08.29.2020

We are continuing to monitor the current situation surrounding Covid-19. As of now the wedding will continue as scheduled on August 29th. We will be updating this website as well as sending out email updates as the big day gets closer. We want to celebrate with each and every one of you come August 29th; however, our top priority is your health and safety. If you are not comfortable coming to the wedding please know we completely understand. If you would notify us personally or update your RSVP status on this website that would be helpful for our decisions moving forward. Stay safe! -Lauren & Blake

Blake and I had our first date in downtown Mobile at Noble South. Upon arrival Blake was informed the air conditioning for Noble South was out, so they offered to moved us to The Side Car Lounge (a small event space next door). On my way downtown I told Blake the AC in the my car had just gone out and that I might look like "a hot mess". What he didn’t know was that my hairdryer had blown up while I was getting ready so my AC going out in the car was almost my last straw. I had called my mom and told her I was thinking about just not going and seeing if we could reschedule. She talked me into seeing it through and said “you’ll find out if he really likes you for you”. Our first date seemed effortless (even though I managed to throw a deviled egg at him) we talked and laughed like we had known each other for years and I quickly forgot about how stressed I had been getting to the date. Throughout the next year our shared passion for travel and adventure took us to many cities, states and countries. We have traveled as near as Gulf Shores for a concert weekend with friends and as far as Scotland, England and Ireland for a 2 week European Holiday. We have skied in Colorado and soaked in a natural hot springs, hiked in the Rocky Mountains, lived the tourist dream in Disney/Universal and ran a Tough Mudder. Our favorite weekend getaway is over to New Orleans for great food and entertainment. We both have a love of Broadway plays and have gone to see 3 together in the past year. Blake is currently teaching me about his love/hate relationship with golf and I taught him the words to the Hamilton soundtrack. But just like every couple we have our issues... Roll Tide or Go Vols! One thing we can always agree on is we have the best fur child around! Brody is our one year old Cavapoo. He keeps us on our toes and is always ready to greet you with excitement!

Blake and I decided to plan a date night in downtown Mobile to celebrate our belated anniversary and spend some time together after working extra since returning from Europe. After work Friday I showed up to Fort Conde Inn and began getting ready for dinner. We laughed and told stories about our day before I began making Blake take “before dinner selfies”. After all I had gotten dressed up and wanted to have a photo to remember our night by. Blake told me we needed to go downstairs as our Uber was arriving. When I walked out onto the patio I looked around for our Uber but instead realized there was a man with a camera standing on the balcony across the street. As I turned around to tell Blake about the man I realized he was getting down on one knee. The next few minutes were the most magical blur! Afterwards Brian came down and took a few more photos before leaving for his own 5 year anniversary dinner. I frantically tried to FaceTime my mom before our actual Uber arrived but she didn’t answer. When we arrived to Noble South I saw a small table for two over to the side and headed towards the front door. As I turned around to wait for Blake he told me he had another surprise motioning towards The Sidecar Lounge. I thought he had reserved The Sidecar Lounge for dinner until I rounded the corner... under the frosted glass I could see there were several people standing inside. As he went to open the door I saw my moms face and realized he had both of our families inside. Once again everything became a blur as I ran inside to hug my mom. We ate some of our favorite foods (courtesy of his wonderful parents) and toasted to our families and close friends who came to celebrate us. I don’t think I’ve ever smiled so hard in my entire life! Just when I thought the evening was over Blake told me he had one last surprise for the night at Haberdasher, our favorite cocktail bar. When we arrived we were greeted by the most amazing group of friends with champagne ready to celebrate!

For the longest time, I struggled with the "where" and the "how", but once we decided we wanted to get married at Fort Conde Inn, it all fell into place. I schemed and set plans in motion that all came together perfectly. That is, of course, until Lauren got involved. I was constantly worried that Lauren knew something was coming, but I was repeatedly assured she was clueless as she (unknowingly) tried to ruin my plans at every turn. I called in favors from people I've never even met to do everything from lie to her to cutting the video feed to our Brody camera in Lauren's apartment. An entire hospital administration knew about the proposal just so we could get a former co-worker of Lauren's re-credentialed to work a single shift the day after the proposal, all while another co-worker was lying to Lauren, telling her she would work the shift, just so Lauren would stop trying to move the fake plans I set up to another weekend. This woman, y'all, I swear.... We dodged several bullets Lauren didn't realize she was firing and the day finally came. My younger brother and I visited Fort Conde Inn early in the day and planned out the timing and location of the proposal so that he could stay hidden before taking photos. I brought wine for us to drink before our dinner reservations specifically to avoid Lauren asking if we wanted to go early to grab a drink at a nearby cocktail bar. I had it all figured out, except how to smoothly transition from walking downstairs to go to dinner into a proposal on the porch. That was, of course, until Lauren stepped foot on the porch and immediately locked eyes with Brian standing on the balcony across the street with a camera. The jig was up. So I did it! I just dropped to one knee and I have no clue what I said, but I must have asked her a question and she must have said yes, because here we are, planning our big day to celebrate the start of our next and greatest adventure yet with each of you, and we couldn't be more ecstatic!