Anthony and Ashley met in the most millennial way possible, Bumble! When they matched, Ashley didn't realize they lived 2 hours apart from each other, but instantly knew there was some type of chemistry. After a few weeks of messaging on a dating app, texts, and phone calls, Anthony drove to meet Ashley and take her to dinner, their first of many Japanese dinner dates. After a few dates, and Anthony convincing Ashley to go duck hunting for the 1st time, they knew they would be each other's forever.

Ashley and Anthony both knew they wanted to marry each other. A few months prior, Anthony took Ashley engagement ring shopping, and she instantly began planning her big day. Ashley knew she wanted a winter wedding, but of course it couldn't interfere with duck hunting, so they picked December 3, 2022 (one of the two weekends where the season is out). During the off week of the 2021 duck hunting season, Anthony, Ashley, Trent and Caitlin Emanuel went to Boone for a long weekend get away. One year to the date, at the top of Blowing Rock, Anthony got down on one knee and proposed to Ashley in front of his best friends. The happily engaged couple and the newly wed Emanuel's celebrated like only they could, at a Japanese steakhouse (I told y'all, Anthony loves Japanese).

When Ashley and Anthony started planning their wedding, they had a few venue options to select from, but ultimately selected the Washington Civic Center (WCC). The WCC is housed in the renovated Atlantic Coast Line railroad depot in downtown Washington and is just one block from the Pamlico river front. Ashley & Anthony can't wait to start their lives in this historic venue!