Shreveport Aquarium

Rehearsal Dinner

601 Spring Event Venue

Wedding Day

Wedding

601 Spring Street

Reception

Our Wedding

EJ and I met on&nbsp;our college ministry’s beach trip in Panama City Beach, FL the summer before his freshman year at Louisiana Tech. I was playing keys in the band as an incoming sophomore, and he says he was mesmerized as he watched&nbsp;me on stage on the very first night. EJ tells&nbsp;me that&nbsp;a series of thoughts ran through his mind in the first five seconds of noticing me; he saw that I was passionate about Jesus, he thought I was the most beautiful girl he had&nbsp;ever seen, he figured I was probably taken, and he wondered why his heart was beating so fast! Dating was the last thing on my mind at this point in my life, but a friend&nbsp;showed me a picture of the freshman who had a crush on me (and I thought he was cute) so I assumed&nbsp;he would try to talk to me...but he didn't!&nbsp;The last night,&nbsp;I saw&nbsp;him playing a group game with some other students, and I suggested that&nbsp;the group walk down to Waffle House together. I later learned that&nbsp;EJ called his dad outside of that Waffle House and asked him how to know if someone was "the one" because he thought I may be it. There were so many of us, so we didn't sit together, but I found out that he paid for everyone. Our first conversation began when I asked why he paid for everyone. We walked together and talked all the way back to the hotel. EJ started following me around that night, wanting to&nbsp;know everything about me, so we went to the beach&nbsp;and talked.&nbsp; EJ&nbsp;shared&nbsp;his admiration for me and his desire to date me. I had never experienced someone being so forward with me!&nbsp;But I still didn't&nbsp;want to date anyone&nbsp;at the time.&nbsp;When school started, he was always at the church, and he was also enrolled in a class that I was student teaching for. So we saw each other all the time!&nbsp;Over the course of the next three months, I watched him serve at the church and&nbsp;grow in relationship with God. EJ says&nbsp;that he never lost interest in me throughout those few months, even though there were times he thought I would never come around.&nbsp;In time, I realized I was falling for&nbsp;him. You can imagine his excitement when I told him! Our relationship continued to evolve as&nbsp;God used it to&nbsp;grow&nbsp;and mature&nbsp;us both more than we ever could have imagined. We dated for almost a year and a half before&nbsp;getting engaged. EJ proposed to me at midnight on my 21st birthday in my pajamas by a lantern-filled pool in my parents' backyard. If you had told EJ and me that we would marry one another after our first talk on the beach, we would not have believed you! But God knows the plan even when we don't! Our prayer is that our story would be a testament to God’s grace and faithfulness, and we could not be more excited to begin&nbsp;our life ministry together through the journey of marriage!

God Knows The Plan Even When We Don’t

Our Story

Details

Mallory has been one of my very best friends since we&nbsp;were 14. We&nbsp;were in the Summer Grove&nbsp;youth group together&nbsp;and have continued to maintain our relationship throughout college at Louisiana Tech. We&nbsp;have laughed, cried, prayed, and dreamed together about our&nbsp;future marriages.&nbsp;I am so grateful she is my maid of honor, and I get to be her matron of honor in July!

Mallory Ryan

I met this guy&nbsp;Isaac pretty soon after Beach Retreat after meeting Brooke. He has turned into a lifelong best friend and his passion for the Lord, thrifting, and&nbsp;sneakers as well as being engaged at the same time&nbsp;has allowed us to grow super close. He has always supported me and Brooke and is one of the most&nbsp;kind-hearted guys one will ever meet. He also slaps at tennis and drives a jeep which is cool I guess. #takethelightsoffyourjeep

Isaac Thomas

Mason was the first guy I met at college and grew a connection to. He got me plugged into Temple and is the main reason my relationship with God kicked off in college. I would not be where I am without him, and his willingness to third wheel is unmatched.&nbsp;He also got me really into sneakers. Also if you would like to donate to his hellcat fund he would be forever grateful. #shmediumball

Mason Jinks

Kelley married my brother&nbsp;Jonathan&nbsp;in 2019, and we&nbsp;have&nbsp;a sweet sister-in-law relationship. Even though Kelley and Jonathan live in Fort Worth, TX, they&nbsp;maintain a close relationship with&nbsp;EJ and me. We love to visit them and our puppy nephews!&nbsp;I&nbsp;stood by Kelley in her wedding, and now I am so excited for her to stand by me in mine.&nbsp;

Kelley Dies

Meredith was one of my first friends and mentors&nbsp;in Ruston.&nbsp; When I&nbsp;have&nbsp;needed&nbsp;encouragement, Meredith has&nbsp;always been willing to open up her home and offer a listening ear, a word of encouragement, and a warm&nbsp;homemade brownie with ice cream on top! She has watched mine and EJ's relationship evolve and has always been there for wisdom and advice when needed!

Meredith Nichols

Me and Evan didn't get close until after Passion 2020. After that conference, God started to work in his heart and grow him beyond his imagination. I stood right beside that growth and&nbsp;helped and advised him in every way I could. We grew together and he has supported me and Brooke every step of the relationship. Also this man is a baller and shotcaller. #rippinlips

Evan Yuhasz

Kaylee lived with me in Ruston for a few months while we were engaged together and is now married to EJ's best man, Isaac. Kaylee and I&nbsp;always have a blast together! We talk about anything and&nbsp;everything on our minds when we are with each other.&nbsp;Kaylee and Isaac are mine and EJ's absolute favorite couple to spend time with.&nbsp;I&nbsp;couldn't have wished for a more fun roommate to live with!

Kaylee Thomas

I met Caleb this past year but didn't get close to him until pretty recently when he was in my discipleship group.&nbsp;&nbsp;Discipling him in his faith and also his major has allowed me to grow close to him and watch him grow in the Lord. Since that D-group, our friendship has rapidly evolved and I am thankful for our awesome friendship. Also, super thankful for our common interest in pokemon, as we are each others only support in that area.&nbsp;#gottacatchemall

Caleb Chance

Preston and I got super close pretty soon after Beach Retreat my freshman year. Mason introduced me to him, and after I saw his 1979 Chevy truck, I almost proposed to him (JK), but after that moment our friendship grew. From wrestling Magnolia (his dog) to helping him fix his truck, I would do anything for him and he would do anything for me and Brooke (probably). He has watched our relationship grow and loves both of us so much. #whatthedogdoin

Preston Slaton

Kara was in the Summer Grove&nbsp;youth group with me&nbsp;throughout middle school and&nbsp;high school and has been a dear friend ever since. Kara was already in the college ministry at Temple when I&nbsp;came to college, so she&nbsp;watched mine&nbsp;and EJ's relationship grow from the start. Kara has since gotten married to her Temple Sweetheart, and her relationship with Connor has been an encouraging model for mine&nbsp;and EJ's relationship.

Kara Gibbon

Macy went to North Desoto&nbsp;with EJ at the same time that she was in the youth group with me at Summer Grove. Though then, she did not know that she would one day stand in&nbsp;the wedding of two of her friends that did not know each other at the time! Now&nbsp;Macy and I now sing&nbsp;together on the worship team at Temple, where&nbsp;EJ and I attend church in Ruston. Macy is&nbsp;one of our dearest friends!

Macy Young

Dalton and I&nbsp;met his freshman year as he, Isaac, Caleb, and I were in the same discipleship group. He has one of the most servant hearts I have ever seen, and we immediately became great&nbsp;friends during that D-group. His love for soccer (even though he played for Benton)&nbsp;and his love for me and Brooke has allowed us to grow super close. #elonmuskowesusmoney

Dalton Diel

Wedding Party

Photos

Registry

Q + A

<p>Wireless Internet access (surcharge) keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have bathtubs and hair dryers. Conveniences include safes and complimentary newspapers, and housekeeping is provided daily. Enjoy a range of recreational amenities, including an outdoor pool, a spa tub, and a 24-hour fitness center.  A roundtrip airport shuttle is complimentary (available on request). Grab a bite to eat at Market 104 Restaurant, a restaurant that features a bar/lounge, or stay in and take advantage of the room service (during limited hours). Full breakfasts are served on weekdays from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and on weekends from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM for a fee.</p>

Brooke + EJ

Brooke + EJ

B&E

Wedding Day

6:30 PM–10:00 PM

Wedding

Reception