The Registry tab on our website gives a quick preview, but it doesn’t show everything unless you click into each individual store. To make it easier, here is a single link where you can view our full registry all in one place: https://www.zola.com/registry/kristinandandrewalford Just copy and paste it into your browser to view it! Thank you so much for celebrating with us—we’re so excited to share this special time with you!

I grabbed my dad’s vintage Auburn jacket and met everyone at Stella’s. I remember feeling confident in my jacket, navy-blue hat, tortoise-shell glasses, & leather boots. Immediately, I noticed a stunning redhead sitting with her friend & (what seemed like) her boyfriend. We exchanged glances, but I quickly dismissed any thoughts. After a while, we decided to head to Voodoo Lounge for wings & live music. As we left, I stole a last glance at the redhead, accepting I’d never know who she was. While hanging at Voodoo, she unexpectedly walked in. As I stood there talking, she turned to me & said, “I REALLY like your Auburn jacket.” I clarified she wasn’t dating the guy from earlier & kept the conversation going. There was something familiar about her, like I’d known her forever but also like someone completely new. What felt like 10 minutes turned into nearly 5 hours. That girl was Kristin. Hours later, I got her number thinking I'd never see her again. Boy, was I wrong. We haven’t gone a day without speaking since. Now I get to marry this blue-eyed, red-haired hottie that I met on Christmas night. I still believe she is the best Christmas present I’ve ever gotten That night, I invited Kristin to watch me play music at Voodoo’s open mic—something I’d done before, but the girls never showed. Even though she spent all day confirming she was coming, I was surprised—especially since I had another girl with me. To be fair, I’d been let down before, so my rule was simple: until you’re actually there, you don’t exist. Luckily, I was honest with both of them—since I wasn’t dating either, there were no obligations. What stood out was how Kristin handled it—calm, understanding, & unshaken by the unexpected. That night, I knew I wanted her in my life, so I focused on spending as much time with her as possible. Weeks later, we were enjoying Mardi Gras festivities with friends & people kept asking, “How long have you been married?” To my frustration, we weren’t even officially dating. We both had dating apps & had dealt with bad matches, but while I was ready to move forward, she was hesitant after a recent breakup. That day, I saw her getting Tinder notifications & joked, “Can you believe you’re chasing ground chuck when you’ve got filet mignon right here?” (cue dramatic self-gesture). Joking aside, I told her I only wanted her. To prove it, I deleted all my dating apps in front of her & asked her to be my girlfriend. She told me to ask again in the morning. I did, & she said yes, making me the happiest man in the world. Kristin & I have so much fun together, even if our interests differ. Just being together makes everything enjoyable. There has always been a comforting familiarity, & I knew early on she was the person I wanted to be with. Her response when I first told her I loved her confirmed that sentiment. I got a job in March 2023 after being unemployed & Kristin treated me to dinner. By then, we’d been dating for three months, & I had never felt so valued for who I was. At dinner, I told her I loved her. Her unforgettable (and hilarious) response was, “My toes just went numb,” followed by “I love you too.” Despite any differences, we respect each other, laugh at everything, & want the best for one another. I realized I couldn’t imagine life without her & wanted to make her my family. Kristin cares deeply for those around her, especially her animals. She loves live music, riding motorcycles with her dad, & being an aunt. She’s infinitely cooler than I am & I always tell her she’s a beautiful flower surrounded by thorns, hoping she’ll need those thorns less as we grow together. She’s intelligent, hardworking, & takes no nonsense. To be loved by her is an honor, & after almost 2 years, it feels like both 15 minutes and 15 years. I can’t wait to write the next chapters together. With all the love that I possess, Kristin, I cherish you, I am thankful for you, & I look forward to building a life, a family, & a partnership with you.

The first time I saw Andrew, I definitely noticed him. I remember looking at his boots and thinking they were really cool, and I noticed his hair—it was longer at the time and looked good with his hat on backwards. When I saw him again at Voodoo, it was actually me who complimented his jacket. I was standing there chatting when I realized he was behind me. I ended up patting him on the arm to tell him I thought it was really cool. I honestly expected that to be the end of it since he was talking to someone else. But instead, he immediately engaged in conversation with me and I found myself really enjoying our conversation. Talking to him was so easy, carefree, and natural. From the start, we had an instant connection, and there was never an awkward moment or lull in the conversation. We laughed, we learned about each other, and we even had some deeper conversations. I remember not wanting the night to end. I knew right then that this was someone I wanted to see more of. I don’t remember all the details of our conversations, but what stands out to me is how connected we were. It never felt forced or like we were just making small talk. We were genuinely interested in each other. It felt like we were both fully present in that moment, learning about each other in the most genuine way. It was like we were speaking the same language, and I couldn’t help but want to keep talking. When he invited me to see him play, I was excited to go. I love live music, so making plans to see him perform felt like an easy yes. I was open to dating, but I wasn’t actively looking for anything at the time—I was just taking life as it came. I wasn’t even sure if I’d hear from him again after that, or if it would be one of those things where you text for a bit, hang out a few times, and then it just fizzles out. But with him, it never did. I knew from early on that I wanted to date him. My hesitation wasn’t about him, it was more about me still processing some past things. I had just gotten out of a relationship, and the idea of jumping into something new felt a little scary, and I didn’t want to carry anything from that into something new. But from the very beginning, Andrew made me feel safe. When we talked about it, he didn’t pressure me. He just told me that he wanted me, that he wanted to date me, and that we would figure things out as they came. That was when I realized—I wanted to tackle anything that came our way with him. From the start, I always felt so supported, like I wasn’t facing things alone. What I love about Andrew is that he sees and celebrates parts of me that I’ve always loved, but that haven't always been accepted by others. He embraces all of me—the good, the bad, and everything in between. I’m a handful, and that’s something I’ve always known, but with Andrew, it’s different. He doesn’t just tolerate my quirks; he loves them, and that’s something I was always looking for and I found it in him. He’s a handful too, and I adore so many things about him that make him the incredible person he is. Looking back, I see how easily I fell in love with him. I see how much we’ve grown together. It hasn’t always been easy—we’ve faced new challenges, and we’ve had to learn how to navigate things in healthier ways—but that’s what makes me so excited for the future. I know that no matter what life throws our way, we’ll face it together. I truly believe that we can handle anything that comes our way. We’ve already proven that time and time again. I’m excited for everything we’ll continue to build together. We’re not perfect, but the way we laugh, support, and love each other makes me believe that our future is going to be something incredible. There’s no one else I’d rather take on this crazy journey with than Andrew. He’s not just the person I love—he’s the one I want to share every step of my life with. He’s my person, and I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else.