Horse Cave United Methodist Church 

Bridal Shower

The Blanford House

Rehearsal Dinner

Wedding Day

Our Wedding

The beginning of my junior year at Western Kentucky University marked the start of my waitressing job at a local restaurant in Bowling Green, KY named Mariah’s. One warm September day, a large group of people entered the restaurant, informing the hostess of their reservation for eight. She then led them to my section in the dining room. As I approached the table, I greeted the party and began taking their drink orders. It was during my time as a waitress that I learned a valuable tip: to remember shirt colors or unique features to better recall who ordered what. As I took their drink orders, my attention was drawn to a boy at the end of the table wearing a baseball hat. While noting down his order, I mentally dubbed him “the cute boy at the table.” Throughout their stay, this particular boy was polite and showed great manners as I served their table. After the group finished dining, I distributed the receipts and collected their payments. As I retrieved “the cute boy at the table’s” card, I memorized his name: Jacob Lyons. I returned their receipts, thanked them for their time, unknowingly setting the stage for a life-changing event. As the group of eight left, I hurried to count my tips, only to discover that “the cute boy at the table” had left more than just a tip—he had left his number! Excitedly, I rushed into the kitchen, and yelled “The cute boy at my table left his number!” I eagerly texted him! Fast forward to today, everything feels like fate, and I believe that God placed Jacob into my life unexpectedly. I can truly say that it was love at first sight. I feel destined by fate and faith to have met my handsome, passionate, devoted, and loving man, with whom I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life. I never would have expected that on September 15, 2021, I would meet my future husband at Mariah’s and that we would be leaving for our honeymoon on September 15, 2024. Mariah’s will always hold a special place in my heart as the place where I met Jacob and where our journey to becoming one began.

If you were to ask Emily: 

One random September day back in 2021, a group of close friends and I decided we wanted to go out to eat. We ended up going to Mariah’s in Bowling Green. I remember walking in and being seated and then our waitress comes up and I remember being shocked by how beautiful she was. I took my menu and covered my mouth with it while looking at my brother John, telling him, “look at her, she is beautiful!” I remember I was trying to be very polite the entire night, I guess thinking I was going to pull her in with charm. Well, I never got the courage to ask her and she was gone from the table when my friends decided to leave. I sat there frantically deciding on what to do because I just couldn’t lose this opportunity and I felt like God was giving me a little push as well. So I quickly found a pen, wrote her a tip, signed my name and then I did something that I have never done before. I wrote my number down, along with the words “Text me” with a smiley face. I hurried out the doors because I was afraid she would find the note before I could leave. That very small moment changed my entire life. One choice that I was very nervous of making, changed the trajectory of my entire life. I sometimes think about what I would be doing or where I’d be if I hadn’t gone with my gut that night. Emily and I have had very big mountains and very small valleys. We have had one heck of a time together, so many lifelong memories, once in a lifetime opportunities, and cherished moments. I’ve never had more fun in my entire life than I have ever since I walked into that restaurant on September 15th, 2021. With all things said, the most exciting thing to me is, Our Story is just beginning!

Emily & Jacob

Emily & Jacob

Meet Our Bridal Party

Bridesmaids

Groomsmen