Smith Family AirBnb

Rehearsal Dinner

Rehearsal at St Thomas

Wedding Day

St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Parish

Ceremony

Tohono Chul | Gardens, Galleries, and Bistro

Reception

Our Wedding

Jaiden was classic Ohio—loyal, warm, and Bengals-obsessed. Then he met Clara, and suddenly, she outranked Jamar Chase. They first met at work (where, as Jaiden loves to point out, Clara was his boss), and though they didn’t work together long, Jaiden was hooked. In true rom-com fashion, he got her number through some mildly questionable methods (hunting down her real estate website) and sent a bold text asking her out. Clara’s gut said, “This might be a lot,” so she said no. Jaiden, as we know, treats “no” like a temporary technical difficulty. Eventually, he got her to join him at a summer event at his church. Sparks flew, co-workers whispered, and after some time, friends were placing bets on when they’d make it official. A few months later, Jaiden invited Clara to a concert in Detroit. Clara hesitated again, but his charm (and the snacks and coffee hed bring her to work) won her over. That concert in Detroit flipped a switch. Cue the montage: road trips, concerts, theme parks, and quiet nights that felt straight out of the movies. It was a whirlwind of excitement. On May 30, 2023, by a peaceful lake, Jaiden asked Clara to be his girlfriend. No hesitation this time, it was an easy yes. A year filled with adventures and friendships later, when Clara dreamed of moving closer to family in Arizona, Jaiden said, “Say less,” and six months later, they were desert-bound. After their first months in Tucson, came a weekend away to San Diego: cloudy skies, curious sea lions, and Jaiden on one knee. Clara said, “Of course, yes!” and they celebrated the only way they knew how—at a theme park. Disneyland! But Jaidens dreams of the future werent complete. After careful consideration, he shipped off to the Navy in April 2025 to build his future with Clara—because he doesn’t just talk about love; he wires it into every plan (literally—he’s an electrical engineer). Now, after 3 years of friendship, 2 years of dating, 9 weeks spent with super little to no contact, and 2 cross country moves later--theyre counting down to “I do,” ready for the next chapter of their adventure—side by side, with laughter, love, and maybe a few more sea lions. Onward to Connecticut!!

Our Story

Amanda and Clara became fast best friends in 3rd grade while rooming together at Catholic Kids Camp. They bonded over American Girl Dolls, The Sims, and later Musical Theater and late-night drives. Amanda just recently graduated from Oregon State and is a Certified Dive Master! 

Amanda McDowell

Lydia is Clara's older sister. They share a bond ignited by Barbie movies, Disney, and a nearly identical sense of humor. Lydia and Clara also share the same wedding year and are excited to be a part of each other's big days! Lydia is living with her husband, Chris, in Seattle, Washington.

Lydia Salita

Julia and Clara share the same party spirit; their favorite activity together is girl talk while playing board games and drinking wine. Although not recently, because Julia is expecting her first baby in January! Julia lives with her husband, DJ, in Las Vegas.

Julia Peters

Clara and Justyce got close thanks to Jaiden and Clara's frequent visits to Dayton, OH. Justyce is graduating High School in 2026. She is a dedicated older sister to Jurney, younger sister to Jaiden, and daughter to Jessi. Justyce and Clara bond over shopping, social media, and cute babies/puppies.

Justyce Mills

Ava is Clara's oldest Niece. They grew up built in besties and bonded over my little pony, princesses, and Barbie. Ava is a recent high-school graduate in Juneau, Alaska, as of May 2025. 

Ava Grimes

Jaiden's youngest sister. Jurney is entertaining and outspoken. This is Jurney's first time as a flower girl! And she is ready :) 

Jurney Hammond

Clara's sister Rebekah's youngest daughter. Delia is a true dancer and you will definitely spot her on the dance floor the whole night! 

Delia Grimes

Clara's sister Emily's oldest daughter. Zélie is funny and talented. She is SO excited to be Flower Girl again! She's a pro!

Zélie Brown 

Clara's brother Micah's oldest daughter. Felicity is smart, independent, and kind. A seasoned flower girl ready for another auntie's wedding! 

Felicity Smith

Caleb and Jaiden became friends in High School while working at Taco Bell. Caleb has been an important role in Jaiden's life ever since and is a big reason that Jaiden's faith is so strong. Caleb works at Faith Life church in Columbus, OH.

Caleb Mullins

Reuben is Clara's oldest nephew and is joined by his girlfriend (also Ava and Clara's friend) Yela. They are both living in Juneau, AK. 

Reuben and Yela

Ryan and Jaiden grew up as close family friends. They remain cousin-like friends, and Jaiden is so happy Ryan will share his big day with him. Ryan works in construction in Kettering, OH.

Ryan Soter 

Zach and Jaiden met in elementary school and have funny/stupud stories of some of the things they got up to together. Zach is in school for Physical Health Science at Columbus State Delaware.

Zach Jenkins 

Garrett (from Ohio) now lives in New Mexico and would often drive over to visit Jaiden and Clara in Tucson. Garrett is in the Air Force and was a strong support in Jaiden's military journey. 

Garrett Bungard

Matthew and Jaiden met through mutual friends and quickly bonded over football-- Matthew loves the browns almost as much as Jaiden hates the browns. Matthew lives in Columbus, OH.

Matthew Saavedra

Wedding Party

Q + A

Follow the link for the applied discount: <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=TUSHSHX&amp;corporateCode=0003409478" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hilton | Select</a> Or copy/paste in browser: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=TUSHSHX&amp;corporateCode=0003409478

Hampton Inn and Suites

Travel

One of Claras favorite afternoon activities in Tucson! Its a small zoo with beautiful atmosphere and amazing animal viewing! Has a spectacular playground for littles. 

Reid Park Zoo

Jaiden and Clara love going here for walks, hikes, and the amazing Prickly Pear Ice cream!! The cave excursion is also amazing if you have some hours to kill.

Colossal Cave

Just like the classic old western movies Jaiden grew up watching! This theme park truly feels like youre walking around a real Hollywood movie set! It is open from 10:30am-5pm every day and is a great way to spend your day.

Old Tucson

If you’re looking to explore Tucson while celebrating Jaiden’s Navy roots, the Pima Air & Space Museum is a must-see! It’s one of the largest aviation museums in the country, showcasing historic military aircraft, space exhibits, and more. Perfect for aviation buffs, curious minds, or anyone who wants to snap some awesome photos under giant wings. A fun, themed stop before the big day

Pima Air & Space Museum

Jaiden and Claras favorite date night restaurant. The pizza is delicious and you the butternut squash pasta is a must! 

Piazza Gavi

Beautiful atmosphere! Jaiden and Clara love getting coffee or gelato and taking a stroll while they window shop. Also offers great restaurants. Close proximity to venues. 

Clara & Jaiden