Rehearsal Dinner

Ceremony Walk-Through

Dinner

Bonfire

Nine Pines Retreat

Wedding Day

Arrive and Be Seated

Ceremony

Cocktails and Yard Games

Reception

Party Time

Fall

Our Wedding

Zac and Nicole first met at Murray State University in 2009. After graduating Nicole moved to Colorado to work with the U.S. Forest Service, while Zac pursued a career in Western Kentucky, eventually starting several of his own small businesses, training dogs, fabricating, and general contracting. When Nicole returned to Kentucky in 2020 to work at Land Between the Lakes it didn’t take long for her and Zac to reconnect. The two have resided in Marshall County since the Summer of 2021 with Zac’s daughter Haisley, and more animals than can be counted on the homestead. The two are excited to continue to build their lives together.

Our Story

Photos

Nicole and Joelle met through work in the canyons of Colorado and shortly became like family to one another. Joelle currently resides in Johnstown, Colorado with her husband Kevin, sons Aidan, Beau, and Gus, and dogs Copper and Charlie.  

Joelle Hand

Nicole and Leslianne have been friends since the beginning of time, at least for them. From kindergarten to present day the two have stayed close. Leslianne currently resides in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband David, and their two dogs Woody and Morris.

Leslianne Ralston

At any given moment during college you could probably find Nicole and Alex cruising backroads, annoying Alex’s horses, or in the lake; and since then the two have remained close. Alex currently resides in Henry, Tennessee with boyfriend Jarod Grooms and more animal children than could be listed.

Alex Woeste

Josh Roberts

Clayton Meyer

Andrew Maul

Clay Grapperhouse

Brandon Lile

Wedding Party

Q + A

Our immersive wedding experience will be hosted by Nine Pines Retreat in Cadiz, Ky. <a href="https://www.ninepinesretreats.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ninepinesretreats.com/</a> Luxury Safari Tents, Geodomes, a Studio apartment, and nearby AirBnB lake houses are all available through the retreat. Please contact Nicole for availability during the event.

Other Options - No blocked rooms

Cadiz, KY AirBNB

Several local Airbnb options exist, please search Cadiz, KY <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/s/Cadiz--Kentucky--United-States/homes?tab_id=home_tab&amp;refinement_paths%5B%5D=%2Fhomes&amp;flexible_trip_lengths%5B%5D=one_week&amp;monthly_start_date=2024-07-01&amp;monthly_length=3&amp;monthly_end_date=2024-10-01&amp;price_filter_input_type=0&amp;channel=EXPLORE&amp;query=Cadiz%2C%20KY&amp;place_id=ChIJTTNPqUfBeogR-GVkHCf_t4w&amp;date_picker_type=calendar&amp;checkin=2024-11-02&amp;checkout=2024-11-03&amp;source=structured_search_input_header&amp;search_type=user_map_move&amp;drawer_open=false&amp;search_mode=regular_search&amp;price_filter_num_nights=1&amp;ne_lat=36.871812286764346&amp;ne_lng=-87.82850668429285&amp;sw_lat=36.70881696306522&amp;sw_lng=-87.99992786205144&amp;zoom=12.50791105135147&amp;zoom_level=12.50791105135147&amp;search_by_map=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.airbnb.com/s/Cadiz--Kentucky--United-States/</a>

Kenlake State Resort Park

Lake Barkley State Resort Park

Murray, KY Accommodations

SpringHill Suites Murray

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Murray, an IHG Hotel

Travel

Tons of things to see and do, including the Elk and Bison Prairie, Wrangler’s Campground and Horse Trails, and Turkey Bay OHV Area. 

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

Top Five Things to Do - Swim year-round in the wellness pool. - Play 18 holes of championship golf. - Explore 9 miles of hiking trails. - Fish or boat from the marina. - Dine or enjoy a cocktail from Windows on the Water Restaurant. Biking Seven miles of trails are open for mountain biking, with many more trails available at nearby Land Between the Lakes. Birding More than 200 avian species can be observed or heard in the park. Fishing Enjoy hours of fishing for largemouth, white, and Kentucky bass, bluegill, channel catfish, and crappie at Lake Barkley. A Kentucky Fishing License is required. Golf Test your golfing skills on the 18-hole Boots Randolph Course. A pro shop, rental riding carts, pull carts, and golf clubs are available. The course is open year-round, weather permitting. Hiking Enjoy the beauty surrounding Lake Barkley on a hiking trail, providing 9 miles of nature study. Seven miles are open for mountain biking.

Top Five Things to Do - Rent a pontoon or jet ski on Kentucky Lake. - Walk or bike the Eggners’ Ferry Bridge. - Play indoor tennis. - View a sunrise or fall foliage from the amphitheater. - Overnight in the lodge, cottage, or campground. Birding We have excellent birding throughout the park. Take a look out the dining room windows for a variety of backyard bird species at our feeders. In the cottage area, the red-headed woodpeckers and all their relatives like to hang out. We also have two Blue Bird trails and several hiking trails. The lakeshore is always good for Herons, Egrets, waterfowl, and gulls. Over 150 species of birds make the Kenlake area home. Boating Nothing can compare to a day on beautiful Kentucky Lake. Kenlake Marina offers boat rentals, covered slips, transient slips, and the best breakfast around! The marina is equipped with 16 open slips, 169 covered slips, and 890 feet of new transient dockage to accommodate boats up to 100 feet. A launching ramp is available as well as a Marina store with gas and diesel and a restaurant serving breakfast and lunch. Eagle Watching Check the online calendar of events for winter tour information. Fishing Cast away your cares at Kentucky Lake! The fishing opportunities are endless with scores of largemouth, smallmouth, white and Kentucky bass, bluegill, channel and blue catfish, crappie, and sauger. A Kentucky Fishing License is required. Hiking Kenlake has nature trails through wooded terrain, which may be hiked singularly or combined for a longer distance. The Cherokee Trail is 0.7 miles, the Chickasaw Trail is 1 mile, and the Coach Lester G. Mimms Trail is 2 miles. Historic Cherokee State Park Proposed in 1946 and opening in 1951, Cherokee State Park was the only state park in Kentucky developed for African Americans. The park consisted of 300 acres, a beach, rental cottages, a kitchen and dining hall, and a picnic area. In June 1963, Cherokee State Park closed after Gov. Combs Executive Order ended segregation in public facilities. Cherokee State Park merged with whats now known as Kenlake State Resort Park.

Things to Do

Registry

Nicole & Zac