The winner will receive 50 percent of all the Funds; the rest will go toward Connor and Haley's Honeymoon Fund https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScgagdiTreRi47-1Ba9yNRlkBtwloaci14-yoEz13R4C7RUYg/viewform?usp=header

The following stories are written by our flower girl and the bride's best friend, Taylor Currie.

The story of Haley Elizabeth Garrett and Connor Nathaniel Shaw began in 2013 when they met as freshmen at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. While they became fast friends there was no hint of romance until their junior year in 2016, when Connor finally mustered the courage to ask Haley to prom. In a twist of fate, she said yes then later recanted her acceptance. However, that rejection blossomed into something beautiful: a summer romance the summer after high school graduation when Connor, never one to be deterred, “made his move” at Migos and Future Concert, thus marking the start of their incredible love story. While their summer together was filled with adventures and young love, the pair did not know where their future together would go. As college approached they faced the challenge of attending different schools. Haley headed to LSU, while Connor went to Hampden-Sydney, both playing collegiate soccer. Despite the distance, they navigated long-distance love with grace, relying on late-night video calls and countless texts to stay connected. Their bond grew stronger as they supported each other and celebrated each other's achievements from afar. In 2021, they graduated college with dreams of a future together as they both planned to move back to Raleigh, NC. Just when they thought they would finally be reunited, Haley received exciting news—she got off the waitlist for LSU's School of Veterinary Medicine! This opportunity was a dream come true, but it meant another round of long-distance for the couple. They embraced the challenge, confident that their love could withstand the miles between them. After a year of Haley thriving in vet school, Connor took a leap of faith and moved to Louisiana with her. They became a family of three when Connor joined Haley and her cat, Artie. This step not only strengthened their relationship but also allowed them to create new memories together in their apartment and grow their family as in 2023 the couple welcomed a fourth member: their adorable pup, George.

In the summer of 2023, Haley and Connor took their first solo trip to little tiny Marion, NC, near Boone. During the trip, on July 21, on top of a mountain at the breathtaking Hawksbill Mountain Trail in Burke County, Connor got down on one knee and asked Haley to spend the rest of their lives together with her Mimi’s original engagement ring.

Haley and Connor are thrilled to invite you to celebrate their love and commitment on April 26, 2025 at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church followed by a reception at Laurel Falls. Join them for a day filled with joy and laughter as they exchange vows and begin this new chapter of their lives together.