Sometimes it only takes six minutes to find your person. When Ivan and Nancy logged on to Tinder for the first time, they had no idea what to expect from the crazy world of online dating - or how long it would take to find a perfect match. Almost immediately, Ivan “swiped” Nancy right off her feet with a bold and brilliant opening line: “How is your evening?” Little did they know, they were about to embark on an incredible journey together. Their chemistry was evident, even over text message, so it wasn’t long before the two set a date to meet for brunch, which turned out to be a truly memorable first date. For Ivan, it was the (un)helpful waiter who suggested the messiest item on the menu. (Try impressing your date while eating a chicken and waffle sandwich!) For Nancy, it was the way that time stopped when she saw Ivan for the first time…and how the perfect first date ended with a handshake and the cliché, kiss-of-death statement: “We should do this again sometime…” Luckily, Ivan texted her moments later to clarify (he would absolutely like to do this again sometime.) Fast forward through all-nighters, graduations, first jobs, moving to Wake Forest, and now getting to share the biggest moment of their lives with you, Nancy and Ivan are looking forward to spending the rest of their lives together as best friends and husband and wife.

Ivan knows that one of Nancy’s favorite places in the world is Meredith College. He also knows that she is good at ruining surprises. That’s why it took a village to pull off a surprise proposal. Their friends Mark and Meghan were instrumental every step of the way. They were there to help Ivan pick out the ring and helped him devise a brilliant plan to propose in front of Johnson Hall, the most iconic part of Meredith’s campus. Meanwhile, Nancy’s friend Kerrigan ran interference for months when the bride-to-be started asking too many questions. Ivan had the ring but Nancy had a cold when he excitedly dragged her out of the house for a (freezing cold) date in Downtown Raleigh. What she didn’t know when they arrived at Meredith, was that Mark and Meghan were hiding in the bushes, ready to capture the special moment. Ivan dropped to one knee, heart pounding, knowing that the answer was probably (definitely) yes. It was a moment Nancy will always remember – promising to marry her best friend – and she was overjoyed that their good friends were there to witness.

The countdown has begun. We can't wait to celebrate with all of you at The Old Lystra Inn, an iconic Chapel Hill venue with a local, literary history. This renovated 1890's farmhouse once belonged to Pulitzer prize winner Paul Green, an American playwright best known for his historical dramas of life in North Carolina, including The Lost Colony, which has been produced on Roanoke Island since 1937. The 10-acre estate is framed by towering oak and magnolia trees, and features a beautiful lawn, rocking chair front porch and white picket fence, making it the dream location for our outdoor wedding celebration.