The Creek Club at I'On

Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Our Wedding

Avery: When Will came to pick me up for our first date it was in the evening- we were going to get a couple beers. I heard a knock at the door and he looked so flustered- he started to profusely apologize that he had a flat tire and needed me to hold a flashlight for him. I found it comical, he found it embarrassing. The fact that he changed the tire in under 5 minutes was downright impressive. He was convinced I wouldn't want to go on another date with him after the tire incident, but clearly he was wrong. Since then we have gone on countless hunting and fishing adventures, started a home together, and added a dog and two cats. I found my best friend and am so excited to start our lives together.&nbsp;

Will: In the fall of 2017 I made the trip from my home in Bluefield, Virginia to Blacksburg to take Avery out for a few drinks at a local bar. During my trip a GPS detour took me up a gravel road resulting in a slow leaking flat tire that expelled the last of its air just as I pulled into her driveway. After five minutes of mental preparation as to how I was going to tell her that I had to change a tire before going on our date, I knocked on her door and broke the news. To my surprise she was more than willing to hold my flashlight for the job and laughed it off. A few minutes later we were on the road to the bar. In the summer of 2018 Avery and I tackled one of the hardest challenges we would face as a couple when I left for 16 weeks at the West Virginia State Police Academy. With only one day a week to spend together and no communication otherwise, it was a tough time but we made it through. Since then we have started a home and a (furry) family together. As we move forward I cannot wait to begin the rest of our lives together.

Our Story

Avery: We got engaged while fishing on Laurel Bed Lake... in the pouring rain. Will was determined to catch a small mouth bass that day to prove that "your eyes are the color of a small mouth bass" is a compliment- it is. We had been using crawfish as bait and Will lost his and said he needed a new one. I was fishing off the bow when he said, "Hey babe look at this crawdad!" I turned around and he was down on one knee with the bait net in his hand. Inside of it was an agitated crustacean and an engagement ring! I of course said yes!&nbsp;

Will: On May 11th, 2019 I suddenly came down with a terrible illness that I refer to as "fishing fever." After calling in sick to work Avery and I made the two hour journey to my favorite place to fish for small mouth bass, Laurel Bed Lake in Saltville, Virginia. But it wasn't just small mouth on my mind that day, I had hopes to catch a partner for life. After having my bait stolen by a sly small mouth bass I went to the live well to get another live craw fish. I selected the most ornery one in the tank and placed the engagement ring in the net beneath the crustacean and presented it to Avery. She said yes and after some panic was able to take the ring from the angry creature. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Engagement

Details

Photos

Haylee and Avery met in high school at Academic Magnet and then studied together at Clemson University. Luck had it that both of them continued their pursuits at Virginia Tech/Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Haylee is a graduate student in dairy science and is passionate about all things bovine. Haylee and Will share the same enjoyment in mocking Avery (jokingly?). Haylee is the wonderful mother to a greyhound named Dany and a cat (that was once a trucker)&nbsp;named Craig.&nbsp;Haylee is&nbsp;an incredible friend and has only lost her bikini bottoms once while tubing with us.&nbsp;

Haylee Hanling 

Jacob and Will met in preschool and have been best&nbsp;friends- as close as brothers-&nbsp;ever since. Jacob is currently a medical student at The University of Virginia pursuing his dreams. If Will and Jacob aren't drinking beer and hunting, then they are drinking beer and fishing. They have caught, killed, or wrangled every critter in the mountains of WV&nbsp;and VA.&nbsp;

Jacob Britton

Will has known Chad for 3 years since he began his career in law enforcement. At that time Chad was also a patrolman and taught Will a large portion of what he now knows. Chad is now a sargeant&nbsp;at the department and he and Will are very close. Two people that place their lives in each&nbsp;other's hands become closer than brothers and these two definitely fit that bill. From Monday night poker night to Friday night patrol Chad and Will are always raising cane. Chad is passionate about his two children, as well as reminding Will to make sure Avery brings him a plate of dinner too.&nbsp;

Chad Butler

Cara and Avery were roommates first year at Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Cara tolerated hours of "Screaming Frog" &nbsp;YouTube videos&nbsp;and saved Avery from burning&nbsp;down the house when she passed out with every candle in her room lit. Cara is always there to say "beauty" in the way that only she can when someone looks nice. Cara is an incredibly talented vocalist and smart enough to crack even Will's slickest magic tricks.&nbsp;

Cara Costanzo 

Sara has lived with Avery since they started veterinary school. Sara is all about the outdoors and travel, and fortunately did not get lost or die when she spontaneously flew to Iceland alone. Sara is most likely to cover herself in flour when she turns the KitchenAid on (but also most likely to make incredible desserts.) If you ever need halloween makeup or a designated driver with a stick-shift car that only she can drive- she's your girl. She 100% was in the car that I crashed into a ditch when we tried to get a pizza in a tornado.&nbsp;

Sara Fleckenstein

Sean and Will have known each other for 3 years. Sean was Will's field training officer when he started at the department. Will credits most of what he knows as a policeman to Sean. Sean and Will both proudly serve on the SWAT&nbsp;team for the department and work and train together often.

Sean Severt

Taylor and Avery were roommates their first year of veterinary school. Taylor is passionate about almonds and running a further distance than any rational human is capable. Taylor helped Avery emotionally cope after she dropped her wallet in the toilet at TOTS bar. Taylor is secretly a dog whisperer and is Will and Avery's dog, Sierra's, favorite human (Jacob being a close second).&nbsp;

Taylor Simmons

Wade is Avery's "little" brother. Wade grew up tolerating Avery and has always been there to make her laugh and to be a shoulder to lean on. As a child he and Avery's father *did not*&nbsp;launch a lizard into space in an Estes Rocket.&nbsp;A biology major at Clemson University, he also takes time to study the finer things in life- like beer.&nbsp;

Wade Allen

Izabella is Will's younger sister. Izabella is passionate about cheerleading and competes nationally. Highly likely to bust out dancing randomly or quote viral videos.&nbsp;Taken on many frog hunting adventures with Will when she was younger, together they took down the biggest baddest bullfrog on the pond.&nbsp;

Avery & William

Avery & William

Registry

We are thrilled that you will be a part of our big day and the beginning of our lives as a married couple!