St John the Baptist Catholic Church

Valerie and Bryan’s Nuptial Ceremonial Mass

Crystal Ridge Distillery

Reception

Fall

Our Wedding

After a year of avoiding, ducking, and dodging every well-meaning attempt by family and friends to set us up, fate found a way to bring us together.On July 13, 2019, during Dollar Day at the Zoo. A determined 9-year-old named Aubriella invited herself—and Valerie—to join family and friends for the day. Little did we know that Bryan would also be in attendance. Among the laughter, the crowds, and the chatter of the animals, life quietly shifted. Near the Siamang Apes, Valerie and Bryan met for the very first time.At that time, Valerie was simply surviving, not thriving. She was lost in grief, trying to sort through the broken pieces of her world. But Bryan was kind and patient. He was a calm she had never known before. He didn’t try to fix what was broken—he simply sat with her in it. Gently, and without rushing, he helped her find the parts of herself that had been lost.What began as an ordinary day at the zoo became the start of something extraordinary. Two people who had spent years unknowingly orbiting each other finally collided—proof that what’s meant to be will always find its way.

Valerie & Bryan

Valerie & Bryan

Photos