will never forget where I was when Brandon texted me introducing himself and asking if he could take me out to dinner the next time I was back home in Auburn. We texted for about a week and then Brandon finally got the courage to call me, haha! We talked for hours that night, pretty sure I did not go to sleep until 2 am, and from then on, we talked every night until we finally were able to meet in person. Our first date was the SEC championship game in December 2017. Brandon met me and 30 seconds later met my parents, friends and family friends. I was NERVOUS to say the least. My family/friends are the best, but can definitely be overwhelming, ha! Brandon was not phased and jumped right in; I loved that. He didn’t mind my yelling at the game and giggled at my mini bottles in my purse. Our first kiss was after an Auburn touchdown during the game that day, and I am pretty sure neither of us meant to do it, it just came so naturally. War Eagle to that?? The next day we went to brunch before I had to fly back to Dallas, and I will never forget Brandon asking if he could pray over our food. I was in shock, the man that I had dreamed about and prayed for so long may have been sitting next to me, holding my hand and blessing our food. Turns out, he was, and I thank the Lord every single day for him!"

Brandon: "Well it’s kind of a funny start to a lifelong relationship but looking back on it I would not change it for the world. I knew of Darby throughout college and we were even at some of the same parties, but it just so happened that our paths never crossed. Fast forward 4 years after college my best friend’s wife filled me in on her because they were really close friends back home as well. She gave me her number and once I got up enough courage to finally reach out and give her a call, it was all fireworks from there. We talked every night until we both physically could not keep our eyes open any longer, haha. I was trying to figure out the best time to ask her on our first date, and it just so happens that she is a die-hard Auburn football fan like myself. Auburn was going to the SEC championship in Atlanta in December of 2017 so I thought that would be the perfect first date for us to go on. I got us tickets and needless to say it was a day that I will always hold dear to my heart until the day that I die. That same day when I got to the stadium to meet her, she failed to mention that I would be meeting her ENTIRE family as well as all of their closest friends. I dove right in and it was so easy because they are some of the best people you will ever meet!"

How and when did Brandon propose?
Darby: "We had a beach trip planned the last weekend of December 2019 to Hollin Graham’s beach house (the girl who set us up actually!) for her birthday. I was so excited to celebrate Hollin and also because my best friend, Hannah Martin, and her husband were coming too. Friday night we stayed in and drank wine while playing cards. Saturday was rainy, so we went to brunch and watched football all day. Patrick had made reservations for Hollin’s birthday dinner that night at Ruth’s Chris (or so I thought), so we started getting ready late that afternoon. I was the first one ready, so I went out into the living room to catch the rest of the LSU game. When I came out, the boys finally decided to get up and get ready. Brandon came out a few minutes later and looked beyond handsome. He sat down beside me and told me how beautiful I looked, and asked if I wanted to go outside to watch the sunset. Of course, I agreed and out to the balcony we went. We stood against the railing looking out into the ocean and Brandon began telling me how crazy he was about me and how devoted he was to taking care of me every single day for the rest of our lives. My heart was racing, and butterflies were swarming inside of me, and I was trying so hard to soak up the moment and take in everything he was saying. Tears welled up in my eyes and the next thing I knew he was down on one knee asking me to be his wife. I was ecstatic!! That moment is truly the happiest moment I have felt on this earth. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a picture in my mind of a moment and a feeling that I will never ever forget."

Brandon: "So Darby had her mind made up that she wanted to be engaged before the end of December 2019. She was all over me about making sure that I knew that! It was so funny because as the year winded down and all of these holidays kept passing by you could tell that she would get more and more eager/frustrated that it had not happened yet, haha! Little did she know that I had the perfect plan in mind so that she would have no idea when to expect it. I bought the ring at the beginning of December and it was absolutely burning a hole in my pocket because I wanted to give it to her so bad. Darby and I went to the beach to Hollin and Patrick Graham’s beach condo along with Hannah and Hayes Martin. We also planned for Darby’s mom and sister to show up as a surprise as soon as the question had been popped to participate in the festivities! It was kind of an overcast day that Saturday, so we went to brunch as a group earlier in the morning and came back to the condo to watch football for the rest of the day. We told Darby that Patrick had a very nice dinner reserved so we could all go out and celebrate Hollin’s birthday which was earlier that week. Little did she know that she would be getting ready for a night that she had been dreaming of since she was a little girl. The girls spent most of the afternoon getting ready for 'the very nice dinner' we had plotted, haha. As soon as they were done, I went to go get ready myself. I had to keep myself calm because the time kept getting closer to go time and my heart started beating faster and faster. I came out and asked Darby if she would come out on the balcony with me. Hayes had his camera ready to go just as we had planned. The sun started coming out the moment we walked out there, and everything just lined up perfectly. I started speaking from my heart and as soon as I got closer to asking her to marry me, I felt a couple tears entering my eyes. Everything finally set in for me at that point and it was a night I will never forget."

Darby--what's one of the things you admire most about Brandon?

Darby: "Hands down, his love for the Lord. Brandon is God-fearing and grounded in his faith, and I knew this about him the day we shared our first date. His love for Christ is contagious and it has been a catalyst for my journey with Jesus. I truly believe that Brandon is a million amazing things- loyal, honest, loving, selfless, hardworking; the list goes on and on. But I know that he is all of these things because above all, he loves God with all his heart. I am humbled daily that I get to spend forever with Brandon and have him be the leader of our house and our one day, growing family."

Brandon-- what's one of the things you admire most about Darby?

Brandon: "This is a very tough question because there are so many things that I admire about Darby, but if I had to choose one it would be her constant pursuit of the Lord. Her love for Him has grown tremendously since the day I first laid eyes on her. She is committed and such a hard worker and everything that she does is a reflection of her daily walk with Christ. Her unconditional love for me and our fur baby, Saint, is a constant reminder of how lucky I am that God led me to her. She is such a precious and loving soul. I know that one day she is going to be such a wonderful mother to our children, and that all stems back to her grounded relationship she has grown to have in Christ!"

What was each yall's favorite part of the wedding day?

Darby: "Gosh it is so hard to pick just one favorite! I did my best to cherish every single moment and capture as many mental memories as I could but truly, every minute was special to me. From the unmeasurable joy I felt from having our loved ones from all walks of life (not to mention amongst a global pandemic) to the last dance shared by just us two after we had the best day/night of our lives; I think the two memories that stick out the most are the first look and taking communion. The anticipation and nerves I felt before seeing Brandon on that day were unmatched but all of them vanished the moment I saw him. I loved the letters we exchanged and the intimate minutes we got to spend away from everything. The communion we took as our first act of marriage is too special to me for words to actually articulate. That moment we declared to each other and our loved ones that God would be the center of our marriage. The blessing that Pastor Wren prayed over us is something I will never forget and I loved feeling God's presence there with us.

Brandon: "Wow, where do I start? Literally every part of our wedding weekend was absolutely amazing. Having so many family members and close friends there from all over the country meant the absolute world to me. Just to take the time out of their busy schedules to be here for our special day speaks volumes of how blessed we are with the people that God has surrounded us with in our lives. It's hard to choose just one moment, but once again if I HAD to choose just one it would be our first look and the reading of our letters to each other. For starters, I was a nervous wreck before I laid eyes on Darby mainly because I knew the water works would flow as soon as I saw her. Low and behold I was spot on with that assessment! The feeling that came over me I cannot possibly put into words, but it is a feeling that I will remember until the day that I die. Then we got to exchange the letters we wrote for each other and that very same feeling came over me once more! It was truly a moment where I felt like time froze for both of us, and we were literally just embracing the presence of God and His blessing he bestowed upon our marriage!"

What's next for you two?

Darby: "We are planting roots right here in Auburn, AL. We love this town so much, and it is such a special place for both of us. We have walked through seasons of life separately and together here and now just started the process of building a house here-- it feels full circle! We love being close to both of our families and know we will love that even more when we have a family of our own. But for now, we are soaking up being newlyweds and so excited about building our new house together."

Vendors:
Ceremony Venue- AUMC Chapel
Reception Venue/Catering- Moore's Mill Club
Planning/Design/Florals- Southern Posies
Videographer- Aaron Wilhite
Make up- Be Loved Beauty- Rachel Griffin
Hair- Beauty by Halee Brooke- Halee McKenzie
Bride's dress- Monique Lhuillier via Ivory and White
Bridesmaids' dresses- Jenny Yoo via Bella Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids' earrings- Susan Standeffer Designs
Tuxes- The Locker Room (Auburn)
Band- 2nd Coming
Invitation suite- Carlson Craft
Painted bottle- Ruth Oneya Illustrations
Rentals/Lighting- PRE Events
Bride's cake- Malisa Hanson
Groom's cake- Sonshine Bakery
Linens- BBJ Linen
Transportation- Tiger Limo
Getting ready location- The Black Barn via Airbnb

Connor + Sadler │1.28.21 wedding │Seaside, FL

How did you two meet?

Sadler: "Let's just say, we have some pretty fabulous friends! We were set up by our very dear friends, Betsy and Lance Wallace, that said we would be absolutely perfect for one another. (And boy were they right!) We were both in the same wedding and attended an engagement party where little did we know we were getting set up, but thank goodness we were. I remember thinking that I had never met anyone so charismatic and made the room brighter and more fun. He was magnetic:) We've been together ever since that engagement party!"

How and when did Connor propose?

Connor: "We had had a ski trip planned with a group of friends for close to 9 months, and I figured there would be no better place to propose. I told Sadler that when we landed, I had a cousin who lived there that wanted to take us to lunch before our trip really started. Our photographer picked us up at the airport and posed as said, 'long lost cousin' that Sadler had never met. When we got to the mountain, Sadler suggested we pull over to take a photo, which could not have worked out better for the plan, might I add. Little did she know that we had specifically chosen that exact spot she had wanted to pull over. We walk out in the middle of fresh snow (a.k.a-- I fell halfway through our walk and was covered head to toe in snow.) We got to the end and botta bing, botta boom.. here we are. It was awesome!"

What was each of yall's favorite part of the day?

Sadler: "Unanimously, the ceremony! However, the entire weekend was filled with such amazing moments overall. Our wedding day did not look how either of us had originally imagined. We were supposed to get married in a big church with every seat filled with friends and family and people that had watched us grow. We were supposed to have a large reception at a country club with dancing, bouquet tosses and getaway cars. To say it was a little different would be a HUGE understatement. However, it was better than either of us could have ever imagined! We were reminded that no matter the plans and ideas we have, God will always have ones that are better and more grand than we could have ever pictured ourselves. We were married underneath a gorgeous tree, known as 'The Marriage Tree' in Seaside, FL, with 15 members of our family watching, and officiated by my incredible cousin. It was special beyond words and more intimate than we could ever explain. We felt a sense of overwhelming love that day both near and far. Our wedding parties put together videos and zoom calls throughout the weekend showing their love and support from a distance while our parents, siblings and grandparents were there to hold our hands and clink our drinks! Throughout our planning process, we had one goal above all else-- to get married. Our ceremony was that moment for us that we had been looking forward to and praying about for 10 months. We wouldn't change a thing even if we could!"

What do you two enjoy doing together?

Sadler: "We are big travelers, We love to be on the go and visit new places. Neither one of us are good at sitting down, so we like to be up and on the go! But what we really love to do... is play with our girls, Arley girl and Daisy Dog:)"

Sadler-- what's one thing you admire most about Connor?

Sadler: "There are SO many things to admire about my sweet husband, so it's hard to pick just one! But if I had to, I would say one of the things I admire most about Connor is how intentional he is. No matter if it's me, family, friends or a stranger at the grocery store, Connor has this innate ability to make you feel so loved and supported. When you're talking, he's listening. When you need a friend, he's right next to you. When you're having a moment where you're feeling weak, he's strong for you. And my personal favorite-- when you're feeling down, he'll somehow make you laugh until your stomach hurts. He will drop whatever he is doing to help someone, pick up the phone and call a friend to catch up and check on them regularly, and give you the world's best hype up talk when you're needing it. He cares so much about people and it radiates in his actions every day!"

Connor-- what's one thing you admire most about Sadler?

Connor: "No matter the situation, Sadler always handles what she's presented with with such grace. Whereas I am much more inclined to say exactly how I feel in the moment, she helps me to take a step back and think how best to approach it overall in a calm and kind way. I also love and admire how she always gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. She would much rather see the best in people than focus on the negative. She's the sweetest person I've ever met."

What's next for you two?

Sadler: "ST LUCIA BABY!!!!!!!! One of the lovely things about both of us getting COVID nine days out from our original wedding date was we had to cancel our honeymoon as well. Thankfully we have both recently gotten negative PCR tests and are St. Lucia bound at the end of the month! We will be spending our one-month anniversary with our toes in the sand and frozen drinks in our hands! :)"

Vendors:
dress: The White Room
tuxes: Mr. Burch Formal Wear
H+MU: Brittany Sigler with Destin Mobile Makeup Box
bridesmaid dresses: Bella Bridesmaids
flowers: Ceremony- Bella Flora
Sadler: "HUGE PROUD DAUGHTER ALERT: everything else design and floral wise at the house was done by my AMAZINGLY TALENTED mother, Joan Sanders. She worked tirelessly to make it absolutely perfect in every way possible."
cake: Barb's Cakes
Sadler: "HUGE PROUD SISTER ALERT: My amazing sister created the incredible menus with our furry children on them:) Paper x Evans"

Chip + Christian│engagement│Montgomery, Ala.

How did you two meet?
Christian: "Chip and I met on a dating app. I remember thinking he was easy to talk to. We texted every day some pleasantries, how are you, who are you type questions, and I just remember it being easy. Then days turned to weeks, our banter got funnier and our conversations got longer. We had a couple of phone calls. Then, we had our first in-person date a little over a month later from 'matching.' Honestly, I thought our first date was just OK, haha! It was easy to chat, but I remember thinking: "No fireworks or crazy signs that he is the one?!" --but there was no reason I shouldn't go on a second date-- especially when he had driven up 1.5 hours to take me out and then 1.5 hours back home to Fort Rucker. Not to mention we could carry on a conversation for 4+ hours of a first meeting. The text he sent after our first date was really what made me give him a second chance. And I'm so very glad I did."

*Their first “meet up” was at Common Bond Brewers in downtown Montgomery where photos below were taken. Thanks, Common Bond! *

What are some things you too enjoy doing together?
Chip: "We enjoy traveling however/wherever we can. In 2020, this meant that at times driving 50 miles for a small town coffee shop was an adventure. House projects and yard work filled much of our weekends and it became clear that we both enjoy creating comfortable spaces inside or outside to enjoy. We are both very excited about future adventures with our pup, Oliver."

Christian: "We really enjoy being outside, doing house projects together, playing with our dog, Oliver and traveling when we can! We are big fans of finding new breweries and taco spots. We also love our friends and plan to spend lots of post-pandemic travel time to visit them."

How and when did Chip propose?
Chip: "A better story better told by Christian-- I think I blacked out. After several trips back and forth from Enterprise to Birmingham and one extra long journey to Huntsville and back, I finally had the perfect ring and her father's blessing. Then came the hard part! I wanted it to be fun, relaxing, and romantic... but it's impossible to not overthink it. The original plan was to fly a helicopter into Jordan-Hare Stadium at half-time of Iron Bowl and propose on a stage decorated by Charles Barkely, but, COVID. Plan B turned out to be even better. We ordered our favorite pizza (sort of... they were out of caramelized onions), put on a movie and had a dinner picnic in the living room. At some point, I couldn't resist any more, and I just asked. It was perfect because she said, 'yes’— nothing else really mattered to me."

Christian: "We had talked about engagement in 'hypotheticals'-- like, if someone were to ask me to marry him, I wouldn't want anyone watching-- I'm very subtle. When Chip proposed, I did not see it coming. It was the day before Thanksgiving, and Chip was still in flight school and flying at night. On Tuesday, he called and asked if we could get to my parents the morning of Thanksgiving and have Wednesday to relax-- which is not really like him, so I knew he MUST be tired. That Wednesday I was baking cookies, we ordered our favorite pizza (Chip was recreating his favorite date of ours) and had a rug picnic at my house watching the Greatest Showman (an almost Christmas movie). We were eating cookies, being silly dancing around the living room-- and he proposed! We didn't call or tell anyone until the holiday and the day after so we could enjoy discussing our future non-hypothetically (finally!)"

Christian— what do you admire most about Chip?

Christian: "Chip is just a good person. I love his service-oriented heart. He uses his truck to help friends move, turns around in the middle of a storm to make sure those that ran off the road are safe and okay, fixes the little kid next door's bicycle when the handlebars are loose, keeps water bottles in his car to give to the homeless-- and always makes me put grocery items back on the aisle I found them. I am constantly learning from his example-- he makes me a better human."

Chip's answer to Christian's question above: "Obviously his rugged masculinity, unmatched wit and superhuman strength."

Chip— what do you admire most about Christian?
Chip: "Her kindness, optimism and elegance. She surrounds herself with amazing friends, who think the world of her. I love her ability to maintain these strong connections, and I look forward to making new ones together as a couple. I have to admit however, it's very hard to keep track of who's who sometimes!"

Patrick + Zay │engagement│Lake Martin, Ala.

How did you two meet?
Patrick: "I was in third grade and had been sent outside the classroom for one reason or another, when another class walked by and I noticed Zay. I thought she was so pretty and from then on whenever I saw her I would continue to think how pretty I thought she was. We had a few opportunities to talk and get to know each other towards the end of high school, but it wasn’t until my third year in college, during spring break, that I really had the opportunity to become a part of her life. My friend Chapman and I had gone down to the beach. While we were hanging out with a group of friends, Chapman came across Zay on the way to the gas station. He invited her to come hangout with us, and thankfully she agreed. Over the next few days, I spent as much time as I could trying to talk to her and get to know her-- and of course impress her. One night we went out as a group and thanks to my friend, I had an opportunity to dance with her, which led to the best and last first kiss of my life. My friend and I ended up spending the rest of spring break with Zay. Her and I really started to hit it off. Once the week had ended, she came to see me in Auburn and the rest is history."

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?

Zay: "Patrick and I are similar in many ways. We love doing anything outdoors. We love ski/snowboard, hiking, kayaking, climbing and biking. Patrick is now teaching me how to hunt. We both just bought bows and arrows. Camping is something else we enjoy doing, but unfortunately don’t get to do it that often. We love being lazy together and watching movies. Looking up recipes and 'trying' to cook it is something we also enjoy doing. Going to the beach or traveling anywhere together is one of our favorite things. Just being able to experience new things together is something we always talk about. We’re planning on getting into kiteboarding and planning on taking a lesson very soon."

How and when did Patrick propose?
Zay: "Patrick and I had gone down to the beach with his two brothers and his brother's fiancé. We always bring his brothers down to the beach, so it wasn’t out of the ordinary that they were there. We had a great first day at the beach. The next day we went on the beach, Patrick had told me his mom wanted pictures of us dressed up on the beach. Of course I didn’t think anything of it. We were all down there and what mom doesn’t want pictures of their children? Not knowing what was going on, I put on one of his favorite outfits of mine. It was my white jumpsuit. He loved that outfit! He had requested that I wear it anyway, which of course was not out of the ordinary because I knew how much he loved it. He was very specific on what time he wanted to go take pictures. I had been ready for a while, so I kept saying, 'Let's go, let's go.' He had wanted to wait for the sunset. Finally when it was that time, the two of us had walked down to the beach. He held my hand and walked me to this random chair that was sitting on the beach. As we got to the chair, there was this scrap book sitting on it. I was confused as to why it was sitting there. I picked it up and it was a book of all the memories we had together. When I got to the last page it said, 'WILL YOU MARRY ME!!!' I looked at him and he had gotten down on one knee and asked me!!"

Patrick: "I had been planning to purpose for about six months or more. I had the emotional talk with her mom and the intimidating talk with her dad months prior-- and thankfully both gave me their blessing. I went through a lot of different plans leading up to the proposal. Over the four years prior, Zay and I had been through so much and had made so many amazing memories together. With this, I decided to make a scrapbook cataloging all the wonderful things that had happened since we met. Once I had finished it, I was so excited to give it to her and satisfy the anticipation that had been building in me over the past months. Finally, on a trip to the beach, I had my brother go set up a chair on the beach with the scrapbook laying on it. I told Zay I wanted to take pictures on the beach for my mothers birthday, and so we dressed up nice and walked down to the beach. We came across the book and began reading it together. I had written a small quote on each page that together slowly built up to the most important question of my life. The closer we got to the last page the more nervous I became, and when we finally reached the last page that read, 'Will you marry me?' I was so nervous I almost forgot what I was supposed to do or say. Thankfully the part of my brain that had rehearsed this moment over and over again throughout the many months prior took over, and I found myself on one knee looking up at the most beautiful women, that by some miracle, had agreed to spend the rest of her life with me."

Zay-- describe Patrick in three words:
Zay: "Patrick is selfless, adventurous, and hard working."

Patrick-- describe Zay in three words:
Patrick: "Zay is compassionate, beautiful and fun."

Connor + Sadler│engagement│Birmingham, Ala

How did you two meet?

Sadler: "Let's just say, we have some pretty fabulous friends! We were set up by our very dear friends, Betsy and Lance Wallace, who said we would be absolutely perfect for one another. (And boy were they right!) We were both in the same wedding and attended an engagement party where little did we know we were getting set up, but thank goodness we were. I remember thinking that I had never met anyone so charismatic and made the room brighter and more fun. He was magnetic :) We've been together ever since that engagement party!"

How did Connor propose?

Connor: "We had had a ski trip planned with a group of friends for close to 9 months, and I figured there would be no better place to propose. I told Sadler that when we landed, I had a cousin who lived there that wanted to take us to lunch before our trip really started. Our photographer picked us up at the airport and posed as said 'long lost cousin' that Sadler had never met. When we got to the mountain, Sadler suggested we pull over to take a photo, which could not have worked out better for the plan, might I add. Little did she know that we had specifically chosen that exact spot she had wanted to pull over. We walked out in the middle of fresh snow (AKA-- I fell halfway through our walk and was covered head to toe in snow.) We got to the end and botta bing, botta boom.. here we are. It was awesome!"

Connor-- describe Sadler in three words:

Connor: "Sadler is kind, sweet and outgoing."

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?

Sadler: We are big travelers, and we love to be on the go and visit new places. Neither one of us are good at sitting down, so we like to be up and on the go! What we really love to do is play with our girls, Arley girl and Daisy Dog :)"

Sadler-- describe Connor in three words:

Sadler: "Connor is charismatic, hysterical, loyal and loving! (Sorry, he deserves so many more than three words!)"

James + Lindsey Colorbox │ engagement│Pike Road, Ala.

How did you two meet?
James: "We met on Bumble, and went on our first date at the melt in Huntsville, but ended up going to Moe's Barbeque for drinks first because the wait was too long. I remember thinking how perfect she was for me-- literally all the qualities I wanted in a girl and beautiful also. (It's probably why Bumble put her as the first girl for me to swipe). I was worried we wouldn't click on our first date, or she wouldn't like me. That was definitely not the case. We ended up staying out late together, and went on another date promptly the next morning!"

Lindsey: "James and I had our first date on August 1, 2019 at Melt in downtown Huntsville. We’d been texting back and forth for a few weeks before we finally went on our first date. We were initially pretty shy, but ended up talking for over four hours that night between Melt, Moe’s BBQ and Humphreys. Once I was home, I got a sweet text that he’d had a great time and would love to hang out with me again the next day if I’d have him-- and of course I agreed! For our second date, James suggested we go to Another Broken Egg for brunch, not knowing that was one of my absolute favorite places and where my late grandpa “Pop” used to take me on brunch dates. After Another Broken Egg, we hiked on Monte Sano Mountain with my dog Ellie and had the best time!"

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
James: "We like going on long walks/hikes together, eating and drinking with our friends and family, and watching our favorite show homeland."

Lindsey: "We love listening to records/music, hiking with our dog Ellie, drinking coffee on off days, watching sunsets, cooking dinner, spending time with our families and friends, concerts, Auburn football and taking walks around our neighborhood."

How and when did James propose?
James: "I proposed on top of Monte Sano Mountain at the Buritt. During the summer, the Buritt was doing a 'Cocktails on the View' every Wednesday night. We had talked about going for months and were actually supposed to have gone the week before, but I had an assignment due in a course for my MBA that day. I didn't really tell anyone I was proposing that night, because I didn't want to ruin the surprise. I waited until the sun was going down, and Lindsey had asked a stranger to take a picture of us. I nervously fumbled through my pocket to get the ring ready to look at an impatient Lindsey. She said, 'What are you doing? Hurry up!' She looked over at me with no surprise-- I thought she saw the ring in my hand. I walked up to where she wanted us to take the picture, and I got down on one knee. Lindsey could not have been more surprised, and also the person taking pictures with her phone! We had a few more drinks and called so many friends and family. She always joked that I would never surprise her when I proposed, but I think I did a pretty good job!"

Lindsey: "On July 15, James and I went to Cocktails on the View at Burritt on the Mountain like we'd been talking about doing forever, and just finally got around to it. I did not think anything of it, and we were just listening to music and having a great time. When the sun began to set I decided (like I always do) that I needed a picture of us on the view. I asked a stranger sitting next to us to take a picture, and little did she or I know what would happen next. Before I knew it, James was down on one knee and before he got anything out aside from my first name I just screamed, 'YES YES YES!' To say I was surprised would be an understatement-- he got me so good! We spent the rest of the night Facetiming our families and friends and it was just so special!"

Lindsey— describe James in three words:
Lindsey: "James is compassionate, hard-working and respectful."

James— describe Lindsey in three words:
James: "Lindsey is kind, happy and beautiful."

Brooks + LeighEllen│7.18.20 wedding│Auburn, Ala.

How did you two meet?
LeighEllen: "Brooks and I met through a mutual friend in Auburn about two years before we had our first date. It was a very brief interaction. I remember thinking he was funny and cute, but we only talked for a few minutes. Fast forward two years, we had both moved to the city of Nashville! I was walking into a restaurant with some friends and he was leaving the same place with his friends. We quite literally bumped into each other at the door. It was one of those funny/awkward, 'Hey.. don't we know each other?' moments. Two months later, we went on our first date at Cheekwood to look at Christmas lights! The rest is history!

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
LeighEllen: "Brooks and I love to go on walks together-- it is one of our favorite activities. We love to get outdoors anytime we can! We love watching Auburn Football on Saturdays in the fall to cheer on the Tigers! Auburn will always be a special place for both of us, since it is where we first met and got married. We love traveling and visiting new places. We enjoy watching movies and going through television series together. We love cooking together and sitting down for meals each day. Most of all, we love to laugh together! He is my best friend and makes everything more fun!"

How and when did Brooks propose?
LeighEllen: "Brooks proposed on December 14, 2019. We were at his grandparents' beautiful property in Camp Hill, AL visiting his family for his dad's birthday. It was a very casual day of hanging out at the house and watching football. I did not think he would propose that day! Brooks' grandmother asked if we would go buy some ice at the store, so we drove to the nearest place with his mom to run this errand. Little did I know, it was an excuse to get me out of the house so that my parents and sister could hide during the proposal. When we got back to the house, his mom asked if we would take something down to the pond that was in their backyard. I started realizing something was up when Brooks could no longer form sentences! When we got to the pond, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! It was such a happy and sweet moment. My sister was hiding and sneaking pictures and our families came running down to the pond! Brooks and I went to dinner just us two and when we got back to the house our friends and family were waiting for us to celebrate! It was such a special day!"

Brooks: "Waking up that morning knowing that I was going to propose to LeighEllen was so exciting. I was nervous the entire day, but had to act like I was totally cool so that she wouldn't suspect anything. The hardest part during my proposal planning was keeping my proposal planning from LeighEllen. She is very hard to surprise because she picks up on things so quickly, but luckily she didn't notice anything was happening until I was moments away from proposing. I remember my brain shutting down completely and the only thing I could say were Step Brothers movie quotes while we walked to the spot where I would propose. My heart was racing and I am surprised I could even get out the words, 'Will you marry me?' Luckily I was able to ask the big question, and even luckier for me that she said yes!"

What was each yall's favorite part of the wedding day?
LeighEllen: "It is so hard to choose just one part of the day! One of my favorite parts was right before the ceremony when Brooks and I read letters we wrote to each other, while still keeping each other hidden around a corner. We had decided not to do a first look, so it was so hard to wait all day to see him. During our time reading letters, I was able to hold his hand and hear his voice. Any butterflies or nerves completely disappeared just by getting to be around him. This moment only made me even more excited to walk down the aisle and marry him! It was such a sweet and intimate part of our wedding day that I will never forget!"

Brooks: "Easily the best part of the wedding was when I saw her for the first time walking down the aisle. I had been waiting all day to see her, and she looked even better than I thought she would. I loved getting to read my letter from her and hear her voice, but actually getting to see her in her wedding dress for the first time will never be topped."

LeighEllen--what's one of the things you admire most about Brooks?
LeighEllen: "There are so many things that I admire about Brooks. Most of all, I admire his loyalty, patience, leadership and love for those around him. He has stood by my side through some very difficult things, while keeping my spirits high along the way. He is patient with me and handles my anxieties so well. He knows how to make me laugh, even on my hardest days. Brooks has already led us in marriage through incredibly difficult trials. I have seen him lead with great strength and courage. Brooks loves those in his life so well. He is sensitive to people's needs and knows how to show them that he cares. I wake up every day knowing that Brooks loves me-- no matter what. I am so lucky to be his wife."

Brooks-- what's one of the things you admire most about LeighEllen?
Brooks: "It's almost impossible to pick one thing that I admire most about LeighEllen. I love so many things about her! The thing that stands out the most to me about LeighEllen is that she reminds me of how much she loves me through her actions. She knows exactly how to love me and she shows me how much she loves me every single day. The little things she does are the biggest things that I love about her. She loves her people beyond what any of us deserve, and I am so happy that I get to be the one that kisses her goodnight every night. I can't believe that I get to spend the rest of my life with her, and that I get to be her husband. I way outkicked my coverage and everyone knows it!"

What's next for you two?
LeighEllen: "A little less than two months after we got married, I was diagnosed with cancer. We have had to process a lot of information very quickly. I had surgery and am now undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy. While this isn't what we expected in our first months of marriage, it has brought Brooks and I incredibly close. We didn't realize how quickly we would have to live out our vows 'in sickness and in health.' Brooks has stayed so strong for me as we walk through this together. It has been very scary at times, but we are hopeful that our treatment plan will be successful in removing the remaining specks of cancer. I am so thankful to have such a loving husband by my side as we go through such a difficult season of life."

Vendors:
Hair + makeup: Olivia Ficken
Wedding dress and veil: I Do Bridal and Formal (Montgomery)
Flowers: Lauren Ladner Floral Design
Bridesmaid dresses: The Dessy Group
Cakes: Sonshine Cakes in Auburn
Invitations: Minuteman Press (Montgomery)
Catering + reception venue: The Bottling Plant Event Center
DJ: DJ Haynes
Ceremony Musicians: Beth Mason and Brian Crowe

Jared + Rachel │engagement

How did you two meet?
Jared: Rachel and I first met in 2017 at a ribbon cutting for the Auburn Chamber. Little did I know she would be the one. I remember leaving the event and telling someone that I needed her number. It took me a while to ask her on a date, and then I finally had the courage to do it. The first time I met her it felt like she already knew me. If you know Rachel, you know she is a talker, so it made the date so much better! (I'm not much of a talker). From there, I asked her on a second date, and I'm sure glad she said, 'yes!'"

Rachel: "Jared and I technically met at an Auburn Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at Greystone Mansion back July 2017 (but I don’t really remember!) Supposedly he thought I was cute and then got my number. He didn’t text me for over a year! We officially met on our first date in November 2018. I thought he was so handsome and super sweet! I left the first date thinking, 'That was SO fun (because we got dessert and ya know, that means he must be into you!?)' I hoped to hear from him again-- which I did! Thank goodness he finally texted and asked me on a date!"

How and when did Jared propose?
Rachel: "Jared told me he had a work event Friday night that we needed to stop by. It was a pretty hectic week, so I really didn’t ask any questions. My boss let me leave work early because he had an event (little did I know Jared had called her to ask if I could leave early, haha!) He picked me up, and we drove to the Greystone Mansion– where we first met! I thought it was weird that it was kind of dark inside and no other cars were there. We walked towards the venue, and he said “We’re not here for a work event.” He said the sweetest, most affirming things, and I cried-- it was beyond perfect! I really had no idea it was going to be that night because my parents weren’t going to be in town, and then they surprised me later and were in Auburn to celebrate!"

Jared: "I proposed to Rachel at The Greystone Mansion where it all started! It was honestly as smooth as it could have ever been. Surprisingly, Rachel didn't really ask me too many questions about, ''the work event' I had planned that week. I was so worried that she would ask questions and it would throw me off because all week I was so nervous. I'm still shocked to this day that she didn't question a thing! I remember picking her up and asking her to meet me in the car (I typically go inside to get her, but I had the ring box in my back pocket)! She comes outside to get in my car and seriously from that moment on it was all a blur for me! Thank goodness she said, 'yes!'"

What are some things you two enjoy doing together?
Rachel: "We love to cook and go on walks! We are both really busy people, so every minute of quality time we get together is always the best!"

Jared: "I don't think Rachel knew how big of an Auburn fan I was until we started dating. Living in Auburn, we have the unique ability to make all of the home games for football and basketball. All that being said, Rachel has been a true champ at dealing with my sports-heavy life and being my forever game day date. She understands how much joy it brings me, and it’s really cool that we get to share those moments together now!"

Jared-- describe Rachel in three words:
Jared: "Rachel is caring, supportive and fun-loving."

Rachel-- describe Jared in three words:
Rachel: "Jared is selfless, goofy and consistent."