Lauryn + Brad's Lexington Wedding

From the Bride: Brad and I met in high school when we were 15 years old. The timing was never on our side, but we kept in touch through the years and had the same group of friends. Everyone that was there throughout the Brad and Lauryn saga showed up to our wedding to support our marriage which was so special. We actually did a photo that included everyone we knew growing up. There were no big bells and whistles that madeour wedding so special, it was small details that made our wedding more relaxed. The goal was to have a wedding that made us and our guests feel comfortable, while also allowing us to all have as much time as possible to just spend together because that's the purpose. We were married by my Uncle Manley, who has married multiple others in our family. We encouraged our guests to grab a drink on the way into the ceremony and directly following our "I dos" everyone, bride/groom/wedding party/guests toasted at the alter to a happy life with the phrase "Let Love Win". It broke up the seriousness and set the tone. Oh, we had a flower boy (my 21-year-old brother), it was a game-time decision as we never intended on having flowers dropped (but moms will be moms and make you do things), 10/10 would recommend it was well-received from the crowd! Our first dance was to “Beyond” by Leon Bridges. My dad pick the Father/Bride first dance song, and Brad had his mom pick the Mother/Groom first dance song which made the day a little more special. Brad and I divided and conquered during the reception to say hello and thank everyone for making the effort to be there. Brad and I love to dance at weddings, so once the music started, we made sure the dance floor stayed full until the very last song and went out with one of our favorites. One final detail that made the day even more special, we hired people we knew for our wedding to support their businesses.

Bride’s Advice: Do what YOU want to do for your wedding and not what you think others want or expect. It is easy to get caught up in the opinions of family, comparisons to your friends, or social media expectations. If you cater your day to who you and your partner are, it will be the perfect day. Oh, and hire a planner to help you meet your wedding goals - it was the best money we spent.

Katelyn DaughertyApril 22, 2023