We're getting married!

Averi and Braden’s story began in September 2022 at a party while they were both attending Alderson Broaddus University. At first, Averi was convinced Braden was interested in her friend, while Braden was so nervous and speechless that he could barely hold a conversation. Somehow, though, the two ended up talking for most of the night. As they got to know each other, they realized something hilarious — the loud guy living in the room above Averi, the one constantly making noise, was Braden all along. What started as teasing him about being the noisy upstairs neighbor quickly turned into an effortless connection neither of them expected. Not long after, Braden took Averi on their first date to the local river. The two sat together on a bench, talking and watching the stars for hours. It was simple, quiet, and ended up becoming one of the moments they would always look back on fondly. Their relationship continued to grow even when life took them in different directions. While finishing school, they spent nearly a year doing long-distance between West Virginia and Arizona. Between visits, phone calls, and counting down the days until they could see each other again, the distance only made them more certain they had found their person. When it came time to propose, Braden kept it meaningful and true to who they are. Following in his parents’ footsteps, he proposed the same way his father proposed to his mother — in his bedroom, wearing shorts and a t-shirt. No elaborate setup, no fancy plan, just a genuine moment filled with love, laughter, and a very easy “yes.” Now, Averi and Braden are so excited to celebrate the next chapter of their story surrounded by the people they love most.