We’re getting MARRIED!

Michael Jefferson Carnes has been on the move since day one. His mom will tell you he was running and climbing before he even really knew how to walk. He grew up all over the country as his step dad, Frank, was in the Active Duty Air Force. He enjoyed skateboarding anywhere, snowboarding in the mountains, and surfing whenever he was by the ocean. He graduated from Booker T. Washington Magnet high school in Montgomery, AL. Upon completion of high school he enlisted in the Alabama Air National Guard which later became the California Air National Guard when his parents moved back to the west coast. He became a KC-135 crew chief while also completing his Bachelors degree from Embry Riddle. After obtaining his degree, Mike was selected for pilot training for the KC-135. Which took him from Mississippi to Oklahoma and then back to California. He was full time in the Air Force reserves loving his dream job of flying. Though he still maintains an active role flying for the Air Force Reserves, he recently expanded his career to the civilian sector as a pilot with Southwest Airlines. Lauren Anne Drumheller has always called the south home. Growing up in Alabama’s capital city of Montgomery, she always was living an active life. Some of her earliest passions were soccer and softball and that soon transformed into horseback riding. She attended Loveless Academic Magnet Program high school and rode competitively in Hunter/Jumper shows throughout the southeast. After graduating from high school, she attended Auburn University (War Eagle!) and got her Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Working in the Neonatal ICU has always been her calling and she is currently pursuing her Masters to be a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. However, she also wanted to serve in other ways and so she joined the Air Force Reserves as a flight nurse in 2018. That brings you to the “us” of our story. We met doing some of our favorite things: traveling and flying with the Air Force. Over our first trip together there was an immediate connection over our sense of adventure, enjoyment of good food, and exploring new places. Little did we know that our paths had been parallel for a time when we both lived in Montgomery. After that, we continued a friendship over the following months seeing each other here and there for work trips. This all really blossomed when we couldn’t stop talking to one another, the phone calls grew longer, and our enjoyment we found in each other was a constant bright spot in the day… thus our relationship began. So back and forth and all over we went between California and Alabama growing together and learning more about each other along the way. Some of those places being England, Arizona, Oregon, Key West, FL, and Savannah, GA (check out the pictures in our gallery!) This all eventually led us to being together in California, now in Alabama, and soon to be in Georgia for Mike’s work. He is not the only one looking forward to this union. His 12 year old daughter, Vera Kennedy Carnes, is looking forward to the family expansion. We are so thrilled to have you all be a part of our special day and we hope you continue to love and support us through the joining of our lives. We look forward to seeing each and every one of you. xoxo Mike and Lauren