Rehearsal Dinner

Southall Meadows

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Our Wedding

Braxton and I both worked at Pine Cove Silverado in Texas during the summer of 2023. From the first time I saw him across the dining hall, I instantly thought he was super cute. I definitely wanted to learn more about him! Everyone there spoke very highly of him, so this was a good sign to me. It was actually Braxton who approached me first, and he asked me where I went to school. Our conversation was so sweet and I had butterflies! From there, we got to talking and he immediately drew me in. We went on to have a couple more conversations, then started texting, and then about a month and a half later, finally had the chance to go on our first real date. Our first date was in Austin, and our second was in Houston. These were both about 10 hours each- we had so much in common and couldn't stop talking. On our last day of camp, he asked me to be his girlfriend, under the Texas stars. I could not have been more excited! The next morning, he took me to the airport- I definitely shed a few tears. I didn't know what our future would hold, but I was still so excited, and this started 10 months of long distance, 5 hours apart. After tons of FaceTime calls, monthly visits to each others towns, and missing each other every minute, Braxton moved to Birmingham! Living in the same city has been an incredible blessing and gave us a chance to learn what normal life together, as a couple, would look like. Then, on April 26, Braxton proposed. It was perfect- my ring was perfect, he picked the perfect location, and all of our most special people were able to celebrate us. Braxton has been the biggest blessing in my life and I cannot wait to start our next chapter together. I pray that our marriage is a testament to the love of Christ and I am endlessly thankful to the Lord for bringing the two of us together.

From Grace

I met Grace at a summer camp in the middle of no where Texas.&nbsp;It was not in either of our original plans to be there that summer, but the Lord led us both to camp as counselors that summer. I knew I wanted to get to know her more when I was first introduced to her during an ice breaker exercise for everyone working at the lake activity class that summer. I remember the first words I said to her under a tree as I sped walked to catch up to her after the meeting. “So you go to Samford right?” She told me about her family, her goals in life, why she chose her degree and career path. I knew Grace was special from our first conversation together under that tree. I asked her on our first date when she came back for the second half of the summer. From there we went on dates the last three weekends of camp and after each date, my interest in her grew more and more. Conversations and time spent together came so easy to us. We didn’t know what long distance would look like, but we both knew we wanted to try and were willing to make it work. So on August 5th, 2023, while laying under the stars in a park, I asked Grace to be my girlfriend. We had to say goodbye to each other the next day to go back to our schools, 5 hours apart. We made the best of long distance, either meeting halfway for a day trip together or driving all the way to stay a weekend with each other in our own cities. Every time we were able to see each other it was so special. I cherished every second we had together. We had the opportunity to live in the same city after I accepted a position at a hospital in Birmingham once I graduated. Living in such close proximity has been such a blessing and sweet time. Just getting to see how Grace interacted with people and the world up close, how gentle, caring, and intentional she was confirmed what I already knew about her. After eleven months of living in Birmingham, on April 26th, 2025, I asked the love of my life to marry me. I am so grateful and blessed by the Lord to have Grace to walk in life with forever.&nbsp;

From Braxton

Our Story

Photos

Maddie Kingsbury

Derek Stalsby

Sophia Koester

Jake Givens

Ellie Koester

Laydon Stalsby

Chloe Koester

Gaven Stalsby

Alexis Stalsby

Jack Koester

Blakely Stalsby

Sloan Stalsby

Charlie Matakaetis

Brody Matakaetis

Wedding Party

Q + A

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Franklin Marriott Cool Springs

Holiday Inn Franklin - Cool Springs by IHG

Embassy Suites by Hilton Franklin Cool Springs

Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Franklin

Opryland Hotel

Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville Hendersonville

Hyatt Place Nashville Downtown

Travel

Opryland is so much more than just a hotel! For free, you can spend time walking through the unique and beautiful hotel and even share a meal, shop, and more.

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center

12 South is a great area to shop and spend the afternoon if you are not up for the business of Broadway!

12 South Nashville

Things to Do

Registry

Dress Code

Grace & Braxton

Grace & Braxton

Wedding Party