Wedding Day

Ceremony

Old Westbury Golf & Country Club

Reception

Our Wedding

Narrated by Brian (Edited by Alix) Author’s Note: While the end result is always the same, how we got here may vary slightly by perspective. At this point in my life I can say that choosing to study abroad in Australia has been the biggest and most impactful decision I’ve made thus far…and I wouldn’t change it for anything! The study abroad program began with a 4-day orientation in Sydney before a week long trip to the Great Barrier Reef (in Cairns) for the group of 60 or so study abroad students. Unbeknownst to me, was that Alix and I had briefly met in Sydney when I went to our friend’s Riley’s room. I remember two girls on the couch…but, clearly fate wanted us to wait a bit longer to meet. One of the first days of the trip was a boat tour of the Great Barrier Reef. I’m on the bow with Riley and up walks Alix, who turns all her attention straight to Riley. She mentioned Iowa, where Riley was from, and so I naturally thought they had some things in common and thus, I went straight into wingman mode. Boy was I wrong. EDITOR’S NOTE: I noticed Brian standing outside, straight shot from where I was standing with my friend...I did mention I was feeling good in my new bikini, so she thought it would be funny to push me through the doorway. Thankfully, I quickly caught my footing and managed to turn it into somewhat of a strut down the runway. But, as soon as I approached Brian, I completely chickened out and started talking to Riley instead. Though, by the end, I thought I got things back on track because I managed to playfully touch Brian’s arm and I do remember thinking “hm, the only Darien I know is in Connecticut…but, he definitely doesn’t seem like he’s from the east coast.” Later in the week, we were scheduled to go white water rafting. On the way there, the guides told us to form groups for the rafts. My immediate reaction was to look at the guys…thought we could rough it on the seas. To my surprise, this girl started calling out groups and wouldn’t you know, Alix and I ended up in the same boat (Editor’s note: Yeah, what a kawinkidink :) ). I was a bit bummed, but thought it could still be fun. Over the course of the day, I started warming up to the idea of being around the girls, especially Alix, and started to put on my charm. I started to flirt and went with my best move, trying to show off in the water.&nbsp;Little did I know when I swam over to her, she ended up hitting a rock! Luckily, we made it to the end of the day without any further injuries. So after we survived the rapids, we head back to the bus and we’re all completely exhausted from staying up late the last few nights (our hostel had a night club on the bottom floor!) and being out on the water in the blazing heat all day. All any person wants to do is take a nice nap on the air-conditioned bus ride home. Keeping this in mind, I get on the bus and pick my seat on the aisle somewhere near the back. A little bit later, Alix comes strolling down the aisle and picks the seat directly across from me. Now, I have a decision to make: 1. I can sleep OR 2. I can stay awake and continue to lay on my charm. I vividly remember this dilemma…and ultimately, I made the decision to stay awake and talk to her. EDITOR’S NOTE: I saw Brian get on the bus early so I raced over, basically pushing everyone out of my way, took a deep breath, walked up the steps and causally grabbed the seat across from him…then, as the bus started to drive off, said a little prayer to stay awake! Good news. WE HIT IT OFF! We talked the whole way home and made plans to meet at the hostel bar later that night.&nbsp; EDITOR’S NOTE: I got to the hostel bar, and to my surprise (which makes perfectly sense now), Brian had gotten himself entered into a dance competition and won! Of course, he was surrounded by people, mostly girls, so I had to think quick and get him away. I ordered two tequila shots at the bar, took a quick picture, and sent him a text that said “Congrats! Your drink just got here!” Though, the night that truly sealed our fate was when I convinced Alix to take a walk down to the lagoon and under the stars, we had our first kiss. The rest, they say is history. When I think back, that was roughly the first week of studying abroad so as we left Cairns for Syndey and continued on our 5-month program, we had plenty of time to grow our friendship, learn about each other, finally go on our ‘first date,’ and without knowing it yet…continue to fall in love. All the memories of countless sushi trains, nights at the STAR Casino, meeting up in Queenstown with Alexa, me infamously saying “I like you, like A LOT”, tearful goodbyes at LAX and then turning into summer trips to visit each other (my mom asking who is this girl and me replying “we’re kind of dating”), Alix being completely surprised when I introduced myself as her boyfriend, introducing Alix to my Phi Delt brothers and Kilroy’s, moving to NYC, date nights turned into EPIC date nights (even with Alix inviting our friends to join), multiple birthdays, holidays, 4th of July Hurricane Keggers, spending more time with each other’s friends &amp; family, moving in together…and all leading up to asking Rob and Jill for their blessing, seeing the look on Nanny Lynn’s face when I showed her the ring, coordinating with my family to fly to New York, getting down on one knee to ask my best friend to marry me and having her say YES! I don’t know what would have happened if either of us didn’t study abroad in Sydney, but I’m glad I don’t have to find out.&nbsp;

Our Story

For reservations, please use the website link or call the hotel directly at (516) 542-1001.

Courtyard by Marriott Westbury Long Island

For reservations, please use the website link, call Hilton Worldwide Reservation at (800) 774-1500, or use the code HBW2.

Hilton Garden Inn Westbury

Getting to the Hotels The easiest means of transportation will be an Uber or Taxi Cab from either La Guardia Airport or John F. Kennedy Airport (both about 30-45 min pending traffic). For the adventurous... From JFK (1.25 hrs), take the AirTrain to Jamaica station and board an east bound train to the Westbury station. From there, it is a 15 minute walk (.7 mi) or short uber ride to the hotels. (Train lines that include Westbury are Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma but please check the signs prior to boarding) From La Guardia (1.5 hrs), take the Q70-SBS bus to Woodside Station. From there board an east bound train on the Port Jefferson line to Westbury Station. From Newark Airport (2 - 2.5 hrs), Board the Airtrain to the Newark Airport Railroad Station and take the next New York Penn Station bound train. Once at Penn Station, walk from NJ Transit to the LIRR (all underground) and board a train to Westbury station. Train Lines include Port Jefferson and Ronkonkoma. Please check the signs prior to boarding.

Transportation will be provided to and from Old Westbuy Golf &amp; Country Club.

Guest Accommodations 

Voted the best mall in the country!

Roosevelt Field Mall (2mi)

Eisenhower Driving Range (1 mi)

Everything you could ever want AND a Dave and Busters!

Westbury Plaza Shopping Center (0.5 mi)

The nearest Long Island Rail Road train station for travel to and from NYC (On the Port Jefferson Line)

Westbury LIRR  (0.7 mi)

Things to Do

Alix 's wedding party

Brian's wedding party

Wedding Party

Photos

Registry

Important Info

Friday, 6/3/2022: Welcome Drinks at the Courtyard Marriott in the "Library" from 8:00pm-10:00pm&nbsp; Saturday, 6/4/2022: Alix &amp; Brian's Wedding Day-Bus #1 departs at: 5:30pm-Bus #2 departs at: 5:40pm -Ceremony starts at 6:30pm -Cocktail Hour from 7:00pm-8:00pm -Dinner &amp; Dancing from 8:00pm-12:00am -After Party starts at 12am&nbsp; Sunday, 6/5/2022: Farewell Brunch at the Courtyard Marriott from 9:00am-11:30am

Alix & Brian

Alix & Brian

Photos