West Sixth NuLu

Rehearsal Dinner

St Augustine Catholic Church

Wedding Ceremony

The Carriage House at Howard Steamboat Museum

Reception

Ceremony

Our Wedding

In a world where swiping right was a gamble and first dates felt like job interviews... one unexpected connection changed everything. Fall 2022. Caroline, a self-proclaimed dating app skeptic, finally gave in to the digital age and downloaded Bumble—more out of curiosity than conviction. Meanwhile, Daniel had already mastered the art of showcasing his charm through well-curated profile pictures. Enter: The Photo.A seemingly innocent shot of Daniel, his dad, and his brother Ben at a University of Kentucky football game. But fate had a plan—Caroline instantly recognized Ben. Not just a familiar face… he was her classmate. That was all she needed. Swipe right. Match made. Stranger danger avoided. On November 11, 2022, Caroline and Daniel embarked on their first date. Three dates later, they amicably pressed pause on romance and settled into the "just friends" zone. But love, as it often does, had a different script in mind. Cue the summer montage.July 2023: Daniel reaches out—plot twist! The spark is reignited, this time with full force. Suddenly, they were no longer two people testing the waters. They were a team, laughter on loop, texts turned into road trips, and yes—finally attending their very first UK football game together in September 2023.Since then, they've been writing a story neither of them saw coming—but both are incredibly glad they didn’t miss. The Proposal: A Scenic Plot TwistFast forward to March of 2025. Caroline and Daniel set off on a trip to Portland, Oregon, where Caroline was set to present research—research she’d collaborated on with none other than Ben.As Caroline prepared to speak at a conference, Daniel had been preparing something of his own.On a misty, magical morning at the iconic Multnomah Falls, with the roar of the waterfall behind them and Oregon’s lush beauty all around, Daniel got down on one knee and asked Caroline to spend forever with him.Spoiler alert: She said yes. From the in-zone, to friend zone, to a waterfall proposal—this love story has had its fair share of plot twists. And the best part? The story is just getting started.

From Bumble Beginnings to Chasing Waterfalls

Our Story

Photos

Drum Roll Please....

The bride's sorority sister, camping buddy, and most trusted source of advice.

Makayla

Brother of the groom, father of the flower girl, classmate of the bride, current housemate of Kyle.... should I continue? 

The bride's sorority sister, best source of hugs, and a valuable member of the camping trio.

Elise

The bride's brother and lifelong bully. They're really best friends though - trust me. 

Davis

The Bride's grad school bestie & the proud owner of metallic pink cowboy boots.

Sierra

Cousin of the groom and #1 hater of John Calipari

Jonathan

The Bride's PT school table mate, car karaoke partner, and sweet treat enabler.

Erin

Eric

The Bride's best friend of 20+ years and the Ringo Starr to her John Lennon. 

Hazel

The groom's childhood best friend a winner of the "furthest travelled for this wedding" award. 

Alex

The eldest of the Smith girls and the big sister the Bride has always hoped for!

Keely

Most commonly referred to as "Tader" and most commonly seen wearing overalls. 

Clayton

The youngest of the Smith girls - ready to embrace the role of bridesmaid and occasional identity mix-ups. 

Caroline 

The groom's coworker, the couple's sand volleyball teammate, and the human embodiment of a golden retriever. 

Ben C.

The bride's sorority sister, and yes, that's a Wisconsin accent you hear. 

Stephanie

Daniel's former roommate aka Valvoline's Champion Oil changer, quickest bagger at the Lexington Kroger, and sand volleyball league 'Practice Safe Sets' LVP. 

Kyle

Sister-in-law of the groom, future sister-in-law of the bride, and Dan Smith's #1 fan.

Kasey

Frances

The Bride's delightfully loud cousin - escorting our ring bearers and ensuring you'll hear this entrance long before you see it. 

Lauren

Owen & Ellender

Wedding Party

Q + A

Travel

The best place to grab breakfast before the ceremony or on your way out of town! Geraldine's has been a long standing favorite in Caroline's family, particularly with her Papaw. Caroline's Recommendations: chocolate chip pancake or biscuits and gravy

Geraldine's Kitchen

The location of Caroline and Daniel's first date, RecBar will bring back some childhood nostalgia with two stories or arcade games, 70+ vintage pinball machines, and a food and drink menu inspired by your childhood favorites! RecBar is great for all ages, and kid friendly until 10pm! Daniel's Recommendations: frosted flake tenders and sour patcharita

Recbar 812

Voted "Best Candy Store in America" by USA today and the bride! Stop in to try some delicious handmade candies, enjoy a milkshake, or watch a demonstration of the making of Schimpff's iconic red hot candies! The Couple Recommends: try the red hots and lemon drops!

Schimpff's Confectionery

Dive deeper into the story behind the Howard Family and our historic wedding venue with a tour of the museum! The tour will take you throughout the beautiful brick mansion on the property while detailing the rich history of the Howards, steamboats, and the Ohio River. Open during our wedding weekend: Friday 10am-3pm and Sunday 12-3pm. Ticket information is available through their website.

Howard Steamboat Museum

One of Caroline and Daniel's favorite activities includes hiking, and the fossil beds at Falls of the Ohio State Park boasts an excellent place to get out into nature locally. If the water is low be sure to walk out on the fossil beds for a closer look! Explore the falls on your own, or check out the museum at the Interpretive Center to immerse yourself into exhibits discussing the ancient sea which once covered the area, the ice age and glaciers which formed the Ohio River, honor the indigenous Native Americans of the area, and discuss General George Rodgers Clark's Western Campaign and founding of Louisville and Clarksville.

Caroline & Daniel

Caroline & Daniel

Photos

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