White Fox Cottage

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Ryan's Perspective: My earliest memory of meeting Abi was when we were 13 years old in the 7th grade. The story starts when I was at my good buddy Drayton's house. He lived in Sterling on The Lake, and we probably got bored of playing ping pong in his basement and decided to go to the neighborhood basketball court. Drayton knew a girl from our middle school who he invited to the basketball court to hang out with us. When she arrived, she brought her friend as well. Her friend's name was Abi. I thought that Abi was very cute, and while we all played basketball, I had the genius idea to joke that I "broke" my ACL. Yes I know, very cringy, but she thought it was funny and remembers it to this day. After that one time hanging out, I didn't see her again for about 2 years. Fast forward to freshman year of high school, and I had biology class with Mrs. Grennan. This class was very fun for me as I had it with a couple of my friends. What made it even better was that the cute girl from the basketball court in 7th grade was in the class. Long story short, we quickly became friends and started to sit next to each other in class. During this time I realized that I had developed a huge crush on her. Eventually, I got her phone number, and we began to text all the time and played tons of Game Pigeon (games you can play via iMessage)! She was super smart, funny, and beautiful, and we shared a lot of interests. One interest we both had was band. Abi played the flute, and I played the trumpet. She knew that I did marching band, and I urged her to do it next year. She agreed, and that was the next stage in our relationship. During the summer after freshman year, we kept texting, and I shared the feelings I had for her. Luckily for me, she had the same feelings. That same summer our pre-band camp started. We hung out together and started our "talking stage". We shared our first kiss and talked about progressing our relationship further. Soon after this I asked her to homecoming, which ended up being our first date! We went with my best friend Nick and Abi's best friend at the time, Ella. We all went to Biba's for dinner and took homecoming photos. After dinner and pictures, we went to the homecoming dance and followed that by hanging out at Ella's house. One of my all-time favorite moments was lying outside in the grass looking up at the stars that night next to Abi. From there our relationship officially started! The next 6 years went by very quickly. Our lives changed a lot, from living through COVID, to going to college, and just getting older. One thing that was always the same was our love for each other. We grew inseparable, and eventually, I decided that it was time that I talked with Mr. Hartter. I told him how much I loved his daughter and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Mr. Hartter gave me his blessing and gave me a piece of advice that Abi and I will use for the rest of our lives, to center our relationship around the Lord and continue to go to church together. I planned the engagement at a place special to both of us, Sanford Stadium, the UGA football stadium. We both love Georgia football and are now lifelong Dawg fans. Go Dawgs! Abi and I had senior pictures, and when we arrived at Sanford Stadium, our photographer made us go back to back and then had Abi turn around. I let my knee hit the ground and proposed to her. She said yes! Our relationship has been the most consistent source of joy in my life. Abi is the most incredible woman I've ever met, and I am so thankful that I get to spend the rest of my life with her. She pushes me to be a better person and is always there for me. Abi, I love you!

Abigail's Perspective: I first met Ryan briefly in the 7th grade at the basketball courts in my neighborhood. I remember thinking that he was so funny and cute, but we didn't see each other again until our freshman year. We both had Mrs. Grennan for Biology, and we quickly became friends. I once again noticed how funny (and cute!) Ryan was. He could always make me laugh, was smart, and was just so fun to be around. Thanks to lots of Game Pigeon and marching band practices the summer after our freshman year, we soon confessed our feelings for each other and had our first date at Homecoming of our sophomore year. Since that first date, we have been a constant in each other's lives. We continued to date all throughout high school. From taking as many classes as we could together to doing three years of marching band with each other, I can truly say that Ryan was, and is, my best friend. Following the craziness of COVID and our drive-thru graduation, we started at different colleges. Ryan attended the University of North Georgia for two years before transferring to UGA at the start of our junior year. Despite the changes and transitions of this time, one thing was still the same: the love we shared for each other. Once Ryan was at UGA, we had the best time together. We once again took as many classes as we could together and experienced so many fun things like finding all the "free" T-shirts we could to attending as many sporting events as possible. We made some amazing memories that I will cherish for many years to come. The best memory will of course be when Ryan proposed to me at the top of Sanford Stadium. He truly pulled off the biggest surprise during our senior pictures by proposing. It was a day that I had been dreaming of for so long, and I got to say yes to forever with my best friend! In the last seven years, our relationship has grown and changed, but I will forever be thankful that we found each other so young. From school dances to high school and college graduations, we have been able to watch each other grow up, which has been so special. Ryan has been, and I'm sure will continue to be, a steadying force in my life, and I am so grateful for the man that he is. He is always a source of encouragement and love, and I could not imagine my life without him in it. Ryan is everything I have prayed for, and I am so thankful that the Lord gave us each other. I cannot wait to marry you, Ryan. I love you!

Our Story

Photos

Maggie is Abi's cousin and one of her best friends. Abi and Maggie are only fourteen months apart and loved getting to grow up together. From putting on performances at every family function to getting to experience engagement together, Abi and Maggie have always been close. 

Maggie Duncan

Andrew is Ryan’s brother and one of his closest friends. They grew up doing everything together—whether it was playing video games or competing in every sport they could get their hands on. They have always been there for one another and always will be for the rest of their lives.

Andrew Rolader

Abi and Caroline have been best friends since middle school. They rode the bus together and spent many summer days at the pool. Their friendship has always been strong regardless of how much time passed since they saw each other last, and  it has been such a blessing in their adult lives. 

Caroline Sims

Wil is Abi's older brother and they have always been close. As Abi and Ryan's relationship has grown, Ryan has enjoyed getting to know Wil better, especially during trips to visit him and his wife in Maryland. Wil and Ryan enjoy talking sports and competing in game nights. 

Wil Hartter

Peyton is Ryan's older sister. Abi has gotten to know Peyton throughout the years and has so much fun decorating cookies with her and staying up late to chat on trips. She took all of Ryan and Abi's photos for high school dances, and Ryan and Abi always enjoy hanging out with her.

Peyton Rolader

Nick and Ryan met in elementary school and have been like brothers ever since. From starring in school plays like The Nutcracker, playing basketball, or to being college roommates and making midnight QT runs, they’ve always had each other’s backs through thick and thin.

Nick Butts

Elise and Abi met in middle school and have been great friends since high school. From grabbing Mexican food to making silly videos together, they have always had so much fun. Elise is married to Ryan's brother, Andrew, and Abi and Elise are so excited to get to do life together. 

Elise Rolader

Matthew and Ryan met in high school marching band through mutual friends. Over the years, they've become some of each other's closest friends. Whether it's playing video games or grabbing lunch together every week, they always make time to hang out and keep their friendship strong.

Matthew Wages

Lauren has been with Abi's brother Wil since they were in high school, so Abi has known Lauren since she was eleven. Lauren took Abi out on coffee dates when she was in middle school and has always been so fun to hang out with. Ryan and Abi enjoy going to visit Wil and Lauren in Maryland. 

Lauren Hartter

Davis and Ryan originally met early in elementary school as their basketball teams would play each other. They didn't become close friends until high school when they were both in the trumpet section in the marching band. They share tons of common interests like playing sports together and video games.

Davis Ward

Annie is Abi's older cousin and such a sweet friend. Annie always did Abi's hair and makeup when they were little, which Abi of course loved. They have always enjoyed spending time together at different family functions and loved getting to grow up together. 

Annie Howard

Garrett and Ryan met when Ryan’s family moved in next door in first grade, and they quickly went from neighbors to close friends. Growing up, they spent nearly all their free time outdoors, riding bikes, skateboards, and exploring. They became college roommates and have always had each other’s backs, no matter what.

Garrett Plumlee

Abi and Lauren have been close friends since middle school. They have been through so many stages of life together and always manage to have fun, no matter what they are doing. From middle school photoshoots to late night sonic runs, Lauren and Abi share so many fun memories. 

Lauren Durling

Jamie and Ryan met early in elementary school. Though Jamie was Andrew’s best friend, he always made Ryan feel like one of his closest friends too. Over the years, their bond has only grown stronger. Whether it was playing basketball or shooting pool in the basement, Jamie has always been one of Ryan’s most genuine friends.

Jamie Robertson

Alexa, Olivia, and Abi all met on a roommate search Facebook page. The first time they met for lunch they ended up hanging out for multiple hours and Alexa got a parking ticket. Alexa was always a source of laughter and comfort for Abi, and living with her and Olivia was one of the highlights of her college experience. 

Alexa Maddox

Ryan and Ryan met in elementary school and became great friends in middle and high school. Their friendship grew as they were in marching band together. During those high school years, they were practically inseparable—from band, to football, to pool basketball trick shots, they never failed to make great jokes and great memories.

Ryan Watkins

Olivia and Abi met for coffee their freshman year of college and immediately clicked. Olivia was Abi's first college friend, and they loved living together with Alexa. From late night deep talks to Chick-fil-A runs, Abi is very thankful for Olivia's friendship. 

Olivia Oseroff

Parker and Ryan met in middle school and became close friends in high school. They quickly bonded over their love for college football and basketball. Whether it’s watching or talking sports, playing ultimate frisbee, or hitting the disc golf course, their friendship has only continued to grow stronger over the years.

Parker Jones

Caroline is Wil and Lauren Hartter's daughter and Abi and Ryan's niece. She will be almost four months old at the wedding. Right now she loves bath time and going on long walks! 

Caroline Hartter

Brooks is Andrew and Elise Rolader's son and Abi and Ryan's nephew. He will be thirteen months old at the wedding. He currently loves eating food, looking out the window, and reading books! 

Abigail & Ryan

Abigail & Ryan

A&R

Wedding Day