These lovebirds said I DO to a romantic Destin beach wedding followed by a SOLARIS yacht reception next month. The only thing more romantic than that is their love story – congrats you two!
Our story began in the fall of 2012 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Lauren was a student at LSU and Brian, who lived about an hour away, attended SLU. While out with mutual friends*, Lauren was tagged in a photo that crossed Brian’s Facebook page. When he inquired about her, he was then encouraged to come out with them that night to a haunted house. From the minute they met, there was instant chemistry. A ride to a local bar following the haunted house turned into a dance party to the Backstreet Boys in the back seat and it was at that moment that Lauren knew Brian was the one.
They spent several months together but never made their relationship official and eventually they both moved on. Brian graduated college and applied for the police academy where he became an officer in the city of Kenner. Lauren moved home with the intent of moving to Oklahoma with her family and finishing her degree. But as luck would have it, their paths crossed again.
In the summer of 2014, at a get together on the beach, Lauren casually brought up Brian’s name to those same mutual friends*; who didn’t hold back in getting her in contact with him. They texted back and forth for several weeks and eventually agreed to meet up one weekend. She drove three hours to see him for their second “first date”. He took her to the aquarium to see her very favorite animal – sea turtles. They walked around the Riverwalk, they ate some Mexican food, and by Sunday, they parted ways. The following weekend, he made the three hour trek to see her. They spent the day out on a boat with friends, and went to a country concert. It was from then on, that they decided to make it work.
After 9 months of long distance dating, instead of moving to Oklahoma with her family, Lauren moved to New Orleans to be with Brian.
2 years and 39 days later, Brian tells Lauren that there is a potluck at his dad’s house and that they are making spinach dip for the party. They go about their day – buy a new car, grocery shop, watch a movie – and with a little prompting from Brian to wear jeans instead of leggings, they finish getting ready and head to the potluck. They pull up to a full driveway, park and walk inside. Lauren doesn’t even notice Brian walking into the living room with the dip in his hands and she also doesn’t understand why his dad and step-mom are looking at her like she grew a second head…until she walked in the living room.
The lights flip on and everyone shouts “Happy Birthday!”
She was in complete shock as her birthday wasn’t for another 10 days! But then she laid eyes on her parents. Whatever was in her hands fell to the floor as she walked to her dad, bawling her eyes out. She had never been so surprised in her life. Once the initial shock wore off, the eating and drinking commenced. About an hour later, Brian called for Lauren to come into the living room to open presents. After opening a couple of sweet gifts from family and friends, Brian thanked his dad for hosting the party and for her parents flying down to be with Lauren on her special day. It was at that moment, Lauren realized what was going on. Brian pulled a box from his back pocket and turned to her, his face the reddest it has ever been, got down on one knee and asked her to spend forever with him.
She was silent.
It was when he tried to fill the silence that she asked him if he was serious. When he said yes, so did she. Everyone around them cried, including Lauren when she saw the most perfect wedding band set. He did good.
He then surprised her with what ends up being their honeymoon. a 10 day trip: 3 days in Barcelona, followed by a 7 day cruise through Italy, France and Spain in October. He did really good.
Lauren and Brian are happy as ever. They just recently moved into their first home, where they are enjoying their engagement and learning to live with one another. They are so excited and blessed to do this adventure called life together and they are thrilled that you all will be apart of it!
This is going to be a FUN Destin wedding and reception. Our wedding planners can’t wait! #KeepingUpWithTheKahrs