THE EARLY BIRD FINDS ROMANCE

Early mornings and a traditional chicken light the path for these newlyweds

Story by Dalondo Moultrie Photos courtesy LAUREN CRUMPLER photography

It wasn’t the adrenaline of the morning workout that kept a Guadalupe County woman returning to the gym every morning. It was the man she met and he recently made an honest woman of her in a wedding neither will ever forget.

“It was really beautiful,” said Skylar Faris, nee Sullivan, of her September nuptials. “It was an outdoor wedding. We had trees hanging down and then we had the reception in a barn, like, a modern barn style.”

Clay Faris met his then-bride-to-be a few years ago via introduction by a friend, Skylar said.

The friend and Clay worked out at a Crossfit gym in the area. He invited Skylar to workout with Clay and the friend, and sparks flew, she said.

“I went there one day at 5:30 in the morning; I met clay,” Skylar said. “That was pretty much the reason I kept on going. I would not go to a gym at 5:30 in the morning. I’m an afternoon bird.”

Good thing she did. A relationship blossomed and about two years ago, Clay moved in with Skylar and the pair now live together in her Guadalupe County home.

From there, their bond grew stronger. They eventually agreed to marry and tied the knot Sept. 18 at Addison Grove in Dripping Springs.

An intimate wedding with about five groomsmen and five bridesmaids helped the newly minted Mr. and Mrs. Faris celebrate with about 130 important people in their lives as guests.

Those in attendance were treated to the couple’s genuine brand of love as they recited the vows each had written. Clay said his wife’s vows were elaborate while he tried to keep his short and sweet.

“The typical ‘in sickness and in health,’” is how he jokingly described his vows. “I always said I’d do my best to make her smile because she’s never as beautiful as when she’s smiling.

“It’s safe to say I made people laugh with my vows.”

It wasn’t just his oath to his bride that provided comic relief at the wedding, Clay and Skylar said.

One guest certain to draw attention and laughs at the wedding was Jeff, a stuffed chicken that Clay and his friends adopted as teens and kept in their lives since high school. Jeff joined the group of high schoolers around sophomore year and has been there for many of the important days in their lives, Clay said.

“He’s gone to all of our weddings,” he said. “He’s an honorary groomsman.”

Jeff started out hanging with the group at bonfires and parties in high school. Then when they all went off to college, every now and then, Jeff would make an appearance and trade hands.

“He ended up in my hands up until a year ago when we gave him to Kevin at his wedding,” Clay said. “Then Kevin went and brought him right on back to me at mine. Next year I believe it is, he’s going to be going to our friend Randy’s.

“It’s just one of those traditions that’s stupid at first but then it actually means a lot to your group.”

Skylar said she knew Jeff would be there and she understands how much he has come to mean to the group of friends. But her family members were unprepared for the elaborate way the group and Jeff partake in the famous chicken dance.

“It was definitely the most interesting chicken dance I’ve ever seen,” she said. “I even had my own family members come up to me and say how they’ve never seen anyone get so into a chicken dance.

“It was a good time; I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Following the wedding, the bride and groom whisked away to Colorado. They visited Breckenridge and traveled to Colorado Springs where they found the views breathtaking and so spectacular they chose to forgo an additional leg of the trip to stay put in Breckenridge.

“It was just too pretty,” Skylar said. “They actually have seasons, unlike Texas.”

Marriage has been going great for the newlyweds. They’re loving life together and making plans for the future.

Next up is moving out of the house Skylar has called home nearly five years, Clay said.

“This is not our forever home,” he said. “The backyard’s too damn small.”

Plans are in the works to build a house in Kingsbury. They hope to get on with that part of their life starting in April or May.

From there, Clay and Skylar Faris will have the rest of their lives to figure out what’s next.