A + L

Lucas and Amberlee matched on Facebook Dating in late August of 2024, and just a few days later, on September 4, they met for their first date at White Lightnin' Cocktail and Culinary Company in Ruston, Louisiana. Amberlee was running late and worried she had already ruined her chance… while Lucas waited inside the restaurant, convinced she might stand him up. But when she pulled in, there he was—waiting with an umbrella in hand because it was raining, ready to walk her inside like a true gentleman. From that moment on, everything felt easy. Conversation flowed, nerves settled, and Amberlee kept thinking about how handsome he was. And throughout that first night, and many moments that followed, they started noticing all the little “invisible strings” that had been pulling them toward each other—like the fact that Lucas had been third-grade classmates with one of Amberlee’s best friends and Matron of Honor, Kimberly. The week following their first date, Amberlee left for a long-planned trip to Paris, France. On the way to meet her Maid of Honor, Bethanie, her car broke down in Vicksburg and had to be left at her other Matron of Honor Olivia’s family home. While she was overseas, Lucas and Amberlee continued texting and FaceTiming, getting to know each other from thousands of miles apart. When she returned, stranded without a way home, Lucas offered—without hesitation—to drive six hours to Mississippi in the middle of the night to pick her up. Amberlee reluctantly said yes (after all, they'd only been on two dates), while her friends whispered their concerns about her climbing into a car with this “random guy.” But Lucas showed up… and they’ve hardly been apart since. In November, at the Louisiana State Fair, Amberlee accidentally blurted out “I love you” while panicking before getting on a ride. At the top, with the city lights below them, Lucas said it back. Since then—through basketball games, family gatherings, road trips, and even the heartbreak of losing a loved one—Lucas and Amberlee have built a deep, steady foundation. One built on kindness, timing, a little bit of fate, and a Facebook like that changed everything. Now, they can’t wait to celebrate their love with the family and friends who have been part of every invisible string along the way.

On November 1, 2025, Amberlee started her day at a baby sprinkle for her friend and Officiant Brittanie’s daughter, Grace Carpenter. She had no idea the day would become special for reasons more than welcoming a new baby to the girl squad. After the sprinkle, her Maid of Honor, Bethanie, told her they needed to stop by Krush Boutique on Line Avenue in Shreveport to find a dress for a fundraising event later that evening—an event Amberlee had helped with. As they walked into the boutique, the employee greeted them and asked if they needed help. Bethanie said she was looking for a dress for that night, and the employee excitedly replied, “We just got something new in the back that would be perfect!” While they browsed, the employee returned holding the dress— the exact one Amberlee had said she wanted to wear when she got engaged. If you know Amberlee, she’s a planner, so even if she couldn’t plan her engagement, she was absolutely going to plan the outfit. Once she changed into the dress, Bethanie drove her to Provenance in South Shreveport, where Lucas was waiting. In front of a lake and fountain stood a beautiful arch covered in pink peonies and roses—Amberlee’s favorite. Lucas helped her out of the car, and Amberlee immediately started crying as he got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife. She, of course, said yes. Amberlee’s Mama, Kristy, and her brother, Jacey, had decorated and set up the arch, making the moment even more special. Kristy then told her that the arch wasn’t just any arch—it was the one from Amberlee’s late Mamaw Opal Cole’s garden in Cotton Valley, Louisiana. That detail made Amberlee cry even harder, knowing her loved ones were part of the day. After the proposal photos, Lucas told Amberlee to get in the car and not ask questions. He had prepared a ten-minute video documenting the entire proposal process, including the moments he asked her Mama, Kristy, and her Papaw, Jewell Nix Jr., for their blessing. He had also visited the gravesite of Amberlee’s late Daddy, Jeffery Nix, to ask for his blessing as well—one of the most meaningful parts of the day. When the video ended, Lucas pulled up to a house Amberlee didn’t recognize—but the cars lining the street made her suspicious. Inside were friends from every chapter of her life, all gathered to celebrate. They had helped Lucas plan the surprise and even made a video counting down the days leading up to the engagement. Amberlee cried through the entire thing. The celebrations continued that night after the fundraising event, with dancing, karaoke, and so much joy. It was the best day of Amberlee and Lucas’s lives so far—and they can’t wait for the wedding day to take its place at the very top.