I do spring summer 2017

I Do!

Spring / Summer 2017

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Sophie Magazine’s Wedding Guide

Timeless Traditions

11 Beautiful

Real Weddings in the Carolinas

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Featured Brides

APRIL 9, 2016

Whitney & Aaron Military Matrimony

JUNE 25, 2016

Ashley & Aaron Forever Found

APRIL 30, 2016

(Pictured on cover)

MAY 28, 2016

10 Leanne & Chapman 14 Julie & Ben Carrying on Tradition

JUNE 26, 2016

28 Christin & Josh

Long Distance No More

From Friends to Forever

JULY 16, 2016

32 Casey & Michael

JUNE 11, 2016

18 Jaime & Graham Surprise in the Sand

JULY 22, 2016

35 Hallie & Michael

Unconventionally Awesome

Lake Lure Love Story

AUGUST 6, 2016

AUGUST 20, 2016

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Sophie Magazine’s Wedding Guide

It was eight years ago when we published the first issue of I Do! Along with this issue, we will have featured photographs from over 90 real brides. Thank you to all of the brides who have shared their love stories with our readers.

If you would like your wedding to be featured in the 2017 Fall / Winter edition of I Do!, please email us at writer@sophiemagazine.com.

Cover photo by Katy Cook

JULY 30, 2016

Kim & Mathes Blended Bliss

41 Tiffany & Dave

Arboretum Amour

44 Kassidy & Robert

Future Fiancés of America

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I Do!

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Sophie Magazine’s Wedding Guide GENERAL MANAGER/PUBLISHER

Patricia Martin Betts IT/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Jeff Ruminski CREATIVE EDITOR

Debi Manfre CREATIVE SERVICES

Carrie Harder Rachel Hoeft Randy Whittington ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Pam Hensley Rick Jenkins Rose Lunsford CIRCULATION MANAGER

Sam Howell To advertise in the 2017 Fall/Winter edition of I Do!, Please call 828.274.8888 ext. 310 or e-mail editor@sophiemagazine.com.

Sophie Magazine Asheville Office Park 31 College Place • Asheville, NC 28803 828.274.8888 I Do!, a publication of Sophie Magazine, has accepted contributions which may not reflect the opinion of the publisher. No portion of I Do! may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

Attention Brides: Share your wedding in

I Do!

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Sophie Magazine’s Wedding Guide

For details, call 828.274-8888 ext. 328 or email writer@sophiemagazine.com 8 | 2017 Spring / Summer I Do!

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Whitney and Aaron

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A

aron and I met in high school. His brother and one of my best friends were dating (now engaged.) I noticed him immediately and once they introduced us we became fast friends. We stayed friends for a while; talking all the time until the interest grew and he finally asked me out. We had been dating for 2 years when he joined the Marine Corps. We wrote back and forth while he was in boot camp, the letters he wrote me are some of my most valuable possessions. I still remember crying when I got my first one. When he graduated boot camp and came home for the week, he proposed. We were at Pretty Place in DuPont with his brother, his fiancĂŠ and my best friend. He got down on one knee and all I could say was "Shut up, are you serious, shut up!" Then of course I said "Yes!" I went straight to planning a wedding for September of 2017, booked the venue, the photographers, everything...then I got a phone call.

Aaron had received orders to deploy that July which meant no wedding in September. I freaked out and started panicking like any bride would do. When he came home for Christmas, we decided we just couldn't wait so we moved the wedding up to April 9, 2016. That was the best decision we ever made.

It was a beautiful day, freezing and windy, but beautiful. I got to marry the man of my dreams surrounded by the people we love most in this whole world. God knew what he was doing the whole time! I will never be able to thank all of my vendors enough especially Heather Hill at the venue and True Foundation Photography. They worked with us on everything when all of this happened. Hendersonville Tents came to the venue every night to check on the tent because of the winds. They made sure it wasn't going anywhere. I could not have picked better people to work with. They truly made my wedding day and I could never have had such a wonderful day without each and every one of them.

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Top 5 Favorite Moments: 1 Our First Look.

I was unsure about doing this until I spoke with my photographers about it, but I am so glad we did.

It not only gave Aaron and I some time to just be together that we wouldn't have had at any other time that day, but it also gave us time to take most of our pictures before the wedding which really helped out in the end.

2 Putting my dress on. That was the moment I really felt like "Oh my gosh this is really happening." I have never been so excited for something in my whole life.

3 My nana seeing me for the first time. My nana and I have always been close so it was just a really special moment to see her reaction when she came in to see me for the first time that day.

4 My daddy singing to me. I grew up listening to my daddy sing in a quartet so I have always wanted him to sing to me on my wedding day and he did.

5 Cutting the cake. Aaron and I are very competitive –

neither one of us like to lose. He smashed cake in my face so I cornered him and got him back even worse. Needless to say, I won.

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BRIDE: WHITNEY BALLEW • GROOM: AARON MOODY PHOTOGRAPHER: TRUE FOUNDATION PHOTOGRAPHY • VENUE: RAYS PLACE WEDDING AND EVENT CENTER. • TENT: HENDERSONVILLE TENTS CAKE AND CUPCAKES: DOGWOOD DESIGNS BAKERY • FLOWERS: ECOFLOWERS • EVERYTHING ELSE: LOVING FRIENDS AND FAMILY

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Leanne and Chapman

C

hapman and I met while touring around Italy on a summer Study Abroad. It was there that Chapman and I got to know each other and built a friendship that would eventually lead to more. Our North Carolinian heritage and love for dining were just two of several commonalities that made us realize that our meeting was no accident. This realization did not set in, however, until we returned to school in Athens, GA. Our relationship from there was quite a roller coaster when Chapman left in the spring for military training on track to become an Army Logisitics Officer. Our only communication consisted of writing letters back and forth for months with long periods of time in-between. From there, I moved to New York City to pursue a job, knowing that we would be a long distance couple until he got assigned an official duty station after graduating his Officer Basic Course that followed his commission in September.

It was in NYC, when Chapman would visit, where we saw our relationship evolve into something life-long. It was only appropriate that he took me to a breath-taking and popular movie scene spot on the docks by the Brooklyn Bridge to propose in the freezing and windy New York winter weather.

From there we were uprooted to Honolulu, Hawaii of all places for Chapman to fulfill his Active duty commitment. As beautiful as paradise may be, we feel most at home in North Carolina where we are surrounded by friends and family. His family has had 2 generations of weddings at the Gaither Chapel in Montreat, and we wanted to continue that tradition.

Additionally, Chapman grew up around the Biltmore Estate, and worked at our reception venue (Deerpark Restaurant) as a caterer.

Chapman’s mom's career of wedding planning in the Asheville area, combined with his rooted history of Gaither and experience at Deerpark, made the two places perfect for our special day.

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Top 5 Favorite Moments: 1 The Ceremony — Chapman’s grandfather, a

Presbyterian Minister for 65 years, lead our service. It was a personal and heart-felt religious moment that meant the world to both of us.

2 Friends and family traveled from Europe, Hawaii and

around the US to witness our day. That overwhelmed us with love and happiness. Spending time, and visiting with friends again meant so much to us!

3 The Reception —

Our band brought down the house, and kept everyone on their feet the entire night... and the food at Biltmore is still talked about by our friends to this day… those crab cakes are amazing!

4 The Rehearsal Dinner — Also on the Biltmore Estate at the Antler Hill Barn, our rehearsal dinner was an intimate time where our family and friends gave their toasts.

5 Getting Ready —

spending the morning getting ready with my best friends and sister was a relaxing and fun way to start the day!

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BRIDE: LEANNE OWENS • GROOM: CHAPMAN THOMAS PHOTOGRAPHER: KATY COOK CHURCH: GAITHER CHAPEL, MONTREAT, NC OFFICIANT: ALAN CHAPMAN WEDDING PLANNER: MAURA / HONEY DARLING EVENTS FLORAL: THE BLOOM ROOM HAIR: BETH MANUEL • MAKE-UP: WENDY BALANCE / BLUSH ASHEVILLE DRESS: SARAH SEVEN / WILDFLOWER BRIDAL, ASHEVILLE BAND: SHIMMER BAND (EAST COAST ENTERTAINMENT) RECEPTION VENUE: DEERPARK RESTAURANT / BILTMORE

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Julie and Ben

B

en and I met eight years ago in the winter of 2009.

It was a time in our lives where neither one of us were looking to find someone, let alone our life partner. Ben and I had always had the same group of mutual friends, but we were really more of acquaintances. Our story really started on Valentine’s Day, when we ran into one another, while out with friends.

We had always had a connection, but our timing had always been off.

I didn’t think much more about it, until a week later when I received a message from him online where he finally convinced me to give him my phone number. Before long and without knowing, we started to fall for one another. For our first date, Ben planned a perfect night, with dinner and a movie. We had the same outlook on life and the same goofy personalities. I remember thinking I didn’t want the night to end. After that we became inseparable. Weeks turned into months and months 18 | 2017 Spring / Summer I Do!

turned into years. We were building a strong, beautiful relationship that I had always dreamed of. Ben and I have always encouraged one another to pursue our dreams. Ben’s is music and mine was to become a nurse.

As Ben started playing gigs here and there, I enrolled in nursing school. We were each other’s rock. I knew that I couldn’t wait to marry my best friend, and couldn’t help but wonder what was taking him so long. Little did I know Ben was putting a plan together. ​The fall of 2015, in our sixth year of dating, we set off for vacation to Tybee Island and Savannah, Georgia to celebrate his birthday and my recent graduation from nursing school.

We were both excited for a week of relaxation. I was so busy planning a surprise for Ben’s birthday, I didn’t know he was working on a surprise of his own. I had planned a deep sea fishing adventure once we arrived in Tybee Island. I thought it would be a great day of fun out on the waterneither one of us had ever been

deep sea fishing before or even on a boat in the middle of the ocean. We now laugh about that day because we both ended up sea sick and had to cut the fishing trip short. Not the fun filled surprise I was hoping for. We decided to go back to the hotel and take it easy the rest of the night. Once we both started feeling better, we went for a night walk on the beach. We found a cute wooden swing on the beach and sat for a while, laughing about how our day had turned out and talking about our future. As we were sitting there Ben looked at me and asked if I would love him forever. “Of course!” I laughed. He got down on one knee and asked if I would marry him. I was in complete shock. I remember thinking, “Is this a joke?” The day I had been dreaming of for years was finally here. We were engaged (finally) and planning a wedding that would take place eight months later. ​We started planning our special day right away. We picked May 28, 2016 - my mother’s birthday. We wanted a laid back, rustic outdoor wedding where our family and friends could celebrate our journey together. I had always had my heart set on a 19th century log cabin where my Papa took me as a child. It was the perfect venue. It had the rustic charm that we both wanted. Our wedding party consisted of only the two of us, as we wanted an intimate and natural setting. Ben and I chose to write our own vows. Ben took me by surprise by writing his vows in the form of a song that he sang to me at the altar. After we said “I do”, we joined our guests for a party under the stars. We wanted our reception to be a true celebration of love. Our guests enjoyed an amazing BBQ dinner that led to a night of singing and dancing. We ended our night with a bonfire, s’mores and a sparkler sendoff that lit up the night. It was by far a night that we will remember forever!

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Top 5 Favorite Moments: 1 Our unique vows.

2 The walk down the aisle, this was a very special moment for

three reasons: the moment I saw Ben for the first time as I started towards the aisle; my dad giving me away; and Ben and his dad walking down the aisle together. Ben and I are both close with our parents so it meant so much for them to be a part of our wedding.

3 Surprising both mine and Ben’s dad with custom handkerchiefs.

4 Celebrating with close friends and family and surprising my mom with her birthday cake during our reception.

5 Our first dance, we danced to “Tennessee Whisky", the Chris Stapleton version.

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BRIDE: JULIE BURNETTE • GROOM: BEN MORGAN PHOTOGRAPHER: MELISSA MCELRATH PHOTOGRAPHY • OFFICIANT: DARRYL HANNAH • COORDINATION AND PLANNING: HEIDI WIGGING, KEY EVENTS, LLC BOUQUET AND BOUTONNIERES: CLYDE FLORIST • FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS: SAM’S CLUB DRESS: ESSENSE OF AUSTRALIA / WEDDING INSPIRATIONS • MAKEUP: FLAWLESS / ASHEVILLE AIRBRUSH MAKEUP • HAIR: CONNIE CLARK / ELITE HAIR & NAIL SALON CATERING: ROBBIE HANNAH • CAKE: KATHY BARLYNN • MUSIC: SOUND EXTREME ENTERTAINMENT (DJ SANDY) TENT AND CHAIRS: WNC TENTS • VENUE: CABIN AMONG THE OAKS, CANTON, NC

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Jaime and Graham

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F

ate has a funny, yet somehow perfect way, of conveying God’s plans. I never fully fathomed that I would be a part of that and see it all come to fruition.

As a college football coach’s daughter, I moved every four to five years growing up. “Hometown” was not a relevant term for us because it changed every few years, but when we landed in Nashville, TN in my elementary and middle school years, it sunk in. We had extended family there and, truthfully, it just felt more genuine than anywhere we had lived before. I played on a peewee soccer team and made my first best friends, though we lost touch with different middle schools and my family moving to small town Texas in the middle of high school. Home from college one Christmas, I distinctly remember telling my mom, “I will marry someone who knows my history, who knows my roots, but I just don’t know what that looks like yet.”

Fast forward 4 years – I had graduated from the University of Georgia in the middle of the recession with a journalism degree and decided to move back to Nashville to take care of my grandfather in his last few months of life. Within a few months, I landed myself in an accelerated bachelors of nursing program where I was reunited with my childhood bestie, Elle, from peewee soccer! Who would have thought after 15 years we would be back in the same place? We were immediately inseparable and her parents took me in like a second daughter. However, Elle was constantly referencing this older brother – he attended Ole Miss (has to be a complete frat star), played golf (not my type), likes to sail (definitely preppy and not my type) and now lives by the water (who is this guy?!).

With only 6 months left in our program, Elle’s parents decided to move from Nashville to the mountains of Blowing Rock, NC. They asked for my help one weekend and ever since, life has not been the same. Elle says the porch and whole condo stood still as I shook THE BROTHER’S hand for the very first time. That July evening, on what is now one of my favorite porches – fate had its way. Graham and I never looked back from there.

I think the proposal story is best told from Graham's point of view: I was never as worried about getting the “Yes”, as I was about delivering the proposal in a romantic setting, without a hitch, to the most stubborn person I know. I knew there would be glitches, I just hoped they would be few.

It was a cloudy, drizzly day – a good start to set the scene. Jaime and I were to go out to Sullivan's Island to lend a hand in a dear friends' maternity shoot. However, Jaime had worked 3 straight night shifts at the hospital, and, with a rather strong headache, she was not too enthused for a chilly afternoon at the beach. I was down to t-minus 1.5 hours before we were to be on the beach where, unbeknowst to Jaime, my sister Elle (who had flown in from Austin as a surprise) would be hiding in the sand dunes with a camera. I rushed over to Jaime’s house with her favorite treats in an attempt to motivate her. It took a while to peel her off the bed, but we soon set out on our way. The rain had started to subside and off to the right, while crossing the Ben Sawyer bridge, I could see a patch of blue sky. Finally a hopeful sign!

When we arrived at the Sullivan’s Island lighthouse (the “backdrop of the photoshoot”) our friends called to say they were running a few minutes late. In case you haven’t caught on yet, there was no maternity photoshoot – our friends had been nice enough to play along to help me get Jaime to the beach. Though we were outdoors in one of our favorite places, the setting was far from perfect for what I had planned. The sun was starting to set and a group of 15 boys had set up a campfire and were playing

soccer. Also along for the fun was our yellow lab, also known as our "4-legged fur child" Mason. Mason gets really excited when we go to the beach, but even more so when you add in balls flying in every direction. It seemed like everything was as far from my plan as possible!

As we "searched the beach for our friends" and finally got some distance from the soccer game, I could feel Jaime's patience wearing off. I knew it was go time. Her back was turned and I got down on one knee. At the same moment, a soccer ball rolled past us sending Mason into a full lunge mid proposal. Elle got a great shot of me holding Mason back with one hand and proposing with the other. Despite all the distractions, it’s one of our favorite “family” moments. Jaime was completely shocked. For about a minute, all she could say was “Shut up!” and “No way!” I'm not sure if she was overwhelmed with emotions or the engagement ring her mom and I had created with diamonds from her mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother. Finally, the shock subdued and she said “Yes”.

Elle came out of the dunes, another surprise for Jaime. We took a few more pictures and then celebrated at Poe’s, where our parents and her brother had gathered, all in town just for the special day.

Growing up, I never was the girl who dreamed of her wedding day.

Maybe being a coach’s daughter instilled something else in me – I’ve always been more of a tomboy like the little girl from Remember the Titans, screaming on the sidelines rather than playing with Barbie dolls and dress up. My wedding day was like a fairy tale, but not because I was wearing a white dress and had been dolled up all pretty. Like I said, I was not the typical bride. I often laugh at myself because Graham planned more of our wedding than I did. It was a fairy tale because I never thought I would be walking down the aisle.

I had found my best friend and the one who loved me for me, just as I am. I thought he didn’t exist, yet prayed so many countless nights, and my fairy tale came true despite it all.

As crazy as it sounds there were truly only 5 things I honestly cared about in regards to the actual wedding: - We wanted to be married outdoors. Graham and I both feel our deepest connection with the Lord when we are outside, specifically in the mountains. My hippie, free spirit soul loves the mountains so it happened so perfectly that a very generous couple that knew Graham’s grandparents offered their rustic 1920s mountain home, Shadowlawn, in Blowing Rock where we had met 4 years earlier.

- I would be preceded and walked out with bagpipes. Bagpipes hold a precious place in my heart for my dear grandfather.

Graham shares the same reverence for the instrument as I do as both of his grandparents were sent off with bagpipe processionals. It was like having our favorite people at our sides on the special day.

-T he caramel cake. The only cakes I really like are Ms. Leland’s Cakes from Nashville. Graham and I had both grown up eating this caramel cake and wanted to share it with everyone on our 2017 Spring / Summer I Do! | 23

day. So yes… we brought a cake from Nashville all the way up the mountain for the wedding.

-A Motown band. A good 8-piece Motown funk band is all I would accept. They had to be the real deal and they had to be willing to pull off our secret surprise for the guests. My brother taught me how to walk to Michael Jackson and I’ve always loved his music. While the dance floor was hoppin’, 200 MJ gloves were distributed and a MJ tribute went down igniting the dance floor!

-A frica tribute. After I received my nursing degree, I made my first trip to Uganda and my life has never been the same! The country stole a piece of my heart and left me forever changed.

Graham knew when marrying me that Uganda was a package deal. Before we were married, he made the trip with me and now not only is it my second home, it’s OURS. The love, joy and sweet smiles of my favorite people in the world altered me personally and bettered our relationship. We wanted to share their love and humility, so we purchased hand carved and painted little African animals as wedding favors. A large farm table at the wedding also displayed pictures of kids playing at clinic, a description of the mission and all we provide, and several other African souvenirs. Graham and I didn’t ask for many wedding gifts, so we made sure to include a way for people to give to our favorites in Uganda.

Our (My) Top 5 Favorite Moments: 1 As the ceremony ended and we walked down the stairs, Graham was handed Mason. We gleefully skipped away as a “real” family for very first time.

2 Graham and I think about this one a lot because it’s rather funny

if you know my super serious dad – During the ceremony when Patty (pastor) asked my dad, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” My dad with a straight face and no second guessing said “Her father.” I had to whisper in his ear, “and her mother.”

Which he then repeated with great laughter, along with everyone else. The silly mistake loosened everyone’s nerves up a bit.

3 While the the band and the MJ gloves half way through were

a hit, the star of dance floor was my 94-year-old grandfather who absolutely stole everyone’s hearts. While was I concerned his pacemaker may go off at any second, it brought so much joy to both of us to see him having such an incredible time.

4 Graham and I drove away in this amazing vintage car called

the Excalibur. We had the car for 4 hours that night and no idea what we were going to do with it. We left the reception and drove underneath the stars on the Blue Ridge Parkway before meeting up with the rest of our friends at the after party.

5 Graham and I did not have a first look. We wanted the first time

we saw one another to be when I walked out. I did have a first look with the other two important men in my life, my dad and brother.

My brother has been my best friend and other half before Graham and I wouldn’t be remotely the woman I am today if it weren’t for him. It was really special to spend a few minutes together as a Maskill one last time before their little girl made the big leap. I gave them both unique gifts. My dad and I have always gone on walks together and I knew he was going to cry that day no matter how much he denied it. So I had a handkerchief embroidered with “Dad, of all our walks today is my most favorite. Thank you for being there today, always and forever. Love always, your Duke.” (my childhood nickname). My brother Hunter's gift was a little more rebellious - a wooden engraved and encased machete that I'd found on my most recent trip to Uganda.

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BRIDE: JAIME MORGAN MASKILL • GROOM: BILLY GRAHAM WORSHAM III PHOTOGRAPHER: KATY COOK PHOTOGRAPHY WEDDING PLANNER: SARA FIELDS VIDEOGRAPHER: REEL WEDDINGS • FLORIST: FLORA BRIDE'S DRESS: FABULOUS FROCKS OF CHARLESTON / THEA BRIDESMAIDS' DRESSES: BELLA BRIDESMAID MAKEUP: POWDER ME PRETTY – JOANNA FERRE HAIR: CARRIE MCDONALD AND NICOLE BOHANON CAKE: DESSERT DESIGNS BY LELAND • CATERER: REID’S CATERING RENTAL: MARK MILLER OF CHAIR AND EQUIPMENT RENTAL TRANSPORTATION: AIR HAVEN LIMOUSINE AND MOUNTAIN TOP GOLF CARS SIGNAGE: AMBER HATCHETT CEREMONY MUSIC: GORDON WARBURTON (BAGPIPE) AND JOHN PAUL FRETWELL (VIOLIN) RECEPTION MUSIC: 24/7 BAND, PRIME SOURCE ENTERTAINMENT REHEARSAL DINNER VENUE: BLOWING ROCK COUNTRY CLUB

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Ashley and Aaron

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A

shley and I met in May of 2014. Her friend had won a Meet & Greet with Brantley Gilbert while he was in town at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, and Ashley was her plus one. Working with the radio station meant I was in charge of making sure our winners were taken care of, so I was in charge of escorting Ashley and her friend around. We had become friends after that show, and a few months later we went on our first date. From the first date, I knew she was special, and I could tell I had found my one true love. Not only did I fall in love with an amazing woman, but her son Maddox as well. I truly hit the jackpot when I found her!

for anything in my life, and I knew that all I wanted to do was get married to Ashley. Honestly, if we could do the day all over again, I wouldn't – it was perfect as it could be!

We left the reception under a beautiful summer night, with our friends lighting our way with sparklers. We had a horse and carriage waiting on us to take us through the downtown Greenville streets to our hotel room. Strangers were yelling well wishes and complimenting us the entire way. It was 100% magical!

We dated for about a year and 4 months before I popped the question. The date was September 18, 2015. I used "a work event" to keep the secret hidden. I had her close friends and family gathered around on a rooftop patio overlooking Downtown Greenville while I proposed. Her then 2 year old son walked the ring out to me to give her!

We quickly planned our wedding for June 25th, 2016. We knew exactly what we wanted for our wedding, so we got to work fast!

Our entire focus was making this day exactly what WE wanted, and we kept to that. Between her amazing decorating techniques, and my knowledge of weddings after DJing them for so long, we knew how our day was going to go.

We were married in the Commerce Club overlooking the mountains of WNC and Downtown Greenville on June 25th, 2016.

The day was completely perfect! We had no issues at all, and everything ran smoothly. We both wrote our own vows, and with family and friends gathered around, we finally got to say "I do."

Both of our vows had us and our guests crying and laughing. We shared our feelings and hopes for our family moving forward, and had her son Maddox front and center for the entire wedding. He stood next to me, and held my best man's hand. My best man was my older brother, Josh Michael from Star 104.3, and Ashley's maid of honor was her sister Autumn. People have asked me if I was nervous during the day...I wasn't. I hadn't been more excited 2017 Spring / Summer I Do! | 29

Top 5 Favorite Moments: 1 Marrying each other! Above all, we ended the day as husband and wife and began our journey together!

2 Having family and friends gathered around to celebrate with us.

3 Seeing Ashley's son Maddox so happy and smiling from ear to ear the entire day.

4 The reception - the dancing, the speeches from our best man and maid of honor, and having fun with everyone!

5 Getting to share our love story with others, and to show that true love DOES still exist!

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BRIDE: ASHLEY NICHOLE WENDT • GROOM: AARON DAVID D'INNOCENZI PHOTOGRAPHER: JEN BURRELL PHOTOGRAPHY TUXES: MEN'S WEARHOUSE BRIDE'S DRESS: DAVID'S BRIDAL/GALINA SIGNATURE BRIDESMAID DRESSES: DAVID'S BRIDAL/VERA WANG HAIR / MAKE UP: COTTON ROUGE AND COMPANY / TRISHA WILBANKS DJ /BAND: SOUND EXTREME ENTERTAINMENT / CROCODILE SMILE & DJ MOTO VENUE / FOOD / DRINKS: COMMERCE CLUB, DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE CAKE: ART EATS BAKERY, GREENVILLE, SC DECORATIONS: HANDMADE HORSE & CARRIAGE: WHISPERING WINDS CARRIAGE COMPANY

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G Christin and Josh

rowing up, I always knew I wanted to get married and have children. I always dreamed of marrying a man who loved me just like my parents love each other. I never imagined that God would put the most perfect man in my life at the most unexpected time. He also instilled in me a great deal of peace and patience that got me through the most challenging and rewarding times of our relationship.

Josh and I met in high school and began dating December 2005. At the time, neither of us was looking for a relationship. Josh was two years younger than me, and I was headed off to college in August and didn’t really know how this relationship would go, but I knew deep down inside there was something special about him. He was genuine, kind, funny, athletic, smart, he loved Jesus and I knew that the butterflies/excitement I felt when I saw his name pop up on my old Motorola flip phone were real feelings not to be ignored!

After eight months of dating, I headed two hours away to college at Appalachian State University while Josh finished up high school. It wasn’t easy being in a long distance relationship, especially as I started a new chapter in my life, but I knew the wait would eventually be worth it. Years went by and Josh went to college at Catawba College, I graduated from App and got a job in our hometown. We continued dating, Josh went to grad school at NC State, four hours away and after a lot of prayers and patience he landed a job in Raleigh, NC. This job was great experience and allowed Josh to get the skills he needed to eventually get a job in our hometown.

Needless to say, being in a long distance relationship prompted hours upon hours in the car, thousands of miles on each of our cars, countless hours of phone and FaceTime calls and looking back, all of it was completely worth it, especially now knowing how the wait helped form a solid base for our marriage.

Josh and I dated approximately 2,986 days (more than 8 years) long distance before we finally lived in the same town. Going out on a Wednesday night seemed like the best thing ever and I loved not having to spend eights hours of my weekend traveling to see my favorite person. On May 25, 2015, at an overlook on the Parkway near Mount Pisgah, Josh asked me to be his forever. This day is one of my favorite days because after all the wait and years spent apart, we would finally get to be husband and wife and live the life God has led us to.

We both knew we wanted a wedding in the mountains where we grew up. We searched many places in Asheville and knew we had found the place when on a sunny day in July you could see the mountains for miles at the High Vista Country Club in Mills River, NC. One special thing about this venue was it was the place Josh’s parents got married over 25 years ago and we knew it would be special to our families.

After over ten years of dating and a year of planning and perfecting every detail, Josh and I said “I do” on June 26, 2016. It was a beautiful day filled with love and excitement shared with family from as far west

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as Utah and as far north as Pennsylvania. We celebrated with our closest friends and family. We danced to songs new and old, ate popsicles, cookies and delicious food. We played a slideshow of pictures of both of us growing up and played the “shoe game” where we both sat back to back and answered questions by raising one of the other’s shoes.

Our wedding day was all and more of what we hoped for. It was a testimony of our love for each other and the love our families share for each of us. Thank you to our family and friends for showing your love for us over the past decade. We are blessed to have people who have surrounded us with love from the very beginning.

2017 Spring / Summer I Do! | 33

Top 5 Favorite Moments: 1 Spending time with our wedding party. My two best friends

from high school, Josh’s college roommate, my sister, Josh’s sister, brother and dad were all part of our wedding party. It was so nice to hang out and enjoy our day with them.

2 Having family in town. ALL of my family is from out of town and many of Josh’s is from out of town too. It felt so good spending time with family we haven’t seen in years.

3 Seeing Josh’s smile when he saw me coming down the aisle.

There is something about his smile that has always given me butterflies!

4 Celebrating the night away with lots of great food and visiting! It was great dancing with friends and family, sharing our slideshow and getting a laugh when playing the shoe game! Josh and his mom choreographed a dance that highlighted several songs. We had a photo booth that was so neat to see everyone's pictures hash tagged on social media!

5 “The Hug” picture was my absolute favorite. After we said our

vows, kissed the bride, I just fell into his arms. It was a feeling of “you’re finally mine” and a feeling I will never forget!

BRIDE: CHRISTIN JONES • GROOM: JOSH PAYNE PHOTOGRAPHER: BRIANNAH GOODSON PHOTOGRAPHY WEDDING DIRECTOR: ANGIE WEAVER • PASTOR: TOMMY BRIDGES HAIR: ELIZABETH MATTHEWS • FLOWERS: STARGAZERS DESIGNS CAKE: KATIE STEWART • GRAPHICS: DEAN AT SIGN ONE VENUE & CATERING: HIGH VISTA COUNTRY CLUB DJ: SOUND EXPLOSION MOBILE SOUND SYSTEMS

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W

e met when we were sixteen, in a community theatre production. I was playing the daughter of the lead character and Michael was an understudy. Being sixteen, we were both total jerks and, for all intents and purposes, hated each other.

Casey and Michael

Cut to 2011. I’m dragged to a shadow cast production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show by my roller derby team, and there in the lobby is the 21-year-old version of that understudy— except now he’s wearing nothing but gold booty shorts and a pair of spray-painted army boots.

His hair is dyed red and he has an Aladdin Sane lightning bolt across his face.

One Facebook exchange and a fro-yo date later, and we were dating. It was a surreal whirlwind— and why not? It was obvious from the get go that we were going to be perfect for each other. Having grown out of teen angst and into two theatrical oddballs, everything fit together perfectly. Soon we were living together and becoming parents to a host of animals, starting with our beloved dog Ace. After a weird little road trip detour during Snowpocalypse in Atlanta, we spent a weekend in Asheville, NC. We fell in love with that hipster-rich mountain town and soon after moved there, I got my current job and Michael worked as both an ice cream maker and zip line guide. It was a weird, fun time where we grew even closer and expanded our friends group considerably.

Then, only a little over a year after moving to Asheville, my job offered to move us out to Las Vegas. Being of the “heck yeah, let’s go on an adventure!” mindset, we accepted and soon we were across the States and living in Sin City. It was here that Michael and I had our anticlimactic engagement: we were walking through a shopping center, went into a Kay Jewelers to “look around”, and came out with a ring and a whole new (continued on page 36) 2017 Spring / Summer I Do! | 35

adventure. The ensuing trip to Cheesecake Factory was filled with a whole new conversation.

The decision was made to head back to Asheville for the wedding. We locked in Nick King Photography and a date at the Orange Peel, a music venue where we had gone to see Die Antwoord perform. Mamacita’s, a Mexican restaurant just a few doors down, handled the catering.

Meanwhile, our one and only choice for officiant was mutual best friend Sean, who wrote an epic and hilarious ceremony involving a fake deer skull and a conch shell.

The day was perfect. Appropriately, we were married on stage, surrounded by our best friends and family, with a TARDIS in the background and a sense of anarchic fun that has defined us as a couple. Afterward, many of those in attendance raved that it was the best wedding they had ever been to—sometimes even including their own!

And that’s that: Casey and Michael’s unconventional, positively bonkers wedding story!

Top 5 Favorite Moments: 1 My three-year-old cousin Fischer interrupting our first dance like an absolute boss and sending Michael to the benches. It was like Seth Rollins cashing in his Money in the Bank at Wrestlemania (yeah, I know, nerd!).

2 Our first look. It was one of the most emotional moments ever,

seeing each other in full wedding garb, and even Michael started to well up and cry when he saw me in my dress for the first time.

3 Michael’s vows. He turned on entertainer mode and knocked it

out of the park, going so far as to refer to me as an irritable honey badger in the process. It was a theatrical monologue, whipped up on the fly, that had me crying and laughing like a hysterical person.

4 First dance with my dad. I’m an only child and total daddy’s girl

so this was a very special moment to me. We’ve had a few health scares with him and there were times in my life that I wasn’t sure we’d be able to have this dance. I am so grateful (but wish I had been able to keep it together better and not sob the whole dance).

5 Every single person in the venue getting up and doing the

Time Warp on the dance floor. Seeing as our relationship started with Rocky Horror, it only made sense for all roads to lead to this moment. It’s also the only dance Michael can manage, being the least rhythmic person on the face of the planet. As we say in the South, bless his heart.

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BRIDE: CASEY COWDEN • GROOM: MICHAEL KEENE PHOTOGRAPHER: NICK KING PHOTOGRAPHY BRIDE'S DRESS: DAVID’S BRIDAL • HAIR & MAKEUP: CONSTANT SPA FLOWERS: LADY LUCK FLOWER FARM (WE PICKED OUR OWN! IT WAS RAD!) VENUE: THE ORANGE PEEL • CATERING: MAMACITA’S DJ: BJORN GOELLER • CAKE: RENEE HANDLEY

2017 Spring / Summer I Do! | 37

M Hallie and Michael

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ichael and I met my senior year of high school. Michael was a junior at the time.

We actually met at church when his nephew enrolled in the Pre-K Sunday School class that I was helping my mom teach for volunteer hours.

At first, Michael would just bring his nephew to class and drop him off. Eventually, Michael would stay and color with us, too. I remember telling my best friend I was going to marry him after only talking to him once. Our first “official” date was dinner on the lake in Lake Lure, NC where Michael lived. I knew this was going to be a fun relationship when we took a boat to dinner instead of a car. After spending all summer together, I started my freshman year at Appalachian State University to study nursing, where he joined me a year later to study political science.

Because Michael graduated high school with his Associate’s degree, he graduated from Appalachian before I did. We spent my senior year of college apart; I was finishing nursing school while he moved to Virginia Beach, VA for his first year of law school. We only saw each other on his major breaks – Fall break, Christmas break, etc. My last semester of nursing school I wanted to do something special for his birthday, which also happened to be the anniversary of the day we started dating. I made a surprise reservation at a very nice steakhouse and could not wait to see his reaction! What I didn’t know at the time was that Michael actually had a surprise for me. He had found the ring of my dreams from Tiffany & Co., sent it to New York City to have it engraved with our initials, and it came back just in time for our date that night.

I found out that his mom rushed to Charlotte, NC to pick it up just so he could propose before his Spring break was over. We were sitting at dinner among champagne and delicious bread and Michael, who loves food, was not touching any of it. I later told him I was starting to get upset because I thought he would really love it, and he wasn’t acting excited at ALL. Turns out, it was just nerves! Our waiter came to our table to take our meal order, and Michael said, “Hey man, I was wondering if you could take our picture?” The waiter agreed and

took Michael’s phone to take a picture of us. Michael stood up, and I said, “You want to take a picture standing up next to our table…?” Michael said, “Actually, I wanted to ask you a question.” He got down on one knee, and there was THE boy, with THE ring, and it was the most exciting, shocking, moment of my life. The next few months brought college graduation, passing my nursing boards, and beginning my career as a NICU nurse. Michael transferred law schools to be back in North Carolina, and the wedding planning began!

We were able to incorporate all the important aspects of our relationship into our wedding: We held it in our home church where we met, we were able to involve our families in the ceremony, our reception was in Lake Lure, NC where we had our first date and spent the majority of our relationship, and of course, our main color was Tiffany Blue!

2017 Spring / Summer I Do! | 39

Top 5 Favorite Moments: 1 Getting ready with all my friends. Michael’s mom came to our

cabin that morning and brought us an amazing breakfast while we all got our hair and makeup done. My bridesmaids presented me with a scrapbook (BEFORE I got my makeup done!) that included pictures of me with my bridesmaids and a note from each of them. There was also a note from my mother-in-law, my family, and Michael himself. I still have that on my nightstand. It’s one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever been given. We all followed each other to the church to get dressed and take pictures. There’s just something about getting ready with your best friends. I couldn’t help but think back to all the other times we had “gotten ready” together – for dinners, for parties, for birthdays, for class, for job fairs even. Having them all with me on my wedding day just made it that much more special.

2 My next “favorite” of the day was not so much a moment as

it was a person. And he still is my favorite person – my dad. I thought HE was going to be the more emotional one but he is the one who had to keep me calm. I remember standing in the holding room before the ceremony and someone knocked on the door. I can’t remember who answered the door, but they said, “Hallie, its your dad.” He walked in the room and we both lost it. Walking me down the aisle, he’s the one who had to put the brakes on me to slow me down. During our first dance, he just laughed at me while I tried to chatter his ear off nervously. And the rest of the night, he was the life of the party. He gave a hilarious toast, danced the night away, and even stole the DJ’s hat at the after party and took an iconic picture with my bridesmaids.

3 The most memorable moment of the day was walking down the

aisle. I had actually been the most nervous about that part of the whole day for months. Just the thought of all those eyes on me made me incredibly nervous. I also remember that Michael swore he wouldn’t cry. He always said, “I’m sorry, I just can’t cry in front of that many people.” As soon as the doors opened for me and my dad to walk down the aisle, there was Michael with a huge smile on his face. I couldn’t see anyone else but him (except for my dad, who kept telling me to slow down). The next thing I knew, Michael was wiping tears from his eyes. I remember leaning over to my dad and saying, “Did it!”

4 The entire ceremony. Michael and I are Catholic, so being able

to tie our faith into our wedding day was so special for both of us.

My grandpa, the permanent deacon, who married my parents and my aunts and uncles, was able to continue the tradition and marry us as well. From siblings, to best friends, to uncles and aunts, to family friends, we were able to incorporate every person that we love so much into our ceremony.

5 Seeing everyone come together and have a great time. Our goal

was to have a fun wedding, and I feel like all of our planning was so worth seeing everyone laughing, dancing, and reuniting. It was overwhelming seeing everyone who came out just to celebrate with us. At the end of our reception, we left by boat. Michael had arranged for some awesome friends to be docked outside of our venue at the end of the night to take us to the lake house we would stay in. All of our family and friends lined up from the venue to the dock with sparklers to send us off. Walking through the line of faces smiling, yelling, congratulating, and cheering as we left was icing on the cake for us. I can’t tell you enough how much we love those people. We are incredibly blessed!

BRIDE: HALLIE CILONE • GROOM: MICHAEL LOIACONA PHOTOGRAPHER: INSPIRED LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY (BRITTANY SISK) VENUE: RUMBLING BALD RESORT ON LAKE LURE MUSIC: ALL THE RIGHT GROOVES

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Kim and Mathes

How we met~

K

im’s Take: Our story began with a blind date! After many years of divorce, a good friend of mine insisted on introducing me to a new catch in town. He had recently moved here from California to take a job.

Raising two girls and focusing on a career didn’t leave much time for the dating game. After much persistence, I complied and agreed to allow her to share my number. Unbeknownst to me, this same friend was nudging my future husband towards an introduction. After a month of scheduling conflicts, we finally had our first date over coffee at Barnes and Noble. I had a 45 minute window during my daughters volleyball practice and figured Barnes and Noble was a place I could escape pretty easily if the

date went bad. I arrived early to scope out this mystery man!

When he arrived, I remember being blown away. He was a 6’4’ redhead with loads of personality (and very easy on the eyes).

He was confident, direct, and very engaging. I discovered he had recently moved here after being on the West Coast for almost 20 years to follow his life’s passion, coaching. I was instantly attracted to him. I learned that one of his pre-requisites was that the person he dated had to be a mom. He had three children of his own and that was important to him. We started seeing each other but did not introduce one another to our children right away.

This meant dates at the grocery store, lunch or whenever we could grab time together. (continued on page 42)

2017 Spring / Summer I Do! | 41

Matt’s Take: I moved to Asheville in January of 2015 when I accepted the position of Head Coach for Men’s Soccer at UNC Asheville. My first six weeks in Asheville consisted of many long hours in the office and my primary source of entertainment centered around attending UNC Asheville basketball games. While at a pre-game reception, a member of our booster club approached me and asked if I was single. I said I was and she said she had a friend that she thought I should meet. I was so grateful and of course, politely declined. Fortunately, she kept after me and a couple of weeks later at a similar event asked me pointedly what I was looking for.

I said, “I am looking for someone who is smart, successful, great personality, driven, super attractive, divorced, and has kids. Oh, and she is going to have to be able to deal with the fact that I am a bit feisty.” She looked at me and then pulled up her phone and said, “Done, here she is.” She showed me Kim's Facebook picture and upon one look I promptly replied, “Yes, please do connect us.” We connected via text and a couple of phone calls and finally found time to meet at Barnes and Noble. I was very aware that this “date” was set up so that if it was a disaster, it would be easy for us to slip away. I tried to get there early and was amused that she had beaten me to that. I was really taken aback by all that is Kim. We truly hit it off right away and I knew instantly that not only was she as advertised but that she was going to be someone special in my life. The early days of trying to date and see each other whilst juggling job, kids, and all the rest of life should have been challenging and tiresome but I never once considered the endeavor to be either of those things. My heart did and still does leap every time I see her.

The Proposal~

We were engaged one year to the day of our first date….where? At the same Barnes and Noble.

The Wedding~

Weddings are wonderful. They are also stressful. We wanted to have a ceremony that was wonderful and one that was not stressful.

We settled on a plan that had us have our ceremony with family only followed by a huge party. Seems like an easy concept and quite honestly, it was amazing. We wanted to do a “shabby-chic” style that encompassed our personalities. The Fields of Blackberry Cove was the PERFECT venue as it was going to be able to accommodate a large group of people for the reception and give us a location that also allowed for an intimate reception. Our vendors were amazing and so helpful and this made all the planning and coordination seamless.

I think it is evident in the photos, that it was an awesome party, on a wonderful summer night, at a beyond gorgeous location. However, our photographer, Adrian Etheridge, of Adrian Etheridge Photography, really captured us and 42 | 2017 Spring / Summer I Do!

our night in a way that was really special.

The Present~

We have been very fortunate to be able to blend a family of five children and have the transition be one that has been really amazing. We have five wonderful children, with five VERY different personalities. This should have been a recipe for discord, but it has been anything but. We also have two cats and a dog….which all get along fairly well too. We have a true love story….love for each other, love for our family, and love for the idea that a person’s forever does actually exist and even if you have to go to a bookstore to find it…it is totally worth it.

BRIDE: KIMBERLY TOUPS WINTER GROOM: MATHES MENNELL PHOTOGRAPHER: ADRIAN ETHERIDGE PHOTOGRAPHY VENUE/CATERER: FIELDS OF BLACKBERRY COVE CAKE: CAKES BY GRAY REFRESHMENTS: METRO WINES

2017 Spring / Summer I Do! | 43

Tiffany and Dave

D

ave and I met at a local restaurant in Raleigh in November of 2013. I was in the process of purchasing a house and was not actively looking for a relationship at the time. I had gone to see my hairdresser, Jeff, a couple weeks prior. Jeff told me there was someone he thought I should meet. This someone was a young man, Dave, who had helped put his salon back together after it had flooded due to a pipe burst. Jeff asked for my permission to send Dave a picture of myself with contact information and I agreed. It was a kind of “why not!” moment. Dave called me fairly quickly. I later found out that the last line of Jeff’s email to him was, “She is expecting your call.”

Dave and I spent a lot of time on the phone talking about anything and everything, which we both enjoyed as opposed to the texting craze of our generation. We went on our first date at Fox & the Hound, a restuarant at North Hills, then the next week we went to Rush Hour Racing for some extreme go-carting, where he really won me over. We spent the next two years adventuring and traveling together. In July 2015, on a trip to the Outer Banks, Dave got down on his knee at sunset and asked me to marry him.

I of course said yes to this handsome, adventurous, positive, and ambitious man with whom I had fallen in love.

For our wedding we wanted a destination location, an outside ceremony with a natural setting, and simple, but elegant decorations. We had visited Asheville, NC together several times and knew that we wanted to explore our options in Asheville before looking at other destinations.

Deciding on the North Carolina Arboretum was easy. We loved the beautiful gardens with intimate settings for a ceremony.

Asheville, NC is full of wedding talent, and so much talent went into making our day exactly what we envisioned. Dave and I wanted a photographer who would capture not only our special moments, but also the beautiful surroundings. Nick King had experience shooting at the NC Arboretum and an impressive online portfolio. He also traveled to Raleigh for an engagement shoot. Kim with Celine & Company loves cooking for people and did a splendid job filling our wedding guests with unique and delicious food. DJ Robby with A Brides DJ kept the dance floor busy and the reception on schedule. Michelle with Party Envy was the Day-of-Coordinator and Decorating Designer who made everything come together like a pretty bow.

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Top 5 Favorite Moments: 1 First look. Having a few moments to celebrate as just the two

of us was incredibly calming and peaceful. We were able to share each other’s company away from the exciting chaos of the wedding day and be joyful together.

2 Ceremony. Dave and I spent a fair amount of time deciding who would marry us because we wanted someone who would take part in our lifelong journey, celebrate our special day, and engage our guests in both. Our pastor traveled from Raleigh to Asheville and did a phenomenal job. The ceremony was perfect.

3 Photo booth. A last minute decision to have a photo booth

was more fun than we ever imagined. We received the photos back quickly and were able to laugh until I cried and until Dave’s stomach hurt during a layover on our honeymoon.

4 Music. From the Harp-Violin duo for the ceremony to the final song played by the

DJ, Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel,” the music anchored so many special memories.

Highlights included my cousin playing our First Dance song on the keyboard and a family friend singing during our ceremony.

5 Glow sticks. Who knew that giving a bunch of adults glow sticks at a party could be so much fun? Highly recommend, and they last longer than sparklers!

BRIDE: TIFFANY SIMS • GROOM: DAVE TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHER: NICK KING PHOTOGRAPHY • FLORAL & DECOR: PARTY ENVY • CEREMONY MUSIC: KARIN HARPS VENUE: NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM • CATERER: CELINE & COMPANY • DJ: A BRIDE’S DJ • PHOTO BOOTH: CAROLINA BOOTH & BUS

2017 Spring / Summer I Do! | 45

R Kassidy and Robert

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obert and I met my freshman year and his sophomore year of high school in FFA. For the next two years we became close friends. During this time we saw each other as “just friends“ and dated other people. Robert bugged me to death about turkey hunting at my parent’s house. Finally spring of 2010 Robert got his opportunity to hunt. I was invited to go turkey hunting with Robert and his best friend Tyler. On this hunt I admitted to Tyler I had always liked Robert. As you can imagine, Robert soon found out. We started dating April 21, 2010. Come to find out Robert felt the same, but didn't want to ruin the friendship we had if I hadn't felt the same. Fast forward five years, and we had grown has a couple.

Those five years weren't easy. Robert’s dad got sick and my dad had a stroke – we really learned to support one another.

I had to give up drag racing, but bow shoots and carp fishing became a hobby for Robert and I. If we weren't fishing we were hunting. Our relationship revolved around the outdoors. We had discussed marriage, but I wanted to finish college.

Looking at rings was a challenge because Robert always played it off like he wasn't interested. I found out why on December 25, 2014: Robert had acted that way so I wasn't expecting a ring. He proposed on Christmas in front of his family. The date was set for August 20, 2016. A long engagement allowed us to plan the wedding of our dreams and find our first home. We spent the morning before the wedding closing on our new home. Our rehearsal dinner consisted of fishing, grilling, and roasting marshmallows.

Our families and close friends came together to stay in the cabins at the wedding venue. A barn located near Wolf Laurel offered the perfect ceremony and reception for us. Teal accented the rustic atmosphere. The tables were lined with lace and decorated with antlers and blue mason jars filled with flowers. Tapestries draped the rafters and twinkling lights set our back drop. My mom made all the favors and mints plus helped with all the decorations. Our wedding was definitely DIY. They always say if it rains on your wedding day, it's good luck – if that's the case we will never run out of luck! Many people say they married their best friend, but most of the time that friendship develops from the relationship. I can honestly say I am married to my best friend, because Robert and I were best friends before we ever started dating.

Top 5 Favorite Moments: 1 Vows: Devoting our lifes to one another and

including God in that was the best part of our wedding day. Marriage is not just a piece of paper, it's a commitment to love and support each other.

Robert says his number one was seeing me walk down the aisle.

2 My Papaw: Dr. Ralph May is a man of God and

my papaw. He preached for many many years, but his health has deteriorated and he has difficulty breathing. My dream was always for my papaw to conduct my wedding ceremony. I never thought this day would come because of his health. The Lord answered my prayer. Papaw didn't conduct the whole service but he did officiate the vows.

3 The Venue: Growing up on a farm creates a

love for barns, but most are not practical for a wedding. Robert didn't care too much where we got married, so I set out to find a barn that would work for us. Memory Mountain offered the perfect one that still held that rustic barn appearance but had the needed amenities. Plus, we had access to thousands of antiques and decorations.

4 Shooting Bows: Instead of the traditional sand

or unity candles we decided to shoot our bows at a heart my mom had made. Walking out under sparklers with our bows was extra special. The front of the arrows were cut off and the fletchings are still in the heart, which is now proudly displayed in our home.

5 Family: Spending time with both of our families mean the world to us both. We don't see family members as much as we would like, so when we do it's very special.

BRIDE: KASSIDY VICKS GROOM: ROBERT SHELTON III BRIDE’S DRESS: DAVIDS BRIDAL BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES: AMAZON HAIR: TONYA SURRETT (SISTER-IN-LAW) INVITATIONS: SCHERRIE VICKS (MY MOM) PHOTOGRAPHERS: JULIE COX / MEMORIES REMAIN PHOTOGRAPHY, DEBORAH WILSON, AMANDA NICOLE DAY OF COORDINATION: ASHELY AULDREDGE / CLASSIC EVENT RENTALS VIDEOGRAPHER: RANDY COX VENUE: MEMORY MOUNTAIN FLORAL: A.C. MOORE, MICHAEL’S CRAFTS CAKE: RANDY HENDERSON CATERING: ARBY'S MUSIC: SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

2017 Spring / Summer I Do! | 47

Sealed With A Kiss CHRISTIN & JOSH

PHOTOGRAPHER: BRIANNAH GOODSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Getting Fresh at Wedding Festivals Freshest fashions, professionals & ideas for your wedding June 13th, 2017 | Greenville August 27th, 2017 | N. Charleston September 19th, 2017 | Greenville

N. Charleston Greenville Spartanburg Anderson Asheville 48 | 2017 Spring / Summer I Do!

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August 20, 2017 12 pm-5 pm

Charlotte Convention Center 704.347.2900 TheBridalShowcase.com

carolina bridal fair The Carolina’s Ultimate Wedding Planning Event!

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August 6, 2017 Noon - 5PM

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Cabarrus Arena & Events Center 4751 Highway 49 North Concord, NC 28025

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