Our Wedding

The Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Ceremony

The Foundry at Rae's Creek

The Intermission

Reception

Fall

“Everything happens for a reason.”“He does not give us things we cannot handle.”These two sayings have stayed with me my entire life. I didn’t grow up with a strong religious background, just a belief in God and the lessons my mom taught me through her strength and positivity. Growing up wasn’t easy. I watched my mom raise me on her own while working two full-time jobs, yet she always managed to keep hope in her heart. No matter what life threw at us, she would always say, “Everything happens for a reason.”In 2016, Alan entered my life and immediately set the bar high, from that first night, experiencing our first kiss to dancing in a crowded room like no one else existed, to hours spent sitting in my car talking about family, goals, dreams, and life. The more I learned about him, the more I found myself falling in love.Like most relationships, we faced challenges. But our biggest challenge came in 2017 when I lost my father, the first man who ever loved me unconditionally. Truthfully, I don’t remember much of that year. I buried myself in work and spent countless nights driving around with my music loud enough to drown out my thoughts. I constantly asked myself, “Why would God do this to me?”That was the hardest version of myself, the version where I doubted God.But through it all, there was Alan. He always seemed to know the right thing to say and exactly how to love me through every season of life. At the end of 2017, he invited me to Christmas Vigil Mass with his family. Sitting there that night, I felt every emotion imaginable-grief, sadness, joy, and love. But above all else, I felt peace for the first time in what felt like a long time.After that, I continued going to Mass with Alan until eventually it became part of my own routine. I wasn’t just believing in God anymore, I was building a relationship with Him.In the spring of 2019, my daughter and I officially converted to Catholicism. Alan became her Godfather, and his parents became my Godparents. During those first few years together, not only did my family grow, but so did my faith.And then I heard it clearly: “He does not give us things we cannot handle.”I couldn’t hear those words in 2017, but in 2019, as the water poured over my head during my baptism, I felt them with my whole heart. I felt God’s forgiveness for doubting Him. I feltAlan came into my life during one of the hardest seasons of my life, yet nothing pushed him away. He loved me through every version of myself for the past 10 years and helped guide me back not only to trusting God, but to building a relationship with Him.But what stood out most wasn’t just the way Alan loved me, it was the way he loved my daughter, too. From the very beginning, he embraced us both with patience, kindness, and a steady love that never wavered. He didn’t just make room for her in his life; he showed up for her wholeheartedly, building a bond rooted in trust, laughter, and unconditional love throughout the years. Watching the man I loved also love my daughter so effortlessly, and now our beautiful son, has shown me the kind of family God was leading us toward.Now, we begin our next chapter together — grounded in faith, family, and love.

Her Story

After graduation from The Citadel, I returned to my hometown in Columbus, Georgia to prepare for the next step in continuing my education. I found myself at a last minute career shift from medicine to research. I wanted to pursue a master's degree and had planned to only stay a short period in Columbus to obtain a few prerequisites classes.I applied for a job as a food server at Cheddar's while I attended classes. It was here where I met Lauren. She was the manager for the day shift and I worked night shifts. We would greet each other in passing and at times, she would bail me out of a mistake I made on a ticket order. Even though we did not have many interactions, her patience and kindness always stood out to me.I left Cheddar's after a few months, but we would continue to run into each other from time to time. I loved running into her and seeing that smile. The first time I finally had the chance to have a conversation with her was at a friend's birthday dinner. The more I learned about her, the more I was falling for her. Even after the celebration, we had no desire to end our conversation. We continued in her car talking about family, music, and goals until 3AM. Lauren's beauty came into full fruition when I met her daughter, Salote. At just three years old, Salote showed a level of kindness and wisdom that is rare to find in people of any age. I can see how she is Lauren's motivation to work and strive for excellence. Salote continues to be our light in our life and gives us hope at our toughest moments.The year I began dating Lauren, I was going through my own personal struggles of life. It was Lauren who slowly brought an ease to my difficulties, including my crisis in faith. She had shown such an interest in my Catholic faith that I can only describe as a child's curiosity and awe. Salote shared the same interest as I began sharing some of the stories of the Bible. At the time, I was only sharing what I had known about the faith but did not practice. That changed in 2017 when Lauren lost her father. It become such a challenge for her as she tried to navigate her responsibilities while grieving for her father. On Christmas Eve, my parents asked us if we would like to join them for dinner and then Midnight Mass. It was at the mass that I finally saw a calming peace in Lauren's eyes. That experience gave us new direction for our future. She decided to convert and I returned to my faith. We have had our challenges, but we always faced them together. Most importantly, we have always been there to encourage each other in whatever endeavors we pursue. This includes my move to Augusta which has been the biggest challenge for the past three years. Now as we begin our next journey, I think back to how far we have come in getting here. It was made possible by our family, friends, and more importantly, God. I look forward to what lies ahead with you, Lauren, give thanks for each second that I am with you.

His Story

Our Story

Photos

Hannah Koehler

Alfonso Hernandez

Salote Leo

Miguel Parrado

Moana Leo

Giancarlo Parrado

Natasha Peak

Mark Willoughby

Darlene Anderson

Dylan Palmer

Jeanne Brannon

Matthew Miller

Tammy Jackson

Spencer Cantrell

Trey Lybrand

Taylor Ehrhart

Paul Chiaramonte

Zachary Eulo

Mavis Anderson

Gabriel Parrado

Maverick & Maddox Anderson

Wedding Party

What Is Black-Tie Attire? Simple Guide

25 Black-Tie Dresses to Shop Right Now

Read These Tips Before Renting a Tux

The dress code is black attire — elegant, fun, and definitely not denim. Please, leave your blue jeans at home!

Dress Code

Alternative Airports are:•Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) Columbia, SC ~58-70 Miles•Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) Savannah, GA ~103-117 Miles•Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Internation Airport (ATL) Atlanta, GA ~141-155 Miles

Q + A

Hotel Recommendations

Hotels were not blocked to ensure rates did not get affected by wedding accommodations.However, we did put together a list of recommended hotels for anyone traveling out of town.

Lauren & Alan

Lauren & Alan

Things to Do

Augusta Museum of History

Riverwalk Augusta

Second City Distillery

5th Street Freedom Pedestrian Bridge

Savannah River Brewing Co.