Wedding Day

St. Patrick Church

Ceremony

Fort Piqua Plaza Banquet Center

Reception

As a planning courtesy, we do ask that all RSVP’s be made no later than Monday, March 18th. We love you and thank you so much for your cooperation, and look forward to sharing our big day with you!! Much love, Matt & Leah

Our Wedding

Matt & I first met in the early 2000’s when we were in Jr High band, he was in 8th grade and I in 7th. Though, our first true recollection of having met and having any interaction occurred when we were attending Muse Machine performances together with some of our classmates. (Muse Machine was an afterschool group of students who attended various performances of plays, concerts/symphonies, ballets, etc put on in various theaters in our area). After Jr. High, we met again in High School Marching Band, under the direction of Kathy McIntosh & John Purdy. We were mere acquaintances until the later end of our HS band years. We became better acquainted and even blossomed a friendship while we, along with the rest of our Marching Band family and friends were in London, England for the ‘05/‘06 New Year’s Day Parade. As I recall we spent about a week over there. While there, we all ventured out in our downtime from performing to see, explore, and experience all that London had to offer. Amidst all the hustle and bustle, being the introvert that I tend to be, I did find myself in situations where, even surrounded by all the people I knew and was familiar with, with all the noise filling the gaps, feeling alone. For most of my life, I’ve felt this way, and have learned to not only embrace the solitude, but to also enjoy it. Being in London, as an introverted teen, was one of the first times I enjoyed that perceived solitude. However, on New Year’s Eve Night, just before the countdown to midnight, I did not; so, as I tried to sneak back up the grand staircase to my room, Matt just happened to be there, on his way out the door to enjoy the fireworks that would soon be going on. He saw me when I felt invisible, and stopped me as I was midway up the stairs. He didn’t hesitate to ask where I was going, and being the kind man that he is, immediately invited me to join him and our classmates outside to celebrate the coming New Year. The next chapter of our story began a few years after we both graduated from HS. Matt went on to enlist in the Army National Guard, and I was learning who I am, and working my way through my twenties. Social media was the newest “thing” back then (2008 or so), and while on his way home from his first deployment in Kuwait, we managed to find each other again and started messaging cordially, at first. Then, what started out as cordial grew into a friendship; our conversations were easy and enjoyable. We were able to talk as if we’d been friends all along!

A love story 20 years in the making…

Our Story

Photos

Anne is one of Leah's Cousins, Mother of two wonderfully sweet boys, Wife of Michael Smith. Anne serves in the Air Force Reserve in the Dept. of Education and Training. 

Anne Smith

Maria is a Travelling Nurse working out of OSU. She and her Husband, Ryan have recently moved back to Ohio after their tenure in Virginia. They love to travel, and are parents to their three wonderfully sweet and adorable furbabies. 

Maria Johnson

Laura, along with her Husband Ben, are dear friends of ours. We met through our Church family of Fletcher Community Church. 

Laura Lovell

Ben is Husband to Bridesmaid Laura Lovell. As mentioned, he and Laura are two of our dearest friends. We met through and attend Church at Fletcher Community Church. Ben is a truck driver, and is an Army National Guard Veteran. Matt and Ben, along with a few other men from our Church are involved in a Men's Bible Study group called Holy Smokes, where they smoke cigars once to twice a month, and develop their bonds as men of God. 

Ben Lovell

Scott works in the Aviation Industry. He is an avid Christian believer who recently returned from a wonderfully profound mission trip in Africa. Scott has spent much of his life participating in and leading various youth and young adult scripture enhancement courses such as Emaeus and Chrisallys. Matt and Scott have been best friends for the majority of their lives. 

Scott Grube

Rob is a very dear and longtime friend of Matt's. Matt and Rob met after Matt's first tour in Kuwait. Upon their meeting, after Matt's return to the states, Rob took Matt under his wing, introducing him to the friends that we consider as our extended family. 

Robert Kiser

Channing is our oldest son, whom we share with his Mother, Danielle. Channing resides and attends school in West Milton. In his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors and taking part in his local ecology whether through hunting or fishing with his family. Channing is also an accomplished student of Karate. 

Channing Duke-Zunke

Gavin is our youngest. He is 10yrs old and is a soon-to-be 5th grader at Piqua Central Intermediate School. Gavin loves all of his video games, most notably Roblox, Minecraft, and Call of Duty, among many many others. He also very much loves our Dog, Athena, and our Cat, Apollo. 

Gavin Zunke

Lydia is our Pastor's wonderfully adorable and super sweet daughter. She is energetic, gracious, and kind to everyone she meets, and has a way of lighting up any room she enters in to. We love her so much!

Leah & Matthew

Leah & Matthew

Registry