In late May 2022, James and Lauren matched on a dating app. They met at Sweetwater Brewing the next day for a game of chess, and bonded over shared interests, a shared love for Savannah, and tastes in music. Lauren especially liked James’ thoughtfulness and sense of humor, and James liked Lauren’s personality and perspectives.

A week later, they met again to picnic at the final day of the Atlanta Jazz Festival at Piedmont Park, but an incoming storm caused them to flee to a nearby bar (The Independent) after just 10 minutes. Rather than cancelling their plans, the afternoon turned into more lively conversation, and they stuck around long enough to compete in the bar’s trivia night under the team name ‘Jazz Festival Refugees’. After James and Lauren hiked Blood Mountain in North Georgia together on their third date, they continued to explore their shared interests on future dates, and became an official couple in early July 2022.

In the time that has followed, James and Lauren have supported one another through moving homes, changing jobs, and other life events. They’ve continued growing together and can often be found cooking, reading, spending time with friends—or attending a concert, stand-up comedy, or trivia together. James proposed to Lauren at Amicalola Falls State Park in December 2023. They look forward to celebrating this new life chapter with family and friends in August!

Your presence at our wedding is a gift in and of itself. If you would like to give us a gift for this occasion, below are several items that could be useful to us as we build a home together.