Roy & Laura's Wedding!

Marty Leonard Community Chapel

Ceremony

Ashton Depot Catering + Events

Reception

Our Wedding

We're here today thanks to a mediocre film called Everest. No one saw this film when it was released in 2015 (really...no one), but Laura and Roy did. When they discovered this via Instagram comments on October 1, 2015, an instant connection was formed. Laura and Roy started messaging back and forth, initially just discussing movies, but eventually they talked about almost everything. This went on for several weeks before Roy traveled to Fort Worth for Thanksgiving and the two went on their first date. Had they lived in the same state, that would have been it, happily ever after, the end. But Roy lived in Los Angeles and Laura lived in Dallas. A long distance relationship was not in the cards. Instead, they became friends. Years went by. They changed jobs, changed apartments, and saw so many more movies. They kept in touch throughout it all. A casual friendship morphed into a close friendship. And just over five years after their very first date, Laura called Roy with some news: she'd decided to move to Los Angeles. Doors had opened, the stars were aligned, and it was time for a life change. Six months later, on May 30, 2021, she pulled into town, moving truck in tow. The rest is history.

Our Story

Photos

Laura and Roy knew the qualities they wanted in their wedding officiant: good-hearted, thoughtful, welcoming, strong-willed, comfortable, humorous, and high-spirited. They wanted the kind of person who embodies the same virtues that would be present in their marriage. With Josh, they get exactly that and a whole lot more. Josh and Roy met while at USC and have gone through everything together: making a feature film, being roommates, helping one another through heartbreaks, and then watching each other fall in love. After Laura moved to Los Angeles, Josh and his wife Sonia welcomed her as one of their own, immediately making her feel right at home. Laura and Roy could not be more excited or grateful to have Josh be the first person to address them as husband and wife. 

Josh Kadish

Sarah and Laura grew up together in the church formerly known as Abundant Life and have known each other since childhood. As a result, they have a mountain of shared memories and can spend hours playing the "Remember when?" game. Remember the Denver trip when Laura became an honorary Mayes cousin? Remember when we surprised Shannon in Tulsa and talked for six hours straight in the car? Remember "WHO is this guy? WHAT is he doing?" But don't ask them about the "Living on a Prayer" story. That one is private. They both love podcasts, documentaries, and communicating with only a glance. 

Sarah Mayes

Sara and Laura met while working at the AT&T Performing Arts Center after college. They worked in what was then called "The Blue Room," where friendships formed fast! Sara and Laura became friends after an awkward movie night experience, have acted as each other's wedding dates multiple times, and share a deep love of the film Notes on a Scandal. After a few years, they ended up living in the same apartment building and when the pandemic hit, they formed a tiny, two-person bubble. For over a year, they met up almost every week to make martinis, complain about the state of the world, and seek out Surprise Dermot Mulroneys in movies. They continue this project to this day. 

Sara Means

Shannon and Laura met in youth group (also at the church formerly known as Abundant Life) where Laura physically forced Shannon to sit with her on Sunday morning. It may have seemed aggressive at the time, but Laura knew a good person when she saw one. They ended up bonding over a shared love of theatre and both went on to study theatre in college. Don't get them started on which Sondheim musical or Shakespeare play is best, we'll be here for hours. If you're trying to think of an obscure TV quote, ask Shannon and Laura, they've got you. They are always up for a Tex-Mex meal (followed by coffee at Roots), and they have MANY opinions on which Real Housewives city is the best (it's NY, of course). 

Shannon Santiago

Even though Roy scoffed at Will being genuinely moved by "the first moment of grace on the planet" between two dinosaurs in The Tree of Life, that didn't dampen their friendship, which began at USC. In fact, as the years have passed, their friendship has been a lot like those two dinosaurs with Will graciously being patient as Roy learned to like more complicated movies (even though Roy still doesn't like The Tree of Life) and Roy nudging Will to get more and more into sports. Rivalries have emerged, especially when Roy's Chiefs beat Will's 49ers, but they're united when it comes to their love for the Dodgers. Roy and Will eagerly await every new monster movie that comes out...at least until the next installment of the Dark Universe is released. 


Will Ilgen

The only people who have been in Roy's life longer than McKenna are his family. McKenna and Roy have known each other since they were five years old in Mrs. Abel's kindergarten class at Walnut Elementary School. They became fast friends and over the course of their nearly 30-year friendship, they have navigated working at the school newspaper, appearing in purple beehive wigs in skits at world championships, multiple moves to different parts of the country, and even square-dancing with each other in public (which is scientifically proven to form a bond between two people that cannot be broken). He loves her dearly.


McKenna LeClear

The first real friend that Roy made after his family moved to Texas in 2003 was Ben Lobaugh. Even though they only went to school together for one year, they attended the same church and only lived three blocks away from each other. From sixth grade through graduating high school, Roy and Ben spent countless hours together as they rented bad action movies from Blockbuster, confessed their secret crushes on girls to each other, chopped through tree branches with machetes while on mission trips, and played in their band Raydiant Darkness, along with Chris Twedell and Patrick Alland at many church functions. To this day, Ben and Roy still send new songs they've written to each other.


Ben Lobaugh

Wedding Party

Q + A

A room block has been secured at the Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown for a reduced rate of $209 per night. Reservations must be made by December 7, 2024.

Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel

Travel

The Stockyards are iconic to Fort Worth and a must-see for out of town guests.

Fort Worth Stockyards

A great place for a family outing during the day!

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

The heart of Fort Worth! Shop, eat, or see a show all in the same few blocks.

Sundance Square

A classy option for the arts-lovers.

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

Fort Worth Zoo

The world's largest honky tonk. Grab a Shiner, listen to some country, and ride a mechanical bull.

Laura & Roy