Wedding Magazine: Beki & Matt

MAY 14, 2016

Matt

and Beki Matt & Beki • 1

2 • Meet the Allens

to our family and friends, It means the world to us to have you here. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the support, encouragement, love and laughter you have contributed to our lives. You are our teachers, partners in crime, guides, mentors and favorite people in the whole world. We wouldn’t be here today without you and for that we are eternally grateful. We hope you enjoy the celebration tonight and let it be but a small gift for all you have done for us. We love you.

Matt & Beki

Matt & Beki • 3

4 • Meet the Allens

meet the

family Matt & Beki • 5

6 • Meet the Allens

Beki Jo Raymond Birthday: Jan 31, 1987 Hometown: Kaysville, UT Education: Masters of Accounting Current occupation: Finance Business Manager Favorite movie: A League of Their Own Favorite musician: Rascal Flatts Celebrity crush: Channing Tatum Dream car: BMW x5 Dream vacation: Super Bowl to watch the Vikings win!

Matthew Allen Birthday: June 28, 1982 Hometown: Clinton, UT Education: Undergrad in business at Grace College; currently pursuing MSF, U of U Current occupation: Business Manager L-3 Communications Favorite movie: Gladiator or Princess Bride Favorite musician: Rascal Flatts Celebrity crush: Jennifer Anniston Dream car: Tesla S P85D Dream vacation: Year-long trip around the world

Matt & Beki • 7

Trinity Trinity was born on June 23, 2005 and has had 3 major life phases. Until the age of 5 she wanted to be a Disney Princess. Then, from 5 – 9 she wanted to be the world’s best female soccer player. She liked t-shirts, shorts and cleats (or tennis shoes). Lately, Trinity is still interested in sports, but she is also interested in going to Claire’s, getting mani/pedis, going clothes shopping and the finer things of female life. Trinity still enjoys sports and looks forward to joining the Rowland Hall Cross Country team now that she will be in middle school starting August 2016.

8 • Meet the Allens

What was your 1st impression of Beki?

T: Nice, a little quirky but nice! (LOL)

What is your favorite characteristic of hers?

T: She’s fun to be around. (Makes me laugh!)

What is your favorite activity to do with her?

T: I like to go shopping with her!

What’s the most embarrassing thing you know about her?

T: She’s a straight up clutz!

What do you like about Ashton?

T: I like that he’s funny, even when it might not be on purpose!

What was your 1st impression of him?

T: He’s silly and adorable!

What’s the most fun thing we’ve done as a family?

T: When we went to Lagoon all together!!!!

What do you like about having a new sibling?

T: That I get a personal assistant! (LOL)

Matt & Beki • 9

Ashton Ashton made his grand entrance to this world on November 11, 2011 – yup! 11/11/11.

He loves that his birthday is so easy to remember! He’s a crazy, fun loving boy who loves life, loves to play and loves to learn. Ashton is the cutest little sports fan and believe me, he knows his sports. He’s very serious about his teams and loves the competition. Lately, his best friends are Hulk, Captain America, Batman, Spiderman and Kai. He has a lot of fun at his school, Challenger, and will soon be reading better than his mom!

10 • Meet the Allens

What was your 1st impression of Matt?

A: He was funny looking…

What is your favorite characteristic of his?

A: He’s fun to be around!

What is your favorite activity to do with him?

A: I love to play Mario Party with him!

What’s the most embarrassing thing you know about him?

A: He likes to sing in the shower, it’s funny!

What do you like about Trinity?

A: Her is nice to me!

What was your 1st impression of her?

A: She’s pretty and nice

What’s the most fun thing we’ve done as a family?

A: Going to Lagoon with everyone!

What do you like about having a new sibling?

A: There’s someone to watch movies and play games with!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: A doctor… or Batman!

Matt & Beki • 11

THE STORY BEHIND

The gemstones Beki and Matt feel so lucky and fortunate to have found each other that they wanted to give their loved ones extra help bringing all the luck, love, and help into their own lives as possible. Each guest will write a wish or goal for their life on a small parchment paper, roll it up and stick it in their keychain jar — alongside the collection of stones they feel best represent their current journey.

an interv

12 • Meet the Allens

view with Trin

Learn more

turn the page to see what each gemstone represents Matt & Beki • 13

the gemstone guide

Peridot is said to be a powerful cleanser. It releases and neutralizes toxins on all levels. Alleviates jealousy, resentment, spite, bitterness, irritation, hatred and greed. Reduces stress, anger and guilt. Peridot opens our hearts to joy and new relationships. It enhances confidence and assertion, motivating growth and change.

Sharpens and opens the mind to new levels of awareness.

Peridot

Magnesite The brain like form of magnesite has a powerful effect on the mind, bringing the hemispheres into harmony and stimulating ideas and their application. Magnesite brings a calming effect to the emotions, promoting tolerance for emotional stress. It supports people who are nervous and fearful and helps them to overcome irritability and intolerance.

Magnesite

Onyx gives strength. It promotes vigor, steadfastness and stamina. Imparts self-confidence, helping you to be at ease in your surroundings. Onyx banishes grief, enhances selfcontrol and stimulates the power of wise decision-making. It encourages happiness and good fortune.

Onyx

Quartz has been used by mystics for telling fortune and seeing into the future for centuries. It is mentioned in just about every culture of the world and steeped in myth and folklore! The word Quartz comes from the Greek “krustallos” meaning “ice” as the ancient Greeks thought Quartz was ice formed by the Gods.

Quartz

14 • Meet the Allens

the gemstone guide

Rose Quartz is said to be the stone of universal love. It restores trust and harmony in relationships, encouraging unconditional love. Rose Quartz purifies and opens the heart at all levels to promote love, self-love, friendship, deep inner healing and feelings of peace. It encourages self-forgiveness and acceptance invoking self-trust and self-worth.

Rose Quartz

Tiger Eye is said to be a stimulating stone and can help to overcome lethargy and enhance motivation. A stone of protection, Tiger Eye may also bring good luck to the wearer.

It has the power to focus the mind, promoting mental clarity, assisting us to resolve problems objectively and unclouded by emotions. Useful for recognizing one’s own needs in relation to the needs of others.

Tiger Eye

Amethyst is said to be a powerful and protective stone. It guards against psychic attack, transmuting the energy into love and protecting the wearer from all types of harm, including geopathic or electromagnetic stress and ill wishes from others.

Alleviates sadness and grief, and dissolves negativity. Amethyst activates spiritual awareness, opens intuition and enhances psychic abilities. It has strong healing and cleansing powers.

Amethyst

Garnet cleanses and re-energies the chakras. It revitalizes, purifies and balances energy, bringing serenity or passion as appropriate. Inspires love and devotion. Garnet balances the sex drive and alleviates emotional disharmony. It activates and strengthens the survival instinct, bringing courage and hope.

Sharpens perceptions of oneself and others. Garnet removes inhibitions and taboos. It opens the heart and bestows selfconfidence. Success in business. Attracts wealth.

Garnet

Matt & Beki • 15

the gemstone guide

Coral brings diplomacy and concurrence, quiets emotions, brings peace to inner self. Facilitates intuition, imagination, visualization, expedite, accelerate the transfer of knowledge.

Strengthens both circulatory and bone structure in the body.

Helps battle mental illnesses. Has a true link with the past and can pass knowledge along.

Coral

Red Agate is an excellent stone for rebalancing and harmonizing body, mind and spirit. It cleanses and stabilizes the aura, eliminating and transforming negativity. Red Agate enhances mental function, improving concentration, perception and analytical abilities. It soothes and calms, healing inner anger or tension and creates a sense of security and safety.

Tiger Eye

16 • Meet the Allens

Rose Quartz

Amethyst

Red Agate

Coral

Citrine

Aventurine

the gemstone guide

Citrine is said to energize every level of life. It cleanses the chakras and opens the intuition. Citrine attracts wealth, prosperity and success. It imparts joy, wonder, delight and enthusiasm. Raises self-esteem and self-confidence. Stimulates the brain, strengthening the intellect. Citrine promotes motivation, activates creativity and encourages self-expression.

It releases negative traits, depression, fears and phobias.

Citrine

Aventurine is a stone of prosperity. It reinforces leadership qualities and decisiveness, romotes compassion and empathy, and ncourages perseverance. Aventurine relieves stammers and severe neuroses. It stabilizes one’s state of mind, stimulates perception and enhances creativity. It promotes feelings of well-being and encourages regeneration of the heart.

Aventurine

Onyx

Garnet

Magnesite

Peridot

Quartz

Red Agate

Matt & Beki • 17

the newlyweds (an interview)

What was your first impression of each other?

B: I’ve known Matt for a few years and I always thought he was nice and cute. He was part of the “cool group” at work so I’d typically just admire from afar.

I learned quickly he was incredibly smart and when we started getting more of an opportunity to work together on projects, I’d take it without hesitation hoping to learn as much as I could from him. Who knew he’d teach me so much more about life and love than finance and work?

M: My first impression of Beki was at work when we were both on a very demanding project. She was new to L-3 and she seemed to like to take charge despite not knowing much. However, I later came to find out that she basically dives into problems head first, researches the heck out of them and ultimately ends up smarter, 18 • Meet the Allens

better and solving the issue. This impression was reinforced when I picked her up for our first date and her house was in the middle of a kitchen remodel and new flooring being installed. She had both projects finished quickly and I knew she was someone who likes to both start and finish projects.

What did you do on your first date?

B: When Matt asked me on a date for the first time, I was in shock. I was pretty sure it was a mistake or a joke. Needless to say I was incredibly nervous leading up to that night. He took me on our 1st date on April 17th 2015. We went to Hearth on 25th for dinner and somewhere along the way we ended up at an Improv Comedy show in Ogden. Dinner was a surprise because he’d actually made a reservation.

relationship to them and their witty humor.

Who initiated the first kiss?

B: Matt totally initiated the first kiss and I was so grateful that he did because he’s totally out of my league and it would have taken me a lot longer to work up the courage to kiss him.

M: Beki will say I did, but in reality it was both of us.

After our first date she invited me in (because she didn’t want the date to end) so we talked for a bit longer and then I kissed her. In reality, she initiated it though because she invited me in…hoping I would kiss her.

Who was the first to say I love you ?

B: Matt told me he loved me first. I wasn’t expecting it but it seems more and more of our love story has completely been unexpected. He surprises me often and I love it! It amazes me the amount of love he has to give and I’m so grateful I get to be on the receiving end. I still get butterflies thinking about it.

M: I was the first to say it, but she was the first to say it with her eyes. I don’t think it’s any secret to those of you who know us well, but Beki and I fell in love with each other pretty quick. Honestly, I wanted to play it much cooler and make her wait longer before I said it, but she is the most amazing woman I have ever met and I couldn’t wait to tell her.

What’s the most interesting or surprising thing you’ve learned about him since you’ve been together?

Impressive! We stopped at Alleged and I was pleasantly surprised that I could talk to him for hours and hours and never get bored. The comedy show was hilarious because I told him I didn’t want to get on stage and sure enough, they called us up. It turned into a really fun moment for us that I’ll never forget!

M: I took Beki to 25th St in Ogden for our first date.

We went to Hearth on 25th, Alleged and then to improv comedy. It was fun. The conversation never stopped, she was easy to talk to and I enjoyed being around someone that excited about life. When we went to the improv comedy show I purposefully raised my hand when they asked who was on a date so they would call us up on stage and make us part of the act. Beki was mortified, but it ended up being a really funny skit and I now realize we should’ve invited the comedy team to our wedding because we owe our

B: Matt is spontaneous! Not something I was expecting. Coming from a financial world, most people like to stick to a schedule, and have a plan. Matt likes that too, but the fact that he can change things up and be flexible was a bit of a shock. He loves lists, as do I, but he loves surprising me with new and crazy things to try. He makes life interesting and never boring!

M: Well, Beki has a tattoo of a… just kidding. One of the first things I learned about Beki is that she loves projects. She loves starting them, working on them and completing them. Then I also learned that she loves sports. She loves to play them and watch them, which is incredible because I don’t get in trouble for wanting to watch a football game or the Masters or the Jazz.

Instead, she’s already on the couch with the remote in her hand before I can even think to turn the game on. One of the first things Beki and I did while we were first dating is watch Golden State Warrior playoff games “together.” We would be at our respective houses usually having tucked the kids in bed and then we would get on the phone together and cheer on Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors…we even ended up ordering matching Steph Curry jerseys which we Matt & Beki • 19

later wore to a Jazz game with Jazz hats so that we could support both Steph Curry and the Jazz.

What is one of your favorite memories together?

B: The last year has been filled with many moments.

Romantic ones, funny ones and serious ones. All of them amazing and I’m so grateful for every single one.

There are two that stick out in my mind. The first was about a week after we started dating we were at my house with some friends and it started raining. Matt grabbed my hand and took me outside. We stood there in the rain, getting wet, and he kissed me. It was quick and we laughed afterward but I was in awe.

He makes the little moments the ones to remember.

The second memory we weren’t even with each other.

We had been texting one night while I was moving back into my kitchen and he was at his home. I don’t remember exactly what was said, but I remember we hadn’t seen each other for a few days. I thanked him for reminding me how to love again and he told me I deserved to be loved and he was luckiest guy to be able to love me and call me his girlfriend. Sappy I know (that’s Matt), but I remember the way he made me feel and it hasn’t gone away yet.

M: There are already so many favorite memories I have with Beki, so it’s hard to pick just one.

That being said, I’d have to say one of my favorite memories is golfing with her. Beki and I have gone golfing a few times and yes, she did beat me once.

Golfing with her has always been a lot of fun. We both love the sport and we both hit bad shots and good shots so it’s always fun to put little wagers on our golf outings. I could’ve mentioned dinners in Park City, sunset cruises in Cabo, but I really do enjoy the simple things like golfing or walking around Station Park with her. My favorite memories are simply living life with her in both the simple moments and the big.

What do you love most about each other?

B: The list could go on for pages, but to name a few… He’s thoughtful, loving, personable, understanding, and completely accepting. The ability to look past the imperfections and love deeply, without hesitation is inspiring. He loves me for me and that’s probably what I love the most about him.

He’s got a cute butt too! ;) M: Everything. This one is really hard because she 20 • Meet the Allens

has so many good qualities, but if I had to pick what I love most about Beki it would be her smile and how often she does smile. She has the most beautiful smile and she is a fun-loving person who enjoys life, so her smile is something I get to see frequently. I simply enjoy doing little things and big things just to see her light up.

When did you know you’d met the one?

B: There were 2 things that led me to knowing Matt was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. The first wasn’t necessarily one specific event, but a number of events. Every time he talked about Trin, his eyes would get wide and happy. I loved seeing that! Each of those times, I think I knew with a little more certainty that this was it for me. Watching him play with Ashton the first time almost made me cry (not unusual as

Matt has learned). I knew Ashton would warm up to him quickly but Ashton can be a handful at times and Matt adapted quickly. Last July, we went to a Bees game with Ashton and he held Matt’s hand for the first time and I’m pretty sure my heart pounded so hard everyone could hear it. My heart belonged to these two boys (and soon after that, a vivacious 10 year old girl) and from that moment on, he was the one for me.

M: I knew Beki was the one when she met Trinity the first time. The conversation between the two of them was effortless and it was obvious that they both enjoyed talking to each other. Later, when Trinity discovered that Beki and I were actually dating and seeing how excited Trinity became at the notion it reaffirmed in my mind that Beki was the one and I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her and parent our family together.

What’s next for you two?

B: I don’t really know what’s next for us besides a list of vacations and projects, but the best part about not knowing is we get to do it together. Our family means the world to us, and we’re excited to experience life with each other and our children no matter what lies ahead.

M: Vacations and lots of them. Beki and I enjoy seeing the world and we already have a list of 40 places we want to go. Some of them center around sporting events while others center around historical sights. Either way, we look forward to many vacations and we look forward to taking Trin and Ashton to some really cool places too.

Matt & Beki • 21

22 • Meet the Allens

How he

proposed as told by Beki Allen

M

att and I had talked “hypothetically” about what getting married would look like for us late last year (2015). I think at one point we had said “Wouldn’t it be cool to get married on the beach or a boat?!” I think we both knew we couldn’t live without one another and marriage was in our future, but when Matt proposed, I was completely and utterly shocked. The only serious conversation we had had about getting married was that 2018 sounded good.

Eventually, I started to push our conversations to get him to commit to getting married in 2017. Boy did he have something else in mind!

Christmas 2015 came and went and I had no idea what he had up his sleeve. On January 17th, 2016, 9 months from our 1st date, we had spent the day going to church and spending time together. Matt’s mom invited us for dinner that evening so we went and the conversation unusually turned to marriage talk. Jayme, Matt’s mom, seemed pleasantly surprised we were talking about getting married in the next few years, and it bothered me that Matt hadn’t talked to his parents. I started to think maybe he wasn’t as serious as I was. We left his parents early so I could go home and finish up some work, and I was bugged and worried.

He could tell I was frustrated, so he apologized and asked if he could make it up

to me with gelato. Um, yeah! Duh. We stopped at Station Park in Farmington.

The sun had set and it was cooling down.

All the lights were hung around the courtyard where the fountain is and we walked over to Settebello to get our gelato.

Matt was just casually talking and I assumed it was because he was trying to get my mind off of that evening. Walking back to our car, gelato in hand, he pulled me aside over a little bridge and said he had something else in mind for tonight. He got down on one knee and proposed with his grandmother’s ring. At that moment, the fountains shot up, the colorful lights turned on and a Toby Keith song started playing. Priceless.

I’m pretty sure I looked crazy, happy, and shocked at the same time, not understanding where I missed the boat. He told me after Christmas, he had talked to Trin about marrying me and she was on board and excited. He let her pick out a ring from his grandmother’s collection and she did an awesome job!

Matt’s mom, Trinity and Matt knew the plan and they played it up! He said that ring was an engagement ring, but that I got to pick out my wedding ring for my birthday.

When Matt proposed, I fell in love with him all over again, and I have never been more certain of saying yes than I did that night.

Matt & Beki • 23

Love

never fails

24 • Meet the Allens

photography by Kati Ann Photography magazine design by Unlike Juliet