Wedding Day

Kenai Senior Center

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

Devin and I met in October 2019 when he came to Alaska to visit his dad. We stayed up until two in the morning laughing and  getting to know each other, then the next morning we went on a drive where I showed him a few places around my hometown so that he could take photos of the beauty Alaska had to offer.  I remember taking him to a creek adjacent to the river, a place that I would always take nature walks and feel at peace, and while Devin was taking photos of the beauty around us, I turned to see him snapping photos of me on his camera. Id never had someone do something like that, it made me feel beautiful and special in a way I’d never felt before. I think that was one of the first moments I knew that he was special and that I would never leave his side again.

How It All Began 

We have traveled a decent amount of times together, our favorite thing to do is share in new adventures and take each other to some of our favorite places. Our first trip together was when we had been together about a year and went to Victorville, CA, for me to meet his family for the first time. We have seen Bert Kreischer, Memphis May Fire, countless bands twice at the When We Were Young Festival, and an Avril Lavigne concert. If we aren’t counting airports, we have been to Vegas and Southern California many many times, Portland and Vancouver WA, a few different places in Alaska, the Bahamas, and plans for other states and countries later down the road!

Little Adventures

Four years and four animals later, Devin and I got engaged on my birthday, August 18, in 2023. Although we had lived together for about 3 years, we finally were able to move into our own solo place, settled in and began wedding planning. However life loves throwing curve balls and on February 11, 2024 we got the best surprise ever, our sweet little Daphne, and our plans went on hold for a while. Becoming parents has probably been one of the biggest struggles we’ve ever had to navigate, but it’s also definitely the greatest blessing we could have ever had.

Daphne-Lynn Yuteve Perkins

Our Story

Photos

Carlene and I have known each other since kindergarten, but we became best friends in fifth grade when we got stuck in the same class with no one else we knew, so we clung to each other(literally). We have been through our highest highs and our lowest lows together, and I couldn’t possibly have made it as far as I have in life without her by my side. No one(other than Devin) understands me like the way Carlene does. She’s my absolute best friend until death do us part, and even then we will probably be partying in the afterlife together.

Carlene Marshall

Bethany and I have known each other since seventh grade, but we became super close our senior year of high school when I was managing the volleyball team. She’s always been my hype girl, the one who’s down to go on crazy adventures with me, and the one who would willingly fight anybody(seriously anybody) to defend me. She’s the foundation of my self confidence and my rock. 

Mary Bethany Coghill

Beau and I have been friends since kindergarten, but spent most our friendship going through spurts of being close and then falling out of touch. However, when I started college Izabeau and I got put mostly in the same classes, became close again, and have stayed close besties since. I’m so incredibly lucky to have her in my life, she’s truly a light that shines bright for everyone that’s ever met her.

Izabeau Pearston

Brandon and I met our freshmen year of college, due to college acquaintances, and formed a quick bond. He’s been a (mostly) good sport in all my forced fun, like letting me dress him as woman for Halloween and dragging him to Vegas for an all day music festival in 125 degree weather. Brandon has been an amazingly supportive person in my life and I’m happy to claim him as one of my best friends

Brandon Gall

Daphne-Lynn is our greatest symbol of love for one another. She is the greatest, unexpected gift we could have ever received, and every moment with her just gets better and better.

Daphne-Lynn Perkins

Born on July 16 2024, Harley is Shanija’s miracle baby nephew and Daphne-Lynn’s older cousin by only 3 months! He’s one of the coolest little dudes you’ll ever meet, and a really happy/chill one at that. I’m happy that he made his appearance when he did, because Daphne and him will always have each other and she looks up and learns from him everyday. 

Shanija & Devin

Shanija & Devin

Registry