Mt Auburn Christian Church

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

It's hard for me to summarize our story. It's such a unique feeling to feel what I feel for you. I asked myself; did I progressively fall in love with you or did it hit me all at once. After hours of thinking I realized something I’ve never realized before. I looked back on our story and realized my love didn’t come progressively over time nor did it hit me suddenly. The truth is that I looked back and realized I’ve always loved you. Always. The first time I met you was while we were working in the jail together. We never talked much because we had different priorities. We were preoccupied trying to live a life God didn't have planned for us. While working on a night shift together, you got up after hours of sitting quietly and tried subtlety sneaking to the bathroom. I was the only person in the room who noticed you were crying. I remember thinking to myself, whoever brought you to that point didn't deserve someone like you. I said to myself if I had someone as sweet as you, I'd do everything I can to cherish you. Fast forward a few years. We both experienced the troubles life tends to throw at you. I was going to transfer back to the city jail, and I was excited because I knew you would be there. I couldn't hold my excitement back and decided I would message you. Starting a conversation with someone has never been difficult for me. You were my exception to that. How could I start a conversation with someone who always reminded me of home? Not the home I grew up in, but the home I wanted to raise a family in. A home that didn't exist yet. I decided I would quote word for word a quote you had written on your mirror in a picture you had just posted. "You cannot let some else ls eyes define you because maybe you don't see the same thing." You told me you needed that. It was at that point I decided to keep my promise myself from years before. I was going to cherish you because you deserved to have that. Every day I made sure you went to bed knowing that someone out there valued you. Even if that person was me. Words, however, are empty without action. I asked you out on a date after work. We met at Smoothie King and for the first time I had an excuse to sit across from you and get lost. I got lost in your eyes. In your words and God, did I got lost in your smile. I still do to this day. After hours of sipping on a melted smoothie we sat in your car and talked until midnight. I knew then you were a gift from God. My Proverbs woman. I prayed every day that God would deliver us to each other. By what seemed like a miracle, I had bought tickets to a Casting Crowns concert a long time ago and I found you were going to be there with your family. I was going to blow the concert, but then you said I should show up and hang out. I threw a hoodie on over my uniform and was there in 10 minutes. I met your lovely family, and I remember thinking they were amazing people. I couldn't tell you a single song that played because I was preoccupied falling in love with your singing and your smile. You were happy and I loved that. I loved seeing you happy. After the concert I walked you to your car to make sure you were safe. Once I got back to my car, I remember sitting there for a few minutes just replaying all the times you smiled and locked eyes with me. From then on, we spent our free time hanging out and exploring everything southeast Missouri had to offer. I knew we had something special for each other. I finally worked up the courage to officially ask you out. After work we worked out together and I asked you out then. Your response was a resounding, "Sure.". It l like I had imagined it, but I was still wasn’t giddy excited. We hung out almost every day after that. We would do the smallest things like hang out in a parking lot until 3am knowing we had work that same morning. Notably falling asleep together in my crappy Crown Vic in downtown Cape while we listened to music then waking up wondering how we never got robbed. My car broke down, so you politely offered to let me stay the night in your little apartment. I fell asleep in a chair in the living room. I probably should have warned you I snored like a lumberjack. After that night, our trust for each other grew exponentially. We found ourselves exploring Missouri together every week. From caves to hole in the wall towns. It was never about where we went. It was always about being somewhere with you. After a year, I knew we were meant for each other. You were my Proverbs woman, and I was going to propose. I planned a vacation to Gatlinburg Tennessee so I could ask you for a forever together while we were in the mountains. I took you to Gatlinburg and we explored Tennessee together and ended every night in our beautiful rustic cabin. On June 1, 2024, 1 took you to see the mountains knowing I was going to propose. We took a very sketchy elevator ride up 407 foot the Gatlinburg Space Needle. Once we reached the top, the moment was surreal. We were surrounded by the mountains completely alone and 400 feet in the air. I knew one of two things would come next. The love of my life would tell me "Yes" to forever or I'd have a very awkward elevator ride down. I got on one knee and looked you in your beautiful green eyes which immediately captivated my attention more than the mountains ever could. I looked you in those beautiful eyes and I asked you one question. "Allison, will you marry me?" This time, I didn't get a resounding, "sure." I got an outstanding "YES!". From that day forward, our forever began.

Allison & Zayne

Allison & Zayne

Wedding Party