In the late 1990s two children were brought into this world not knowing that they would one day become best friends who would choose to spend the rest of their lives together. This is our story.

On the 17th of July 1997 a baby was born to Mary Elizabeth McNamara and Brian Michael McNamara. It was their second child and they were obviously overjoyed to have been given this wonderful opportunity to raise an incredible human being whom they named Kevin Patrick McNamara. A wonderful choice, wouldn't you say?

While Mary and Brian were teaching Kevin to eat, babble, and crawl, another couple was preparing to bring their own bundle of joy into the world.

On the 24th of January 1998 Bernadette Marie Hard and Rodney James Hard served as the Earth's welcome party for their little miracle, Brittany Anne Hard.

Over the next few years the McNamaras would move from Buffalo, New York to Ballantyne, North Carolina, which at that point was still just a small suburb to the south of Charlotte. The Hards had already moved to Concord, North Carolina from a town not too far outside Philadelphia before Brittany was born. Two life decisions that their children would like to graciously thank them for all these years later!

Over the ensuing decades these children would come into personalities all their own. Their parents input into these eccentricities is not to be understated, and yet, who could have known that they would be molding the minds and hearts of two people to become perfect for one another.

In high school Kevin and Brittany would be faced with their first major life choice. Would they go to college? If so, where? Would they go to a local school and commute, or go away and board in a dorm? What would their safety school be? All these decisions ultimately led Kevin and Brittany to Western Carolina University. A beautiful public university nestled in a valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Kevin would enroll first in 2015, and Brittany would follow in 2016.

They both arrived without declaring a major and considered declaring for some of the same departments like film and marketing. But that would not be where their paths would cross.

At WCU they made new friends and held on to some old ones, and with these friends was where they would first almost meet. On the 8th of December in 2017 it would snow in Cullowhee. On that day Brittany and Kevin would go out with these new groups of friends to sled, build snowmen, and engage in other forms of wintry merriment.

Brittany and her troupe were sledding near Kevin's dorm at the time, at a hill which was considered the best sledding hill on campus. Kevin and his band of brooding buddies were mulling about on the other side of the hill when one of their number, Nicole Schiano, approached with her friend, the incomparable Peyton McMullen. After being introduced, Peyton explained that he was going to go sled down the hill with some of his friends. That group of friends included Brittany. But that would not be where Kevin and Brittany's paths would cross.

For that story, one has to slide all the way into the fall of 2018. Kevin was already in his Senior Year at this point, while Brittany was in her Junior Year. Both of them had taken advantage of a leadership and learning program that WCU offered that brought students to Disney World for a pair of leadership courses. Brittany had gone her freshman year in 2016, but skipped 2017 when Kevin and his friends first attended. Yet another almost meeting.

In the fall of 2018 they had both decided to go on the WCU Disney Leadership Program once again. Upon arriving for the trip Kevin and Brittany were put in the same group and met in a game of icebreaker bingo where Kevin learned that Brittany was left-handed and Brittany learned that Kevin was loud.

First impressions are important, but Kevin has never been particularly good at them. Luckily for him, Brittany didn't have too many inhibitions about bandying about with those society deems to be too loud. During this trip, Kevin would find Brittany a second time in line for King Kong and decided with his friend Josh Lino that they were going to try and befriend Brittany and her friend Madison Green. The conversation was quick and spirits were high. They would spend the rest of the trip together after getting dinner at the Cookes of Dublin, an Irish restaurant in Disney Springs.

Upon returning to their campus home, they continued to develop their friendship. But that didn't mean they were done having near misses. That December both Kevin and Brittany would travel to New York City. Neither had plans to meet the other while they were there but as luck would have it, they had an opportunity. Brittany happened upon Kevin and his family in Central Park. A city of millions and she somehow managed to find one man. So as one would expect she took out her phone and snapped a picture of Kevin to show him later. So their paths would not cross in New York City.

One miscommunication notwithstanding the two would become relatively inseparable ... but not until nearly one year later. They were originally going to attend a New Years Eve party to ring in 2020, but it never materialized, so instead they decided to meet up with their mutual friend, The Man of Honor, Trey Williamson to celebrate New Years Eve. They had lots of fun on that trip, including singing along to the songs of High School Musical with karaoke mics. But before countdown on New Years Eve, while waiting for Trey to get off work, Kevin and Brittany had gotten pizza together and there, they confessed their feelings for each other.

They both felt incredibly relieved to find out that the other did in fact feel the same. But they would not officially start dating until about a month later. This is when they started celebrating two anniversaries. One on December 30th (less than a week after Christmas) and one on January 30th (less than a week after Brittany's birthday).

They started dating in 2020, but this exciting new year was not all sunshine and rainbows for the happy couple. Of course they, like the rest of the world, would face the impending pandemic and lock-down. But they would do it together. They watched TV together every night, shows like LOST, Hill House, and Bob's Burgers, and made a point to see each other when they could, even if at a distance.

Finally in October of 2020, they moved to Asheville together. They had secured jobs and an apartment and were ready to begin their next big journey. While living together, Brittany taught Kevin how to ride a bike, and Kevin showed Brittany many culinary techniques that she was as of yet unaware of; including dipping pizza in ranch dressing and frying food in butter.

In Asheville, they would find Farm Burger, the wedding's caterer, Whisk Asheville, the wedding's dessert vendor, and PIE.ZAA, where the rehearsal dinner catering will be coming from. They also formed and strengthened lifelong friendships.

Asheville, though, would not last long. After two years, the couple would move to Huntersville to be closer to family. It was during this time that Kevin would begin to plan his proposal. Having lived in Asheville, the short list for beautiful locations to propose was none too short; but early on there was a clear front runner. Kevin had no idea how he was going to do it. But he wanted to propose to Brittany in the place that she had told him was the most beautiful on Earth: The Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.

Luckily for him, her parents decided to surprise them with a trip to Ireland. So, ring in hand, Kevin and Brittany went to Ireland and the Cliffs of Moher. Kevin had decided to propose on the top of O'Brien's Tower. There was a line when they arrived and Kevin was nervous that it would be difficult to propose if the tower was crowded, but as luck would have it, they were stopped right before ascending the tower. They were to be the first of the next group to climb to the top.

Brittany made it to the top first, followed by Kevin, who took the ring out of his bag when Brittany was looking over the cliffs. She turned around suddenly and Kevin dropped the ring box back into his bag. Brittany wanted to take a picture of the two of them. The clock was ticking, each group had only so long at the top, so Kevin had to think fast. He took a picture with her and then said that he wanted to get one of her turned around looking out at the cliffs in the background.

Confused but willing, Brittany turned around and looked off at the water. She paused, she was really getting to take in this view which she had been so anxiously awaiting. Moments like this rarely feel as special when you are in them as when you reminisce about them. This was an exception. Then she felt a tap on her should. She turned around and saw Kevin down on one knee behind her with her ring cradled in his outstretched hand.

Kevin had written a proposal, but it was all but forgotten in the excitement of the moment. Trying to remember what he had intended to say, Kevin just looked at Brittany. So often in instances of uncertainty, he had turned to her to steady himself. I will never forget the look on her face. She had never seemed so beautiful to him as she did in that moment.

Realizing that he had been kneeling there looking at Brittany for far too long he laughed. Starting slowly he was able to form words again, "Hi," the first one was certainly the hardest. He took her hand and gave it a kiss before starting.

"I've had this for a little while," he said, taking the ring that he had carried with him across the Atlantic ocean out of its box, "and I um, I was wondering, if it would be all right, if you would do me the absolute honor of being my wife, for the rest of my life." Crying, Brittany nodded her head and said "Of course, yes" and Kevin put the ring onto her finger.

Since then there have been many moments of joy, and few of strife. They have planned their wedding together, traveled to Colorado, Vermont, and back to Disney World where they first got dinner together, and they moved again, this time to Mooresville. Coincidentally their new apartment complex has Irish street names. They now live on Claire Lane, named after county Clare in Ireland where they were engaged.

That's pretty much our story up until now, we hope that you enjoyed it. We look forward to seeing you all on the 8th of November, 2025 for our Wedding.