The Barn at Cottonwood Ranch

Brian and Heather Wedding Day

Reception

Spring

Our Wedding

Heather and Brian met in June of 2018 when Brian was on a boys' trip to Pompano Beach, FL with his friends from Cold Spring, NY (now his best man Chris and groomsmen Marco and Sean), and Heather was home from college having a wine night with a friend who insisted she download the dating app Tinder to swipe with her. Brian downloaded Tinder for this boys' trip because he had heard "Florida girls were hot" and that night Heather and Brian happened to "match". Brian messaged Heather a pick-up line related to Heather's favorite show, The Office, and they hit it off. After a day or two of texting, Brian invited Heather to the beach with him and his friends so they could meet in person. Unfortunately at the time, Heather was on her way out of town to babysit in The Florida Keys for the week and ever so sweetly said "Since we aren't going to meet there's no point in talking so we should probably just cut it off now" to which Brian said "Well I'm having a really nice time getting to know you, I'd be down to keep talking." How could Heather say no to that? So, after texting every day for a few weeks, they had their first Facetime call and what was meant to be a quick 15-minute chat turned into a 5-hour call that left both of their cheeks hurting and included Brian trying on his Homecoming King crown for Heather, which was hilarious. Ever since then, they've been smitten with each other. Heather loves Brian’s sense of humor, his intrinsic drive to always be the best version of himself, and his innate ability to light up every room he enters with his positive energy and bright smile. Brian loves Heather’s authenticity, her thoughtfulness, and how she never lets a day go by without showing the people she loves that she cares. Heather and Brian have made it through all of the long distance and the time apart from Covid thanks to their very open communication, extremely similar senses of humor, and frequent Facetime dates. Specifically, with Heather going to college in Tallahassee and Brian outside of Philadelphia, Brian going home to Cold Spring, NY and then Palm Coast, FL, and Heather home to Pompano Beach, FL, and the Army keeping them apart for the majority of the last two years, they had to make the daily, conscious effort to always choose each other and to prioritize each other and that was made significantly easier because above all else they truly are best friends.&nbsp; When they are not working, Brian loves to work out at Crossfit (he just competed in his first competition and did an amazing job), travel whenever he can to see new places and to visit friends and family, and try new recipes at home using his beloved grill and new knife set (thanks to the Haines'!). Heather is a family girl through-and-through and never misses a chance to be with her fabulous family and her friends, who are like family. She is also known to obsess over dogs any chance she gets (specifically spoiling their dog Asher and through fostering and pet sitting), and she loves going on the boat (which is a little tricky considering Kansas is slightly far from the ocean). Heather and Brian’s favorite things to do together are spending time with their dog Asher, trying new restaurants and bars on date nights, hosting parties for friends and family, and enjoying lazy Saturday mornings drinking coffee in their backyard. They cannot WAIT to see all of their beloved family and friends at the wedding in February and are so grateful for everyone making the trip to help them celebrate!

Our Story

Photos (2018-Present)

Brittany is Heather's cousin and lifelong best friend. She is the life of the party (even throwing Heather her 21st birthday party and single handedly throwing her in the FSU fountain at midnight on the dot), she gives the most thoughtful advice, and she has been a constant Heather's whole life (thank goodness because middle school would have been a train wreck without her.) She makes friends everywhere she goes with her natural storytelling abilities, easy going personality, and amazing sense of humor. Heather’s favorite memory with Brittany was when Heather was coming home from seeing Brian mid-Ranger School (if you know you know) and stopped to see Britt in Tallahassee. When she got there, Britt said “it’s okay if you absolutely hate this idea but would you wanna just stay home, drink Bud Light, and have a karaoke party in my living room together?” and immediately handed Heather a cold Bud Light and hooked up microphones. If you know Heather, you know that family, music, and Bud Light are her three love languages and it was a perfect representation of how well Brittany knows Heather without her having to say anything. Brittany is absolutely irreplaceable and Heather couldn't adore her more.

Brittany

To say Chris is a lifelong friend is an understatement. Chris and Brian go back to their preschool days and have remained close all through college. When they were younger, Brian and Chris hung out regularly, despite Brian being deathly afraid of Chris’s dogs. Brian and Chris spent a lot of their younger years out in the woods having airsoft wars with other kids from the area. During high school, Brian and Chris were always super close, despite Brian playing baseball and running while Chris played football and lacrosse. They took all the same courses and nearly ended up going to the same college together (the University of Rochester, Chris’s alma mater). Towards the end of high school, Brian and Chris’s houses became the party spots, much to their parents dismay. You should definitely ask about the tree-cutting stories or how much Jack Daniel’s is too much for both of them. Now, Chris is working for Turner Construction in Boston as an engineer. Brian and Chris consistently meet up either in Fort Lauderdale or Boston, and Heather and Brian love spending time with Chris and his wonderful girlfriend Hannah. Brian is extremely honored to have Chris stand up next to him as his best man.

Chris

Molly is the human embodiment of sunshine. She and Heather became best friends at Florida State, and it was love at first sight. Molly is Heather's little sister from their sorority, Pi Phi, and they have been inseparable ever since. Molly is the most well-intentioned, kind, positive, and entertaining person, and she instantly brings joy to everyone she meets. Molly has a heart of gold, exclusively refers to Heather as "Heathy Boo," and has cried on multiple occasions from seeing a cute dog across the street that she didn't get a chance to pet. Even if you didn’t know Molly at the start of the wedding weekend, you will surely know her by the end because she is usually grinning ear to ear, laughing like a maniac, and bear hugging Heather, which then makes Heather grin ear to ear and laugh like a maniac. Heather’s favorite memory with Molly was when they would watch The Bachelorette in Molly’s apartment, drink margaritas, and Molly would trim Heather’s hair with kitchen scissors on the floor (on more than one occasion because she actually did a really good job if she started before margarita #2). Heather often says that Molly is her heart friend and that she can’t imagine life before her or without her. Watching Molly and Brian dance battle on the dance floor at the wedding will surely be a highlight you won't want to miss.

Molly

Jerry Browne—if you haven’t met him, you’ll know him by the end of the weekend. Brian and Jerry were instant best friends during college. Jerry is viciously Irish, and Brian is the most British person Jerry has ever befriended, which goes to show just how tight their bond is. Jerry and Brian became close during their first few weeks at Villanova, as they were both in ROTC. Their bond continued to grow throughout their time at Villanova, and their friendship is truly deep and loyal. One of their first memories was sharing stories at a field training exercise for the Army at 3 a.m., just a few weeks into school. From that time onward, they were inseparable and spent the majority of their weekends studying beer and other hard drinks at different bars throughout the Philadelphia area. If you ever wanted to see how to dance and how not to dance, just watch Jerry and Brian at some point during the night, and you’ll see. (Hint: Brian is the one who cannot dance.) Despite Jerry being stationed in Alaska, they both remain incredibly close and make plans to see each other as often as possible, and Heather loves Jerry's dry sense of humor, honesty, and extreme loyalty to his people.

Jerry

Mark is Heather's best friend from high school and her go-to person to spend time with. Mark and Heather went to high school all four years together, but really became friends in the second semester of their senior year when Heather decided he should be a part of her friend group after sitting next to each other in AP Government. He didn’t really have much choice in the matter, but over the years, they stayed extremely good friends because they had so much in common and their friendship was so effortless. They both love country music (especially country concerts), beer (Mark likes Miller Lite though, so slight brownie point deduction), going on the boat, sporting events (Mark usually has to explain what's going on), board games, and hanging out with Mama Webs. Mark is an extremely loyal and selfless friend, even helping Heather run the youth group every Wednesday night for an entire school year when she didn't have volunteers. He is a great listener, he's always honest, he has a very savage sense of humor, and he's very easygoing (even if it means coming over to watch the Bachelor on Monday nights and waking up early for church on Sundays).

Mark

Sean and Brian are lifelong friends who met during their middle school days and consistently bring out the dumb blonde in each other. Out of the Cold Spring friend group, Sean and Brian make it their personal mission to keep the party going (or at least attempt to if they haven’t had too many already). They remain incredibly close to this day, as they have both pursued their dreams of joining the Army. In fact, a lot of their lives have mirrored each other: both are from Cold Spring, both loved sports and played all 3 seasons during high school, both went to school in Pennsylvania (Sean went to Scranton), and now they’re both officers in the Army. Sean is super dedicated to his self-development, and that’s what Brian loves most about him. During the COVID lockdown, you would more than likely find Sean and Brian either running together or working out on the football field daily. Sean and Brian have also spent many nights in Fort Lauderdale together, at least from what they remember. You should ask about the most expensive food they don’t remember eating or the time that Heather left us at Publix and made us walk home because Sean forgot her name. They are brothers for life and will continue to constantly push each other in their careers and nightlife adventures.

Sean

Carly is Heather's cousin and lifelong friend. From being menaces on their annual ski trip flights to Colorado and annoying everyone around them with their cackling (Brittany used to do a baby voice that Carly and Heather then tried to copy to everyone’s dismay), to teaching Heather how to do acro yoga on her college tour, to coming to FSU and getting Heather addicted to acai bowls, to impressing the whole Kearney family by leading the BEST yoga classes before the craziness began, to all of the times in between that Carly brightened rough days with her radiant energy and contagious laugh, she is truly one of a kind. She is extraordinarily empathetic and cries at the drop of a hat whenever she’s moved by stories, acts of kindness, really good commercials, or anything else that would normally produce an "aw" from less empathetic individuals. She is so easygoing, loyal, passionate, driven, and funny, and Heather is so honored that she is a bridesmaid!

Carly

Ethan and Brian might be the two wittiest people out when they’re together. Their self-deprecating humor will either entirely concern you or have you laughing on the ground. We’re ok, though; at least we think so! They both became close when they joined their fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, at Villanova. They discovered they both had a love for baseball and had a lot of the same classes together, so as a result, their weekdays and weekends were always spent together. There have been countless nights when they have quite literally closed their textbooks or laptops and found themselves out partying 15 minutes later. But hey, we turned out okay, as Ethan is now in Boston as a consultant for LEK with a strong focus in biotech startups. You should really ask about junior year and our estimate of the time we spent in the Villanova Business School studying… yes, actually studying. Or even ask Ethan to talk about the Wall Street special sandwich incident. Now, they are still super close, as they both talk or text often about their terrible shortcomings or mild successes. Either way, they remain close and ready to nerd out, drink, or do both.

Ethan

Meg is the fastest friend Heather has ever made. They were both in Pi Phi at FSU and knew after the first time they hung out that they were soulmates and would be friends forever. Meg was the first person Heather told about Brian, and Meg even created a custom version of "The Bachelorette" where she made Heather the bachelorette, then wrote custom dates each week, and rigged the competition so that Brian would win before ever meeting him in person. Meg and her husband Billy have always been Heather’s role model couple, and they raised the bar even higher for the kind of relationship Heather wanted to have one day. After Heather and Brian met, Meg and Billy became their favorite couple to double date with because they perfectly balance having a blast and being extremely intentional. Meg and Heather both prioritize their close-knit families more than anything else, and Heather absolutely loves Meg's appreciation for quality time. Meg is beautiful inside and out, and Heather was beyond honored to be Meg’s bridesmaid in her wedding in 2021, and she is so excited that she now gets to have Meg as a bridesmaid in her wedding.

Collin and Brian met their first night at Villanova, and it was a match made in heaven. Jackie (Collin’s girlfriend) and Heather both resent this fact, as they both tend to pay more attention to each other than their significant others. Collin and Brian instantly started a lifelong friendship their first night due to their sense of humor, passion for baseball, and similar career goals. Collin and Brian spent a lot of their time together at Villanova, either in the same classes, playing baseball, or in their apartment creating wild concoctions of food and drinks. Collin is a great storyteller and knows how to talk to just about anyone and keep it entertaining and fun. He will more than likely find himself involved in some sort of scandal throughout the weekend, as many of their weekends together revolve around some wild event that was started by either Collin alone or with Brian. If you ever want entertainment, Brian and Collin are like dumb and dumber most of the time, with a little mix of Batman and Robin. Nonetheless, Brian and Collin will remain like brothers for life.

Collin

Kelly is the absolute life of the party and Heather’s ultimate competition for the most coveted Kearney title of "Flip Cup Champion". She is often heard fighting for the floor to tell her most recent college tale or challenging an unwitting opponent to a pull-up competition, foot race, or arm wrestling match (be warned: the only reason she challenges people is when she knows she can beat them). In addition to being one of the most competitive people Heather knows, she is also an extremely talented artist and graphic designer (even majoring in graphic design at UF), and she did a fantastic job designing the Save the Dates for the wedding (if you know Brian and Heather, you know they have skills in other areas, but art is not one of them, so they are very grateful for her). One of Heather’s favorite memories with Kelly is from last summer at the Kearney reunion, floating in matching pink flamingo tubes in Uncle Billy’s pond, keeping Bud Light in business, and catching up on life. Kelly is so much fun to be around, so easy to know, and will surely bring all the hype vibes to this bridal party!

Kelly

If you ever wanted to see a married couple reenacted, you should listen to Marco and Brian speak and try to make plans. It might be one of the most entertaining things you’ll listen to at any point throughout the weekend. Marco and Brian are always plotting their next move, maybe even arguing about it but at the end of the day, the results are still the same.. a great time. Marco and Brian go way back to elementary school but became incredibly close during high school as they both shared the same passions for athletics and just being down to do just about anything. Now, they’re inseparable and consistently meet up in Fort Lauderdale whenever they can. To say they're brothers is an understatement, as they’re always looking out for each other and for the group as a whole. You should definitely ask about their first night in Fort Lauderdale and the strings pulled to not lose their hotel room. It’s quite the story, and there have been plenty since! Marco is still in Cold Spring, NY, running his family business that serves clients all over NYC and the tri-state area.

Marco

Jordan is Heather's cousin and one of the sweetest humans you'll ever meet. Jordan and Heather instantly felt like they had known each other forever when they finally got to meet during Covid. Heather's cousin Thomas (Jordan's husband) said he knew they would be instant friends when he and Jordan first started dating, and he was very right! She is absolutely radiant, and she has an effortless confidence and sense of humor that make her magnetic. Heather and Jordan are both extremely sarcastic, obsessed with their dogs (ask Jordan for a picture of hers and prepare to "ooh" and "ah" over how adorable they are), and prioritize family above all else (Heather’s #1 favorite thing about her). One of Heather’s favorite memories with Jordan was when Heather invited herself to Jordan’s house in California with a few days notice, and Jordan immediately said yes, had an entire guest room set up for her when she arrived, dropped everything to spend time with her, took her country line dancing, made delicious dinners together, played poker with Heather, Thomas, and Gregor, and they had the absolute best time. Jordan is a 10/10 cousin and friend, and Heather feels so blessed to have her in her life!

Jordan

CJ and Brian are long time college friends that are plenty used to doing just about everything together. From their time in ROTC and Pi Kapp they always managed to keep everyone’s morale and hype as high as possible. They have plenty of stories of long nights and earlier mornings, so feel free to ask about any of them. Whether bartending in the Pi Kapp Phi basement for every party, working out in the gym or talking and laughing over some food, Brian and CJ were staples of the Villanova campus… Can we say that? Maybe we can. Need others to confirm.. Anyways! They counsel each other over their life choices whether good or bad and act more like older men when they’re deep in conversation. Nowadays, CJ and Brian are both Officers in the Army and continue to keep in touch constantly. They have plans to open up a Real Estate business and more than likely a beach bar in the keys in their later years. If you talk to them together, they play off of each perfectly together and will more than likely have you spitting out your drink from laughter.

Klehm is Heather’s dear friend and fellow military fiancee. Brian and Klehm’s fiancee, Frank, introduced Heather and Klehm at the Military Ball for Villanova’s ROTC in 2019, and Heather instantly gravitated towards her. Heather loves Klehm’s drive, intentionality, positive energy, quiet confidence, superb advice, and extreme thoughtfulness. Klehm is the kind of friend who drops off a gift basket at your door when you’re sick, sends a virtual Starbucks gift card when you've had a bad day, and will drop everything when you need a hug from her or a kiss from her perfect dog Tucker. Klehm is also very encouraging, especially when she is teaching Heather’s favorite work out class, and has even sent her personalized workouts to help her get fit without breaking her wrists again (if you know you know). She has been a fantastic sounding board for Heather as Brian went through Ranger School and now deployment, and Heather is so grateful for her empathetic listening abilities. Klehm is wise beyond her years, and she somehow manages to balance multiple jobs, all of her friendships, her relationship, a gazillion other responsibilities, and our short-lived very successful book club effortlessly. Heather knew instantly that their friendship would be lifelong, and she is so honored to have Klehm stand up next to her on her wedding day.

Klehm

Fin had to live with Brian for all four years of college; he only managed to escape sharing the same room with him when he went to Ireland to study abroad, which was short-lived due to a minor pandemic. They were random roommates at Villanova, which turned into a huge success story that is now a lifelong friendship. Their love for sports and easygoing attitudes played a large role in their deep friendship. They successfully hosted almost every weekend at Villanova for the entire crew, as their room was always the designated hangout spot. During junior and senior years, Collin and Alec both joined. They managed to never get a noise complaint besides senior year, when their putting green was making too much noise for the neighbors below. This is an incredibly impressive feat, and you can ask any of the Villanova crew about a story or three. Nonetheless, Fin is the most kind person you could ever meet, and Heather lovingly calls him Finnegan because he is so precious. You should definitely ask Fin and Brian about how much oatmeal is too much oatmeal and how to maximize space in any room for events or having a third roommate (Heather). If either of them went homeless, they would surely take each other in for another extended stay, without a doubt.

Cassidy is Heather’s cousin and will forever be her role model. Growing up, all of the Kearney cousins wanted to copy everything Cassidy did and said. They both share an extreme love of animals, and Heather was often found chasing after the Kearney family’s dog, Noah (poor guy). Cassidy and Heather were the first cousins of this generation at FSU, and she instantly made Heather’s homesickness better every time they got together, even hosting the first cousin family dinner in Tallahassee (a.k.a. the best tradition ever). Cassidy is a natural-born leader (and kind of had to be as the oldest of three siblings and the oldest of ten cousins in our generation), and she has a quiet confidence that captivates whatever group she is in and makes you want to listen to the wisdom she has to impart. Cassidy is super detail-oriented, often taking on extremely thoughtful projects that remind her people how special they are to her. She exudes warmth, and you will always find her in a good mood with a huge smile on her face, ready to give you the biggest hug that will make your day infinitely better.

Cassidy

If you haven’t met Alec, he probably knows somebody in your life already, as he is the networking king. Brian and Alec are the adventurous ones of the Villanova group, as they are always looking for new places or events to check out. They are consistently the earliest risers and the last to go to bed. Alec is incredibly loyal and truly cares about everyone around him. He will consistently find new facts, events, or places that cater to everybody in the group. If Alec’s out, so is Brian, and vice versa. They both enjoy each other's presence and consistently reach out to each other, even though Alec is now working in NYC. You should definitely ask about the multiple times he found himself in the VIP section, meeting a celebrity, or some other crazy event like a fox stealing his phone. Also, be sure to ask how economics class went for Alec and Brian. He knows the story. Nonetheless, their love for adventure, music, great times, and unique places makes them friends for life.

Alec

Jae is Heather’s sister and lifelong built-in sidekick. Jae and Heather grew up always being mistaken for twins because they are less than a year and a half apart in age and were both super blonde as kids. They always loved sleepovers at their grandparents’ houses with all of their cousins, going on family road trips, and having sibling telepathy with a quick glance that said, "Yeah, we’re on the same page." Jae and Heather used to make super cringey videos that they hope never resurface, showing off dance moves, hidden "talents" (they would most definitely not be considered actual talents), and a lot of content where Heather is just bossing Jae around (thus the built-in sidekick at the beginning: Jae didn’t really have a choice). Heather has always taken her role as big sister very seriously and is extremely protective of Jae. Even now, as adults in their twenties, Heather would go to bat for Jae every single day of the week and is super proud of her strength and perseverance!

Jae-Lyn

Ashley is Brian’s sister and Heather’s good friend. Brian and Ashley were inseparable as kids, playing outside in the woods and in snow piles in Cold Spring, NY, where they grew up. They both ran cross country and track and field, and they thoroughly enjoyed and excelled athletically and academically. Brian often says how thoughtful and loyal his sister is, and he’s always admired her drive and dedication to her passions. Ashley and Heather got along instantly, and they met for the first time at Ashley’s senior prom in 2019. Ashley is an extremely talented baker and often took over Brian’s kitchen in his apartment at Villanova to bake throughout the week. She is very easygoing and easy to be around; she and Heather are both absolutely obsessed with animals, and Heather loves spending any time she can with her! Ashley will surely bring a smile to your face during the whole weekend. Let’s see if her speaking abilities are as good as her baking abilities! 

Ashley

Wedding Party

Q + A

The Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport/I-95N, an IHG Hotel, is where we've booked our room block. We hope all of our guests will book here so that we can all be together for the weekend. It is a beautiful hotel conveniently located close to the airport with a complimentary shuttle that will transport out-of-town guests from the airport. The Crowne Plaza will also be the pick-up and drop-off location for our wedding party bus on Saturday and the after-party location after the wedding! If you are having trouble with the link please email brianandheatherwedding2024@gmail.com before you book your reservation so we can help!

Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport/I-95N, an IHG Hotel

We are getting married at The Barn at Cottonwood Ranch and we are unbelievably excited! We have attached the venue's information here if you would like to see more.

Travel

Kristen Birth and Donovan Ryan (Heather's amazing cousins) will be leading a fabulous morning yoga class on wedding day, February 10, 2024 @10am at our hotel if you would like to join! Please bring a yoga mat with you :)

Heather & Brian

Heather & Brian

Q + A

What should I wear to the wedding?

What should I wear to the welcome party?

What time should I arrive to the wedding?

What will the wedding day timeline look like?

What will the weather be like this time of year?

Is the wedding inside or outside?

What is the best airport to fly into?

During the wedding weekend, are there any other wedding events besides the wedding?

Is transportation provided? Where should guests park at the wedding venue?

Will there be an open bar?

What should I do if I can't make it?

Am I allowed to bring a date?

Am I allowed to bring my children?