Our Newly established Wedding date 02/24/2024 Wedding details are on our new website Zola.com Michael Stokes and Carla Harris.

Our first date was the best first date ever ... Mike picked me up around noon on a Saturday. I suggested that we do something outdoors since it was the beginning of spring, and the weather was beautiful. So, I planned for us to go to Mount Dora. They held an open market every Saturday and neither one of us had ever been. It was a day, not too hot not too cold, clear and slightly breezy, we walked around, shopped, and had lunch in the village area. We held hands and laughed the entire time, sharing jokes and stories of things that happen to us or what we would or wouldn't do. Mike had mentioned that he doesn't go on small boats. As the day went on we both found ourselves getting on the sunset boat ride on Mount Dora lake, not remembering what he said about small boats, he laughed about it, smiled, and wrapped his arms around me as we watch the sunset on a small boat in the middle of Mt Dora Lake, Funny enough a number of strangers that came up to us said what a beautiful couple we made. We truly enjoyed each other's company and were floating in a mist of wonderfulness. The simple fact this was our first date and it was comfortable and amazing! We felt like we knew each other for years we promised ourselves without telling each other, that no matter what we were going to be our authentic selves. we were too old to fake and play games as many people do ... This promise allowed us to just fall in love with each other without any reservations, this has been an important piece of our relationship to this day and going forward. We are so in love today and we pray that GOD stays first in our lives and continues to bind us and keep us feeling this way.

Mike had planned a weekend to celebrate our one-year anniversary. We talked about going out of town for the weekend and having a romantic weekend somewhere! Mike had booked a hotel in Jacksonville Florida and planned the whole weekend himself. I was excited because we always have fun together and we were ready for a weekend getaway. We talked about gifting on Saturday at Dinner, we stayed in Jacksonville that Friday night and Saturday we drove up to Savannah Georgia, we arrived about 9 am had breakfast at The Biscuit Company. We did all the sightseeing that Savannah had to offer. Mike had made reservations at The Chart House at 4:30pm. We arrived on time we were the only customers in the restaurant, we selected a table and sat near the window overlooking the river. It was a beautiful day! The server was awesome, interactive, engaging and friendly, I was impressed with all the attention we were getting from the staff., I looked around and leaned over to mention to Mike how there is no one here but us in this restaurant, before I could say anything ... Mike was on one knee looking at me. I realized then that the box he had was not a necklace, lol even though the box was shape like a necklace box, it's an engagement ring in a box! I started crying, I had to laugh at myself because for the first time I knew the feeling of being truly surprised in a romantic life changing way! The private restaurant, the friendly staff, the perfect setting in Savanah, GA, it was all planned by Mike and it was perfect! MICHAEL ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM AND I SAID YES!

Jesus celebrated marriage! He performed his first Miricale at a wedding celebration... during the celebration he turned water into wine, this was his approval of the union of marriage and that marriage deserve to be celebrated with others ... Marriage is an ordained union by GOD. Celebrating the exchange of our vows to one another is important to both of us, we are thankful for a mature and authentic relationship that we share today... we are blessed that our family and friends have experience a lifetime of memories of our past... now our present and our future is here before us... family and friends we are looking forward to fun, good food, great cocktails, fabulous music and entertainment. We pray that this day is filled with love and happiness for all!

If you followed our story, you know our first date was the fourth Saturday in February and we got engaged on our anniversary weekend which was the fourth Saturday in February ... when we were disappointed that our original venue fell through it just made since to change the date to our memorable fourth Saturday in February! You are invited to join us on our special day February 24, 2024, or 2/24/2024! we know it seems like a longtime, but it will be here before we know it!