We are so excited to get married and share our special day with you. We can’t wait to see everyone and couldn’t imagine anything better than sharing the beginning of our life together with our most loved friends and family!

One faithful day after genetics class, Wes decided he wanted a “study partner.” He walked up to Ellen with all the courage he could muster and asked for her number. Instead of asking her to study though, he asked her to a date party, which consisted of hours of talking and ended with Waffle House. Despite the immediate connection, the circumstances called for them to be just friends. Wes calls this divine intervention. Three more years of school went by at the University of Kentucky and they stayed friends. After graduation, they both got into medical school at UK. Wes goes to find an apartment and it turns out to be the one across the hall from Ellen (eerily similar to the show "Friends"). As the days went by, they spent more and more time with each other. Whether it was studying, playing flag football, going to trivia, or doing neighbor game nights there was something starting to form. It was becoming quite obvious that Wes wanted to be more than friends at first, but Ellen wasn’t far behind. Wes knew that Ellen was worth anything, and that included waiting to become better friends. They started to hang out more just the two of them. It started with sending each other music suggestions and staying up talking late into the night. In May 2019, it all culminated when they decided to go to Hangout Music Festival with some fellow classmates. Now for Ellen and Wes, music is one of the most special and unique things that God has created. They have extreme appreciation for music and are emotionally moved by it. It is no shock to anyone that the real fireworks began at a music festival. Wes said “I knew I had wanted to be more than friends up to that point but when we danced together on the beach, it was one of those moments you never wanted to let go of. From then on, I knew I never wanted to lose her!” Ellen said “For the first time, I realized I wanted my best friend to be more than just that. I wanted to start a new chapter of life with him, taking on adventures and getting to spend every second I could with him.” It took some time for Wes to convince Ellen to go a real date, but the best things in life are worth waiting for. Since then, they have lived life together. Wes and Ellen have both embraced each other’s families as their own. Through hardships they have stood by each other’s side to become even closer with one another and with God. They are beyond thankful for each other and each one of you to share such a sacred day together!

It has been no secret that Wes has wanted to marry Ellen for quite some time. One thing had to be done first. On their 2nd anniversary of dating, Wes made a surprise visit to Fort Mitchell to ask Ellen’s dad for her hand in marriage. Dr. Combs lovingly gave his blessing. On December 23rd, 519 days later, Ellen visited Wes in Paducah for Christmas. That day, Ellen joined the Averill family for what she thought was just another ordinary lunch. How Wes describes the proposal: I told Ellen that family photos were going to happen at a downtown rooftop next door to the restaurant right after a typical family lunch. I wanted this special moment to be just us. Ellen does this very thoughtful thing where she always keeps the last voicemail people send her just in case. So instead of a photographer I set my phone up and recorded the audio. As I started my speech, letting Ellen know that she is and forever will be my great love through anything and everything, I started to tear up. Once I finished the question she so eloquently replied “Are you sure?” I could never have been more sure. I knew Ellen would never want to be proposed to without her family there, so I had asked her family to come to Paducah. After I proposed, I told Ellen that my family was waiting for us at a nearby AirBnB. As we went up the stairs, Ellen was in awe to see both of our families waiting for her. We spent the afternoon celebrating with family and soaking in each moment. Later that evening, I had surprise number three coming. I told her that our families were going to Paducah Beer Werks to celebrate. This was the first place we had eaten together in Paducah (besides Dominos of course). I picked her up in the Chevelle and as we entered the restaurant more than 50 of our friends and family were there to greet us. It was one of the greatest nights of my life. How Ellen describes the proposal: I woke up thinking this was any other normal day, but I was completely in the dark on what the rest of the day would hold. As we were getting ready that morning, I noticed Wes was dressed up in my dad’s Christmas sweater. It had always been so endearing to me how Wes loves wearing my father’s clothes and how much he knows it means to me. Lunch was a regular outing for me and soon after we were on our way to the rooftop for the family photos. Wes and I were looking out on downtown Paducah when he started talking about us, our memories, and our lives together. Wes started mentioning how he had asked my dad for my hand in marriage. Before I knew it, Wes was on his knee asking if I would spend the rest of my life with him. For the record, the first thing out of my mouth was “Yes,” but “Are you sure” was soon to follow. I had never been so happy in one moment. I was shaking, laughing, crying, and have never had such an emotional outpouring of joy. I said yes to spending the rest of my life with my best friend. We hugged and kissed and finally he told me the ring on my finger was my mother’s. I cried again as we started to walk towards the Air BnB where his family was waiting for us. Little did I know my entire family was there to greet me as well. As you all know, I like to talk, but my mom said it perfectly when Wes created a day where I was utterly speechless. That evening we were going to dinner with our family at a place Wes and I had our first date night in Paducah. Again, being absolutely elated with how perfect the day was, Wes topped it off with having so many of our friends and family surprise me for an evening full of laughter and joyful company. I was still speechless and truly unable to vocalize the amount of gratitude I had in my heart. Surrounded by the people both Wes and I love so dearly, it was simply the most perfect day. ... We want to thank everyone who has supported us throughout our relationship with kind words, friendship, prayers, & love. You all are the best, and we are counting down the days till we get to say “I do” and celebrate with each of you!