Each year around the 4th of July, La Porte, IN hosts a music festival to raise money for first responders called Red Wine & Brew. This is typically a multi-day event with beer/wine tasting, food, and live music. Kennedie’s co-worker and friend, Debra, had extra tickets for each day of the event that she was passing out. She gave Kennedie 2 tickets for each day of the event. After work Kennedie was trying to find someone to go to the show with her, but had no luck. She almost decided not to go, then changed her mind because she figured she might find someone she knows there anyway. She didn’t know it at the time, but going to that show would be the best decision she had made in her life so far. Not long after her arrival Kennedie ran into her good friend, Caleb. Caleb was working security for the event as well as running errands for the artists. He also donated his horse trailer with living quarters for the weekend for artists to use before and after the show. Caleb offered Kennedie a drink, and since she’s not typically one to turn down a free beer, she accepted. They got on the golf cart Caleb had been using and headed towards the trailer. This was the second best decision Kennedie had made (so far). Upon arrival at the trailer, Kennedie walked to the door but stopped in her tracks when there was a sign on the door with a performing artist’s name plastered across it. Caleb explained that he was allowing artists to use his trailer and offered to let Kennedie meet the band when they were done performing, as they were taking the stage as they spoke. After grabbing her drink, Kennedie headed back to the crowd and found more people she knew. Immediately, Kennedie looked to her friend, Sara, in awe asking “do you see that drummer?!” Sara said “I think you need him,” to which Kennedie replied “you just watch…” When the show was over, Kennedie found Caleb to be taken back to the trailer. Before she got to meet the band, Caleb said they had to run some errands. She helped him take the performing artist to the merch tent and drop off some water to the stage hands. Finally, she was back at the trailer and went inside to grab another drink and meet the boys. The first two she met were the notorious Jason Harris and AD Dunlap- lead guitar and bass. They were kind, and it was cool to meet them, but that’s not who she was looking for. After breaking down his kit and loading their trailer up Will busted the door in and thought he was going to collect his band and leave. Mid sentence, he stopped talking, tipped his hat down and made his way to the booth at the table. Eventually, everyone went outside to sit on top of the trailer and take in the night. On the way out of the trailer, Kennedie stopped Will in his tracks when she asked “are you going to make yourself useful and help me down these stairs or do I need to do it myself?” Kennedie proceeded to hang out with everyone for about an hour until they had to get on the road. As they were heading to their van, AD said to Kennedie “Will is single.” She said “I don’t know who Will is.” He said “The one with the biceps… the drummer.” That night, Kennedie got a message from Will which read “Barn or church wedding,” which leads you all here today.

Kennedie went to Leitchfield, KY to visit an NYB facility and help co-workers (& friends) April and Tommy move to Indiana. Being as close as she was to Nashville, TN, she and Will made plans to go on a date. Due to Will’s work schedule at the time, they weren’t able to get together until late at night. After some logistical difficulties, they made it to a Waffle House in Franklin, KY close to midnight. They had dinner (breakfast??) together and mutually decided although it was late, they weren’t ready to part ways. The two loaded into Will’s Chevy and hit the road with no destination. After an ungodly amount of random turns down backroads, they found themselves passing over a little bridge in the middle of nowhere. Will put the truck in reverse, backed up to the beginning of the bridge, put the truck in park, then turned to Kennedie to say “don’t ding my door, meet me up front.” She waited in the headlights as he turned on "I Don't Dance" and proceeded to twirl her around under the stars. After dancing, laughing, and making wishes on sticks they dropped into the river, the two drove a little further until they found the perfect place to drop the tailgate and watch the sun rise together. Little did they know that would be the first sunrise to forever.

Kennedie and Will both worked all day, because it was a Wednesday. It was also Kennedie's birthday! When everyone got home from work, Will was going to make dinner for Kennedie, but he told her that he wanted to take her on a special birthday adventure first. Kennedie and Paislie loaded up in the car, just along for whatever ride Will was going to take them on. As they were driving, Kennedie started trying to figure out where they were going and what Will had up his sleeve. They pulled out of the driveway and headed toward La Porte. "Maybe he wants to get ice cream before dinner..?" They made their way to the edge of town, and turned to head toward Kennedie's aunt's house. "Maybe he isn't making dinner and we're going to Kacey's for my birthday?" Will turned left instead of going straight down the road that would take them to Kacey's. At this point, Kennedie gave up on guessing. It was dark outside (thanks, Daylight Savings Time) and a little chilly (damn November...) so Kennedie was confused as to why Will was stopping the car in the middle of the road and telling her to meet him in the headlights (common theme?) As she was getting out of the car, it dawned on Kennedie where they stopped. Will took her to the place they met, near the Summit Farm. There is a house on the property so they didn't go to the exact spot they met, but the middle of the road in the headlights on the day Kennedie was born seemed to be the perfect place for William to take a knee and ask Kennedie to spend forever with him. Obviously her answer was yes, and they are so excited to celebrate their love with each of you on their wedding day!