Wedding Day

Wedding

Reception

Our Wedding

I met Gabe, he made me laugh. I bought him a hot dog. He fought off other guys. I told him I loved him as I jumped out of the car during a red light. We watched the O.C, yelled at a lot of referees, ate a lot of food and competed on who was tanner. I moved. We became puppy parents. He bought a ring. He moved to Charlotte. He proposed, and they lived happily ever after.

The Short Version

By the time that Elisha and I say our "I do's", we will have been dating for close to 5 years... but how did it all begin? How could Gabe reel in such a catch? Well I will tell you...Elisha and I met in the Fall of 2011 at RUF. My initial thoughts of her: super talkative, confidently weird, and DEFINITELY out of my league. When faced with this situation, I did what any normal man would do ... I became an unsolicited wingman for my friends! I tried to get Elisha to date a couple of my close friends, but it never worked out for them. Meanwhile, Elisha and I had become good friends; I successfully turned her into a sports fan, we watched through all of the OC together and after a few months of Elisha giving me googly eyes, I finally caught on and took my own shot at things. Elisha's constantly moving mind and dashing good looks paired perfectly with my surprising athleticism and light-hearted take on life.Elisha and I spent the next couple years dating and enjoying NC State. We lived close to each other throughout college, sometimes across campus, sometimes a block away. We survived summers away from each other with surprise visits peppered in every couple of weeks to Charlotte, and continued to grow together as a couple. I knew early on that Elisha was different from a lot of girls and I was not going to let her go, but after she graduated I struggled to keep that spark. Living in different cities, without an outlook on where I was going to work after school made things tough. We had two different lives, made different friends, and our communication strained as we tried to live our separate lives, together. One weekend, Elisha and I went down to visit my older brother Ben and his wife Lauren, and thought they could give some advice on how to make things work. Seeing that they were happily married and had also gone through a similar phase in their dating life, gave us encouragement that it was just a season, and God was going to use this time to strengthen our relationship instead of hinder it.A few months later with our newly strengthened and solidified love for each other, I graduated and immediately set out to get a job so I could not only be a champion of wiffleball, but also a champion of Elisha's heart. People continually asked me why I hadn't proposed yet, but Elisha and I were always on the same page that getting engaged is a big step and we were willing to wait for God's timing before we entered into engagement together. I worked the summer away from Elisha and searched and searched for a jobs and probably applied for over 100 positions. Fast forward to late fall, the job search is in full swing, and praise the Lord, I get offered a job in Charlotte with the parks and rec department. The stars align! Her family is here, its not far from mine... Elisha loves Charlotte. I bought the ring before I accepted the job in Charlotte but held off proposing to Elisha until I felt the time was right.Fast forward a couple months, we had a trip planned to Nashville to go to our friend's wedding, so pending on if I still liked her after she yelled/sang in the car for 7 hour, I planned to surprise her new years eve. I casually had one of her friends tag along with us to hang out for the day, this didn't cause any red flags go up for Elisha because we always had third wheel dates with all her friends (maybe I planned for this moment all our relationship, maybe I didn't, you'll never know) We ended up going to this little shack restaurant and played a board game til sunset. Then we went to this outlook of the Nashville skyline called Love Circle ( I still don't know how she didn't see it coming) she was taking pictures and then she turned around and I was down on one knee. She turned around and said "Is this for real?, NO WAY!!!!" But eventually after she got over her shock she said yes. I didn't know just how excited I would be until that moment. Everything felt right, years of saying "eventually" and "one day" was finally here. As the time flies by between now and August I am so thankful for all of the things we have gone through and all of the journeys that lie ahead.

The Long Version

Our Story

Details

Photos

Charis and I grew up in the same town and went to all the same schools growing up but despite our paths crossing a few times we did not become friends until senior year of high school. I think we ultimately bonded over our mutual weirdness. Charis always makes me laugh especially with her silly voice messages where she just meows at me and tells me to eat stromboli with her. Something I love about Charis is her love for people. She loves her family, friends and all the wonderful people she works with at her memory care facility. She is one of the most patient and beautiful people I know. Last summer I had the honor of standing by her side as she married the man of her dreams and now I am so excited to have her as my right hand girl. 

Charis

Ben is my Best Man! I have looked up to him since I was very young, which comes natural from many younger brothers, but the longer I know Ben the more I realize why he is a  role model. Ben is extreme patient and rational when facing problems (sometimes robot like), a strong Christian, and a goof ball. He has given Elisha and I advice from the very start on our relationship, and I am blessed to have someone like that not only to be beside me on my wedding day, but for the past 23 and future years!

Leslie and I became friends in college though RUF and we eventually became roommates. Leslie is basically everything I wish I was, She is super artsy, reads all the time, makes really good waffles, she has really good fashion sense, she is smart and is always up to date on current events. One of my favorite things about Leslie is that she is a collector of little nick nacks. She has all these cool little things scattered throughout her belongings, like that little lady bug in her car, and an enviable feather collection. Leslie always thought that she was the third wheel on Gabe and I's dinner dates but in reality Gabe was the true third wheel.

Leslie

Mitch has been tagging along with me since he popped out. Mitch has been the greatest younger brother you could ask for. We have competed in almost all the same sports/games/activities through our childhood, and have kept extremely close even as we went through different stages in life. Mitch is extremely determined, funny, and loving. I am so glad he will be a part of the wedding party! 

Mitch

Kirsten and I became friends at RUF Summer Conference my Senior year, we rode in the same car and shared a bed so she was kinda forced to be my friend. I probably tried to befriend her when she first started to go to RUF but was intimidated by her perfect body and face. Fun facts about Kirsten: She went to the same high school as Gabe and the same church as Leslie. She likes cheese, Starbucks, TJ Maxx and her dog. Which happen to be some of my favorite things too. I am so glad that Kirsten is my friend and I can force her to wear 1 inch heels so I don't look like a little kid in all my photos. 

Kirsten

When Zach and I first met, he did NOT want to be my friend. 5 years later and he comfortably will ride on my back around in public places. Zach and I have an extremely similar sense of humor, and if you have spent any time around us together I am sure that we worked together to make you laugh. Despite Zach's outer shell, he is a fun loving guy, who doesn't mind pointing out how things really are. 

Zach

I met Lauren my freshman year at RUF when she was a Senior. I also go to ride with her to summer conference, I specifically remember her having a really long conversation with her mom about her upcoming wedding to some guy named Ben Hackney. Flash forward another year and and Gabe and I started dating and would occasionally visit them at the beach. Lauren is basically #goals. She has a sweet dog, can drive stick shift and has an immaculate house that is mostly made up of awesome DIY projects. I am so excited to gain her as my sister in law and join the whole Hackney family.

Lauren

I met Mark in high school, but it was not until Freshman year where we lived across from each other at State that we grew close. One of the things I love about Mark is his how he gets locked onto things. When Mark is interested in something, loves something, or wants to learn something... he will spend all of his attention absorbing that subject. I consider myself lucky to  have thrown myself into friendship with him. 

Mark

Patrick has been one of my best friends through college and shortly thereafter. Despite not knowing each other well in high school, living across from each other for a year, and living on his couch for a year too have given me some of the greatest memories. Patrick is an extremely talented athlete (but can't break 100 on a golf course), a great friend, and a strong Christian. Since I first watched through the OC with him freshman year and battled it out on the Wii, we have been great friends. I look up to Patrick because he never lets pride get in the way of his life. He will take and ask advice to come out on top of every situation… whether that's which pants to wear to an interview, or how to deal with relationships. Also he is very handsome. 

Patrick

Michelle was my first sister and the only girl my brother ever brought home so I knew she was special. I met her at my brother's house warming party a couple of years ago and Gabe caught on that they were dating before I even did. Since Gabe moved in with them I have had more excuses to hang out with Michelle and eat all her delicious food and sour patch kids. Michelle is one of the most organized and hospitable people I have ever met. She is always volunteering to throw showers and finds any excuse to have people over. Michelle is also really funny, if you have never seen her with her dogs, Maggie and Cooper, you're missing out. I am so glad that she is part of my family and will get to celebrate in all my life's big milestones.

Michelle

Michael "Candidate Harrison" Harrison. Seriously admire everything about Mike except his terrible baseball golf swing. Mike is a top notch entrepreneur, the humblest person you will ever meet, and I legitimately wonder why someone as successful allowed for me to sleep on his couch for a year. I joke around with him because he will probably someday be Mark Cuban's right hand man, or more likely the Red's General Manager, but he is really the full package. I am honored to have him stand next to me August 20th, but even more honored to call him a close friend, always willing to be patient and laugh at my jokes that I am sure he is too mature to laugh at.

Michael

Connor has been my friend for about 2 years. He (along with Mike, Pat, Mark) allowed me to sleep on "HQ's" collective couch my senior year, and was the first person to introduce me to sheets on something not a bed. I love Connor because he will never say no to hanging out, no matter how late, and will still manage to wake up on time to whatever and not complain. Still not sure how he does it. Even though I have not known Connor as long as some of the other people in my wedding, he has meant so much to me in that time! He has offered tons of advice on how to live without fear of what others think, and has always been a wall to bounce questions, thoughts, and ridiculous bets off of. 

Connor

I have been best friends with Jacob since early high school. We wrestled together, played lacrosse, and tons of video games. He has been the personal witness to 3 Nuke drops on Call of Duty, but more importantly has been friend to me longer than anyone. Jacob keeps a tight knit circle of friends, but once you are in his good graces he is fiercely loyal. Jacob has been a teacher to me in a lot of ways: How to shoot a gun, how to smoke a cigar, how to take care of dogs, how to deal with women, and how to say no despite being a people pleaser. Love Jake to death, even though we went to different schools, and I will always be thankful for the ridiculous summers we spent together. 

Jacob

I have known Andrew since I started dating Elisha 4ish years ago. I am sure that when I first met him, he viewed me as the turd that was dating his little sister...nowadays I am the turd that is his roommate! I wish that I could say that I have a lot in common with Andrew and that he reminds me of all my brothers, but in reality we share almost no common interest. However, that has not stopped us from becoming great friends! I honestly don't know why he agreed to let me live with him until I got married, but I am so grateful for that. Andrew and his wife Michelle have been so open and fun to live with, I am really disappointed that I will have to move out of their mansion and let them be married alone soon. Andrew is the most talented creative mind that I have ever met, and has shown me that great things do come in small packages. Also never play poker or darts with him, you will lose. 

Andrew

Wedding Party

Registry

Q + A

Hampton Inn & Suites Huntersville

Travel

U.S. National Whitewater Center

Lake Norman

There are a bunch of breweries sprinkled throughout North Davidson

Elisha & Gabe

Elisha & Gabe

E&G

Wedding Day

5:30 PM

Wedding

Reception