Bride

By Liesel Schmidt The words “blind date” are often not without negative connotations attached, a roll of the dice that typically falls the wrong way. Who will you meet, and will you even like them? It’s an interesting situation to find oneself in; but when a friend of Wendell “Blake” Andrews suggested a blind date with an acquaintance back in 2017, the VP/Managing Member of LAURENBLAKE + B&K Construction Company, LLC, was excited at the prospect. Even so, it wasn’t until a few months later that the introduction to the woman in question actually happened.

Fortunately, when Blake first reached out to Lauren Laudun, the two had an obvious connection. Over the next few months, they continued texting, becoming friends whose commonalities seemed to outshine the differences. “There was absolutely no way that I was going to go on a blind date—there is no telling how bad I would have embarrassed myself!” Lauren says with a laugh. “Blake turned out to be a great guy. Correction: Blake turned out to be the nicest person I have ever known and the person that I had been praying for.”

After finally meeting in 2018, the two became a couple and dated for the next two years. Then, on an anniversary trip to New Orleans on January 17, 2020, Lauren and Blake became much more. “I’d made Blake this awesome keepsake box that I’d found on Pinterest and filled it with tickets of all the events that we had gone to together,” Lauren goes on, the pride she took in the project evident in her voice. “Blake gave me a card and a handful of lottery tickets, which we used to scratch off together. I got to the last ticket, and I felt my face getting hot. I scratched off two diamond rings, and then I went to scratch the third. I said I thought I’d won, and he immediately asked what I’d won. I started to scratch the last little box; and at that moment, Blake went to the corner of our hotel room and grabbed a Ziploc baggie of roses petals and threw them on the ground. The scratched-off box said, ‘Will you marry me?’ and Blake got down on his knee. I could not contain my joy, and I started jumping up and down.”

Ready for their honeymoon, the newly married Andrews drove off in a golf cart, streaming cans behind them as they went. Now back home, “We are just peaceful, content, and happily married.” Ten months later on November 21, 2020, Lauren walked down the aisle at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Covington, wearing a floral baroque lace gown embroidered with beading and embellished with Chantilly lace and tulle. After exchanging vows, the couple joined their guests for a reception at Tchefuncte Country Club. “Our wedding was better than anything that I’d ever dreamed of having,” says Lauren of the day that came in just under the wire on the changing COVID gathering restrictions. “Our blended family includes three kids. Blake’s son was his best man, and his daughter was a bridesmaid, while my daughter was my maid of honor. It was special to have our children stand beside us.”

After dining on a sumptuous dinner catered by Kenny LaCour of Dakota’s Restaurant and Grand Events, it was the dance floor that got all the attention as the Phunky Monkeys kept things lively. Guests were also treated to cigars rolled on-site by The Cigar Factory. Sweetening the occasion was a five-tier wedding cake adorned with white roses and greenery as well as a chocolate groom’s cake made to look like a replica of LSU stadium complete with LED lights—both of which were made by Zoe’s Bakery.

Wedding Planner: Kenny LaCour, Laura Thomas - Grand Events

Church: Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church Reception: Tchefuncte Country Club Florist: Dunn and Sonnier Antiques & Flowers LLC Photographers: Julia Bailey, Max Bailey, Nichole Cannatella

Cake: Zoe's Bakery Catering: Kenny LaCour of Dakota’s Restaurant and Grand Events

Band: Phunky Monkeys

Transportaion: Royal Coach

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