Soon to be Samuels!

Semi-Formal We encourage you to embrace elegant pastels, soft florals, and sophisticated spring hues that complement the season. Think chic, airy, and effortlessly stylish! We challenge you to out dress the bride! Ladies: Knee-length (midi) or floor-length (maxi) dresses. Or opt for an elegant blouse paired with a skirt or trousers. Pair with heels, dressy flats, or sandals. Gentlemen: Well-fitted suit jacket or blazer, paired with dress pants or chinos, a crisp dress shirt, and dress shoes, is a great starting point. One small request— we kindly ask that you avoid jeans and neon colors. Instead, we’d love to see a palette of refined spring shades that enhance the beauty of the day!

Due to limited capacity at our venue, we are only able to accommodate the guests explicitly named on your invitation envelope. We kindly ask that no additional guests be brought. In addition, this will be an adults-only celebration. Children are not included unless specifically named on the invitation. We truly appreciate your understanding and cannot wait to celebrate together.

We are so excited to share this special day with you in the beautiful Smokey Mountains, the place where our journey together began. We understand that this destination requires some of you to travel a considerable distance, and we would deeply appreciate your presence, as it would make our day even more memorable. It would mean so much to us to be surrounded by our loved ones in the same place where we first met.
 We have planned an evening full of joy, delicious food, and dancing, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you. We are so grateful for your continued love and support.

 Thank you for being a part of our lives and for joining us as we embark on this new chapter together.

 With love and gratitude,

 Kaylee & Donavon

Donavon was a football player at Tusculum University, and Kaylee was playing basketball at a neighboring college, East Tennessee State University. Although they had some mutual friends, the destined couple had yet to meet. Donavon had come across Kaylee’s profile and was immediately drawn to her… something about her felt familiar—like home. Donavon reached out with a simple Instagram message, and on April 17, 2016, their first conversation sparked. Their conversation started with sports— battled on who had the toughest practices, empathized over eachothers sports injuries, and discussed the struggle of balancing athletics and academics. Coincidentally, they were both sidelined by injuries at the same time, a frustrating experience that quickly turned into a shared understanding. What began as casual chats soon turned into late-night talks, filled with laughter, inside jokes, and dreams about the future. It didn’t take long for them to realize they had something special. The connection was effortless, as if they had known each other forever. A couple weeks later, they finally met in person. There were no awkward moments, no nervous pauses—just an undeniable feeling that they were exactly where they were meant to be. From that day on, their relationship grew stronger. Through the ups and downs of college athletics, graduation, career changes, and life’s unexpected twists, Donavon and Kaylee never wavered. Their love, built on a foundation of friendship, trust, and unwavering support, only deepened over the years. Now, ten years later, as they prepare to say “I do” on April 17, 2026, they look back on that first message with gratitude. It wasn’t just the start of a conversation—it was the beginning of forever.