Vicky and Kevin are getting married at the magical Deerpark on the Biltmore Estate in March.  Their wedding is coming up soon, and I am excited about being a part of this special day.  Vicky and Kevin started dating in 2000, so they have been together for ten years! Read below to learn more about Vicky and Kevin…(I love Vicky’s answer to the first question!)

How did you meet each other?
We met at work. We both worked for a surgeon, he worked in the OR and I worked in the office. I hated his guts at first. One night a group of us went out for happy hour after work and he made me a ring out of a dollar bill…the rest is history!

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
May 7, 2009 at The Farm in Napa, CA – I was sitting talking to our friends Bob and Whitney. He came up behind me and said…”hey, I have a question for you”. I was engrossed in my conversation, so I jokingly said “whatever it is, NO”. So, he walked around me, got on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Instead of a ring, he pulled out a wad of pictures and drawings. The jeweler promised him he would have the ring ready for the trip, but wasn’t able to get it done in time, so he proudly showed me what he had been working on for months. It was perfect and the ring was worth the wait.

What do you two do for a living?
Kevin is a surgical assistant. I run our pawnshop and do the administrative work for my Uncle’s 25 stores.

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
We are both big time foodies and we love to travel. We are making our way around to all of the country’s best restaurants. We are also gun enthusiasts and love to target shoot.

Why did you choose Asheville and the Biltmore Estate as your wedding location?
Kevin’s Sister Linda organized a Davis Family Reunion in NC. We met at her home in Hickory and then piled into a limo and spent the day at the Estate. We went to the winery, toured the house and had dinner at Deerpark. We had a blast! That was the last family Christmas we had with Kevin’s dad, Buzz. The Biltmore holds such great memories for all of us that it only seemed fitting that we would celebrate our wedding there.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
Not dancing! We are most looking forward to having all of our family and friends together. We want to celebrate and show the people we love a fantastic time. We are really looking forward to the food (and cake) too!

What do you love about each other?
Vicky: What I love about Kevin is…He is smart and witty and we make each other laugh, the snorting kind. He is silly and he lets me be silly. He loves his family and he loves me (warts and all) with his whole heart. He is a good man and my best friend. Did I mention…generous, loyal, hard working, protective and a great cook?

Kevin: What I love about Vicky is… She is the love of my life and my best friend. She accepts me for who I am. I love her commitment to family, not only her own, but mine as well. She possesses a talent to make each person she meets feel like they are the most important person in the room.

Anything else you would want people to know?
I, the Bride, would like to have our two 15 pound furry cat babies, Tabitha “Moo” Farres and Merlin “Fat Man” Davis, in the wedding, but I was vetoed by the Groom.

Lindsey and Brian will be getting married on the festive holiday of New Year’s Eve at the Lioncrest on the Biltmore Estate.  What an exciting time to have a wedding!  I know it will be a beautiful event, and I can’t wait to share in their joy.  They have been dating for 5 years, so they are really looking forward to finally becoming husband and wife!  I have asked this couple a few questions so you can get to know them better…

How did you meet each other?
We met our freshman year of college through a mutual friend – we actually started talking on the internet a month before we ever met in person!

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
Brian asked me on my favorite day of the year – Christmas! He came over to my parent’s house where my whole family was for Christmas and asked for my parents blessing that afternoon (so they were in on it!). He was acting very strangely all day – I now know it was just nerves. He and my parents kept trying to get me to take the dogs on a walk but it was so cold I didn’t want to. Eventually, I gave in and we went outside just the two of us and he told me he had another present for me – he got down on one knee, pulled out a small white jewelry box and asked me to marry him. I told him “of course!”

What do you two do for a living?
Brian is currently in sales and I am in finance. We are both actually moving to Milwaukee right after the honeymoon to start working with my dad in the new family retail business. Brian will become area manager and I will work in the finance department.

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
We love to watch movies, cook, play with our dog and cat, try new restaurants in the area, travel and of course watch the Tarheels play basketball!

Why did you choose Asheville and the Biltmore Estate as your wedding location?
Brian and I met while we attending Western Carolina University (near Asheville) and we would always visit Asheville for dates whenever we got the chance. Our Christmas present one year after we moved away was to spend the weekend visiting the Biltmore and we fell in love with it! It just seemed natural to return to our favorite date spot and what better place in Asheville to get married than the Biltmore?

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
Finally getting married! It’s been 5 years and over a year engagement of just planning – we are ready for it!

What do you love about each other?
Lindsey: What I love about Brian is how generous he is with those he loves, his sense of humor, his closeness with his family and the fact that our values and goals in life match up so well. After so many years together I have also grown to love how well he knows me. He can tell exactly what type of day I had just by the look on my face when I walk through the door and if it happened to be a rough day he knows exactly what to say to put a smile back on my face.

Brian: What I love most about Lindsey….is the smile on her face as I walk in the door, how she knows exactly what I’m thinking and how she is always there for me. The way she is always so joyful and generous lets me know how wonderful of a mother and how loving of a wife she will be. Each day I think how lucky I am that she chose me, how she makes me want to be the greatest husband and be to be able to give her everything in life she deserves. I have been fortunate to find someone as beautiful as she is, someone as smart and courageous to take on the challenges she has been given, someone who I can laugh with all day long and who just enjoys life.

Anything else you would want people to know?
We just want to thank everyone involved in the wedding: to our parents for making our dream wedding come true, to all of our vendors that have made this day possible and to all of our friends and family that have taken time out of their busy lives to travel to Asheville to support us – thanks so much and we are just so excited to share this day with all of you!

I wanted to feature some of my couples that have been married for at least a year to see what they are up to!  Leigh-Ervin and Will were married last October at the Central United Methodist Church, and their reception was held on the South Terrace of the Biltmore House.  I just love this couple and their families.  Please read below to learn more about these sweet newlyweds…

How did you meet each other?
We met after my senior year of high school and Will’s freshman year of college. He came to Asheville with some of our mutual friends and we all celebrated the fourth of July together. Little did we know that less than two years later we would start dating!

How long were you engaged before getting married?
16 months- we got married after I finished graduate school.

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We got engaged in May 2007 at Ocean Isle Beach. Will took me on his golf cart to the furthest point on the island, and we walked out to the edge of the sand where we could see nothing but the ocean and the sunset and he got down on one knee and proposed!! It was perfect!!

What do you two do for a living?
I am a speech-language pathologist and Will works in finance.

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple now that you are married?
We love to travel, go to Appalachian football games, walk our dog and visit our families.

Why did you choose Asheville as your wedding location?
I grew up in Asheville and couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else!

When you think about your wedding, what did you love the most?
Our wedding was the most amazing, perfect and best day of our lives! We loved too many things to name, but will always remember our wedding as a time spent with our families and friends- the people that we love the most! One of the most memorable moments for me was walking into the church (my home church that I grew up in) for the first time- and later seeing Will at the end of the aisle, surrounded by family and friends- it was utterly breathtaking!

Any special moments at your wedding that you want to share with us?
The fireworks show on the South Terrace was unbelievable! Our band (The Company Band) was equally remarkable and we would recommend them to anybody!

Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Maui, Hawaii

After a year of marriage, do you have any advice for engaged couples out there?
You will absolutely LOVE being married!!

What do you love about each other?
Leigh-Ervin: What I love about Will is…that from the moment I first saw him I thought that he was the most handsome guy I had ever seen! He fills my life with laughter, happiness, support and love every single day!

Will: What I love about Leigh-Ervin is…she is the most upbeat and positive person I have ever met. She is beautiful and my best friend in the world (and is a great cook)!

Anything else you would want people to know?
Our wedding would not have been possible without the phenomenal vendors that made all of our dreams come to life. Many, many thanks to Tara Jordan (wedding planner), Corey McNabb (photographer), The Bloom Room (florist), A Fine Line (calligraphy), The Company Band, Four Seasons Films (videographer) and everybody else who came together to make our wedding the best day of our lives! We would highly recommend any and every person that helped bring our visions to life!

To see more pictures of their wedding, click here!

Marcy and Jason will be married at the Cliffs of Glassy at the end of October.  The chapel sits at the very top of the Glassy community, and the views are breathtaking.  You can see both North and South Carolina, and I know with the fall leaves it will be spectacular!  Marcy and Jason dated for two years before getting engaged, and they are very ready to be husband and wife!  I am so happy for them, and I can’t wait to be a part of their very special day.  Read more about Marcy and Jason below…

How did you meet each other?
We met through our mutual friend in Raleigh, NC a year before we began dating. Our first official date took place in Atlanta when Marcy was in town visiting her brother and we have been inseparable ever since. Jason moved from Atlanta to Raleigh in 2007 so we could be together.

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We were engaged on December 27, 2008. Jason had an elaborate engagement planned including a scavenger hunt incorporating all of Marcy’s favorite things. Unfortunately, Jason had to postpone the plans when Marcy came home late but kept the dinner reservation. Jason forgot to tell the restaurant that we would not be celebrating our engagement and the waiter came over with champagne and congratulated us….but we weren’t engaged! Jason proposed right after dinner in park in downtown Raleigh.

What do you two do for a living?
Jason is a Lead Engineer for Progress Energy in Raleigh, NC.
Marcy is a Marketing Director for American Valve…the family business.

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
We love to travel and are always planning our next big trip. We are really looking forward to our trip to Italy and Greece in the spring. We also enjoy running, biking, golfing and hiking.

Why did you choose the Cliffs Glassy as your wedding location?
When we first began dating, Jason lived in Atlanta and Marcy lived in Raleigh. Marcy’s parent’s house at the Cliffs at Glassy was the perfect meeting spot for us while we were dating long-distance. We fell in love during our trips to Glassy so we thought it was the perfect place for the wedding.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
We are so excited about starting the next chapter of our life together in such a beautiful place. We are also thrilled that so many of our family and friends can make the trip to SC for the wedding.

What do you love about each other?
Marcy: What I love about Jason is…
Jason is honest, kind, loving and compassionate. He has a great sense of humor and a positive outlook on life. He can finish my sentences…and somehow always know what I was going to say. I love that he doesn’t take life too seriously and can always make me laugh. He brings out the best in me.

Jason: What I love about Marcy is…
I love that Marcy is kind, caring and always thinks of others first. I love that she has so much passion for life. I love the fact that areas where I am weak, she is strong, that although she is the opposite of me in so many ways, that she also complements me. I love that way she challenges me and keeps me on my toes. I also love her multiple little quirks, the way her eyes crinkle when she smiles, her inability to whistle, her offbeat sense of humor, everything that make her who she is!

Anything else you would want people to know?
We were not happy when we first found out the only date the Glassy Chapel was available was Halloween. However, we grew to love the idea of a Halloween wedding (it is one of our favorite holidays) and will never forget our anniversary!

Lorie and Leslie are a very fun and exciting couple, as you can tell by the picture!   Leslie is a magician and entertainer, and Lorie is a bartender at Coyote Ugly and a magic assistant.  Love it!  They will be married in October in the Butterfly Gardens at the Biltmore Estate, followed by a reception in the Champagne Cellar.  For more information on Lorie and Leslie, please read below…

How did you meet?

We met at Six Flags Astroworld, in Houston, TX.  He was the magician in the show and I was a dancer.

How long have you been together?

We have been together for 9 years.

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?

The official engagement was July 30th.  It was at a Greek Restaurant, and he told me we had to stop and eat on the way to a show. We get there, and I soon as we get seated a fight breaks out between a young couple and a wine glass goes flying across the room; I’m thinking this is great dinner and a show! Well as it was time to leave, Les takes out his phone and says relax its just my phone (there’s a long story to that to sum it up I once thought his cell phone was a ring box and got excited) so i say hahaha your soooooo funny.  Then he says if it were a ring it would look like this, and my face drops.  He then gets on BOTH knees and asked me if I would marry him, and I said YES!!!!!

What are some of the activities you enjoy doing together as a couple?

We love to snuggle on the couch with our boys (slinky and domino) and watch TV or A movie.

Why did you choose the Biltmore Estate and Asheville as your wedding location?

We just fell in love with the town.  Les performed at a boat show there and told me that we have to get married there so I came to check it out for my self and he was right. We found out about the Biltmore, and as soon as you pull up to those gates its a fairytale!!!!

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?

When it comes to the wedding we are most excited about getting lost in the moment in the “HOLY CRAP this is REAL!!!”

What do you love about each other?

Lorie:  What I love about Leslie is that he is truly a southern gentleman, he is so funny, so kind, so affectionate, so loving and absolutely charming.

Leslie:  What I love about Lorie is her caring warmth, her smarts, her hotness, her being the better half of me.

Anything else you want people to know?

We joke and say that everyday together feels like a play date and every night a slumber party with your best friend so we are looking forward to a life time of slumber parties and play dates.

Jamie and Michael have an entire October weekend of activities for their guests at the Cliffs Communities.  It is going to be an amazing weekend for all, and I am so happy for this incredible couple.  Their ceremony will take place at the Cliffs Glassy Chapel, with a reception following at the Cliffs Valley Clubhouse.  Jamie and Michael met each other in September 2007, started dating in March 2008, and got engaged on New Years Eve of 2008!  Please read more below about them below…

How did you meet each other?
We met through an outdoors community group at our church (National Community Church) in Washington, DC. Jamie offered to cook dinner for the group the following week and Michael offered to drive her to Eastern Market to pick up potatoes and tomatoes.

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We agreed to take a half day on New Years Eve and spend the afternoon hiking at Shenandoah National Park. A frigid day, we cut the hike short and ended up in the Jeep at one of our favorite spots – Pass Mountain Overlook – as the sun was setting. He asked me what would make the moment even better, and I instinctively replied, “Peanut M&Ms,” our favorite snack. He whipped out a bag, poured a few into my hand, and out popped the most gorgeous diamond ring I had ever seen. We rushed off the ridge to call our parents, then Michael told me we had dinner reservations and made me change back into my work clothes (in a Luray Hardee’s bathroom). When we showed up at Thorton River Grille, six of our best friends were waiting for us. I got to share the exciting news and retell the whole story. After dinner, I assumed we were headed back to DC, but the caravan headed back into the mountains, where we pulled up to a quaint mountain cabin, where the eight of us got to ring in the new year together. We awoke to a lovely brunch – extending the celebration into 2009!

What do you two do for a living?
Michael is the Legislative Director to Congressman Harold Rogers (KY) and Jamie works in communication for the Department of Homeland Security.

What are some of the activities that you like to do as a couple?
On September 13, we completed an Olympic distance triathlon together, so of recent, biking, swimming, and running has been high on the list. The triathlon gave us a great shared goal and time together training. We’ve also got a small fortune invested in backpacking gear and we put it to good use for a week in Tasmania and a 3-day backpacking trip with friends along the Appalachian Trail in May.
Probably our favorite activity together is strategizing ways to bless our neighbors and friends. We love hosting friends over for dinner, praying for our neighbors in need, and finding ways to meet the physical and spiritual needs of those in need in our city. Last September, we participated in Convoy of Hope DC and that catalyzed our commitment to serving our neighborhood.

Why did you choose the Cliffs as your wedding location?
When Jamie first laid eyes on The Chapel at Glassy in 2007, she knew it’s where she wanted to be married… all she had to figure out was who, exactly, she was going to marry and how, exactly, she was going to tell her parents that she wasn’t getting married in her hometown of Orlando. Fortunately Michael entered the picture a few months later, and the folks loved the idea of a destination wedding in the Carolina hills.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
We could not be more thrilled to have 150 of our dearest friends and family members traveling from the District, 11 states and Greece for the three-day celebration. We look forward to celebration God’s goodness and faithfulness!

What do you love about each other?
Jamie: What I love about Michael is… the way he challenges me to live a life worthy of the calling I have received in Christ Jesus.

Michael: What I love about Jamie is…she encourages the crazy dreams God gives me and stands ready to execute them, no matter what.

Anything else you would want people to know?
The honeymoon destination is classified. It’s on a need to know basis and the groom has decided the bride doesn’t need to know.

Oh yeah, Michael has organized a charity 5K on October 11 (the day of the wedding no less) to benefit AIDS Hospice Care in South Africa. So if you’re in Cleveland, SC, come for the run at Pleasant Ridge Park at 8AM!

Malinda and Nick will be getting married in October in the Walled Gardens at the Biltmore Estate, and then having a reception at the Conservatory.  This beautiful couple met at Malinda’s work where she is a nurse practitioner.  Nick was a pharmaceutical rep at the time, and he hosted a lunch for the staff.  Malinda was supposed to leave at 12:00 pm, but she stayed until 1:30 pm!  Malinda is still a Women’s Health Nurse Practictioner, and Nick has moved on to be a Surgical Sales Representative.  Read more about them below!

How long did you date before you got engaged?
2 years

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We were engaged on Good Friday, March 21, 2008. Nick is very thoughtful and always gets me goody bags for most holidays. He gave me an Easter basket filled with candy and eggs and the ring was in the Easter Basket.

What are some of the activities that you like to do together?
Our two most favorite activities are playing with our dog, Allie and college football. I went to University of TN, Knoxville and Vanderbilt Univ for grad school, and he went to University of Florida. So we absolutely love SEC football. We go to several games every year, and wake up every Saturday watching College Gameday.

Why did you choose Asheville and the Biltmore Estate as your wedding location?
First of all, it is beautiful and romantic. I grew up in East TN right outside of Asheville, and we love the Fall season. We thought Asheville would be a perfect site for a Fall wedding. We live at the beach, so we wanted some place different.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
Becoming Husband and Wife of course, but also having our family and close friends there from all the different phases of our lives. Enjoying time with the people we love.

What do you love about each other?
Malinda: What I love about Nick is…
How much he loves his family. He is very kind, good hearted, and HOT!

Nick: What I love about Malinda is…
She always has a smile on her face and looks for the positive in any situation.

I have so adored working with Martha and her mom, Linda, on Martha’s wedding coming up at the end of September.  Let’s just say, this is going to be one spectacular event, and I am so excited!  The wedding ceremony and reception are taking place at the Lioncrest, located on the Biltmore Estate.  Martha and her fiance, Brian, own three fitness centers in Mississippi, and they love what they do.  After work, they enjoy going out to dinner, playing tennis, cooking, working out (of course!) spending time with their families and their precious Chihuahua, Bubba!  Read below for more information on this fantastic couple…

How did you meet each other?
We met through my college roommate who had recently moved to Oxford, Mississippi and wanted me to come visit her and see her new house. I had always complained about being the third wheel with my friend and her husband, so Bethany (roommate) thought it would be fun to introduce me to the owner of the gym where she worked out and had become friends with. We all hung out the night I came into town and sparks flew!!!! From that day on we talked on the phone constantly and………………..

How long did you date before you got engaged?
We dated for 5 months

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We got engaged on December 6, 2008. I was flying in to Memphis airport to visit Brian for my birthday weekend and my flight was delayed. When I got into Brian’s car he seemed really jittery and nervous. I figured he was acting strange due to us being late for our dinner reservation. During dinner Brian didn’t touch his food…..which is VERY unlike him. I knew something was going on. We then headed to his house and I thought we were going to watch a movie, but when we got there he had champagne and cards set out! At midnight it was officially my birthday and he got down on one knee and flashed the bling! It was a perfect birthday present.

Why did you choose Asheville and the Biltmore Estate as your wedding location?
My family has a summer home near Asheville in Waynesville. I feel like North Carolina is a home away from home. My grandparents took me to the Biltmore almost every summer and Holiday. I got to see it in every season! On Brian’s birthday, which was a month after we met, I flew him and the couple that set us up to Waynesville. While up there we both knew we wanted to get married!! It is when we fell in love. When planning the wedding we knew we didn’t want a large wedding in my hometown! We wanted to get married in a place that was special to us and North Carolina was the place! We wanted a location where we could Êcome back to and enjoy, nothing could be more beautiful than the Biltmore. Fall is my favorite time of year at the Biltmore, It is absolutely spectacular, it was set……. a fall wedding at the Biltmore!!!!

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
I am most excited about our families and friends getting together for a weekend away. Also we are looking forward to the rehearsal dinner at the River Bend Barn.

What is the inspiration for your wedding?
I wanted a wedding with fall colors and lots of flowers. I also wanted a romantic yet rustic feel. My florist, Beth, from Studio Flora Diva calls me smokey topaz. My colors are amber, gold, copper and brown.

What do you love most about each other?
Martha: What I love about Brian is his kind heart. He is the sweetest person I know. He is always thinking about small things to do to make me happy. He also is very open and honest about his feelings. He is my best friend and no matter what we are doing, I am having the best time!

Brian: What I love about Martha is…
1.) She is my best friend
2.) I know God made her just for me
3.) she makes me a better person in every way
4.) she is the sweetest person I have ever met
5.) I knew in 2 weeks that I loved her and wanted to start a family with her. She will make the best mom!
6.) I have never loved anything as much as I love her.
7.) I would die for her no doubt about it.
8.) last but not least, she is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

Anna-Rochelle and John will be married at Rumbling Bald in Lake Lure in September.  They met at East Carolina University when they both worked for the Student Union.  Anna-Rochelle was a Grad assistant planning concerts on campus and John was the ‘techie’ running the sound system.  Please read more about this couple below!

How long did you two date before you got engaged?
John and I were together for 3 years and 9 months before we got engaged officially (not that I was counting)

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
Our first proposal happened in 2006 after moving to FL. We had an ongoing joke that John wouldn’t propose until I proposed to him (his way of delaying the inevitable). So, one night I surprised him with dinner followed by a romantic picnic of beer, wine and strawberries on Naples Beach. After a beautiful sunset and under a sky of meteor showers I slipped a ring into his pocket and asked him to marry me. John of course said yes, but neither of us considered it our official engagement. A year and a half later John and I were on the verge of moving again, to Virginia this time. John wanted to go to Naples Beach to film a “goodbye to FL” video. We asked my mom to join us and headed to the beach, the same beach where I proposed to John, to watch the sunset. As we stood there saying goodbye and watching the sunset John got down on one knee and proposed by asking me to move to Virginia and be his wife. The whole proposal and an overly friendly pelican were captured on film by mom (who surprisingly managed to remain silent through the whole video).

What do you two do for a living?
Anna is a Recreational Therapist and currently works with at-risk and emotionally disturbed kids in Central Virginia linking them to the services that they need to improve their mental health and be successful in achieving their goals. John works at his family’s construction business.

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
Watching our favorite shows on TV; going to, watching, supporting the ECU Pirates (especially football); getting together with friends, and hosting parties.

Why did you choose Lake Lure as your wedding location?
John and I knew that we wanted to have a destination wedding so that all of our guests would be on vacation and able to relax and enjoy themselves. We decided that since we met in NC that it should be where we say “I do.” So, one day I googled: resorts, North Carolina, mountains, and up popped Rumbling Bald. It was the perfect place because of the scenery, all of the activities it would offer our guests and plenty of accommodations for people to choose from. We were sold before we even made our first visit.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
Seeing all of our friends and family that are making the trip to NC to share this important day with us. We are looking forward to celebrating with everyone. As our wedding motto goes, “one relaxing weekend and one helluva party!”

What do you love about each other?
Anna-Rochelle: I love that John always makes me laugh…even when I am mad, and even if it is at him. When we are together we always have a good time and just being around him makes me happy. I love that he is a good person, and a good friend. He cares more for other people’s happiness than anyone else I know. I love that he makes me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world and that he still opens every door (including the car) for me. John gives the world’s best hugs and I so thankful that I get to enjoy them for the rest of our lives together.

John: I love her patience and understanding. I am a very outgoing, fun loving, sometimes crazy guy I get carried away (a lot) and she is always there to bring me back down to earth. Rarely does she show or admit she is embarrassed by the shenanigans’ that may be taking place and understands that especially when I am around my friends there is a good chance that we will get carried away.

Anything else you want people to know?
We are getting married on National Talk Like a Pirate Day….which is pretty awesome since WE ARE the ECU PIRATES!!

I am really looking forward to Kelly and Jason’s wedding on September 12th.  They are both wonderful people with big hearts, and I have had a great time working with them on their wedding.  The ceremony will be on the Vista of the Inn on Biltmore with a reception following at the Lioncrest.  Should be a beautiful weekend!  Read more about Kelly and Jason below…

How did you meet each other?
We met when we were in graduate school together at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. We were friends for a while before we started dating. When we realized there was more than a friendship between us, we mistakenly thought that it would create an awkward dynamic among our friends. So we decided we needed to keep our relationship a secret for a while before cautiously breaking the news to our close friends. Of course, they knew the whole time and could not have cared less, but we had fun sneaking around at least!!

How long did you date before you got engaged?
We dated for about 5 years before we got engaged.

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
After several failed attempts at getting the right ring (something we laugh about often now), Jason ended up surprising me on a random Tuesday night in Atlanta. I walked into our house expecting our weekly “date night” and was greeted at the door by my dog Stella who had the ring tied around her neck with a ribbon. It was absolutely perfect, and most importantly, I was so surprised!

What do you do for a living?
Jason is a Senior Vice President for a policy research firm here in Washington, DC. I am a Principal at a small private equity group. Usually no one knows what any of that means, so we just say that we’re both in Finance/Investment Services.

What are some of the activities you like to do together as a couple?
We both love to stay active and enjoy running and exercising together. We also like cooking together, watching the Longhorns play football, watching Mad Men and The Wire on TV, traveling to new places, playing with our dog Stella, and enjoying a good bottle of wine together.

Why did you choose Asheville and the Biltmore Estate as your wedding location?
For a few years during our relationship, Jason lived in Atlanta and I lived in Charlotte. We were both very busy with our jobs at that time and would often meet each other in Asheville for the weekend to get away from the city. We quickly fell in love with everything about Asheville and find ourselves getting so happy every time we return. We have always been in awe of the gorgeous views and magnificence of the Biltmore Estate and once we got engaged, it was first on our list of places to check out.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
We can’t wait to have all of our close family and friends with us as we exchange vows and make our commitment to God and each other known to everyone. We’re also looking forward to having all of our extended family together for a whole weekend to celebrate. And…Jason is really looking forward to eating some cake!

What do you love about each other?

Kelly: What I love about Jason is his sincerity and his strength of character. Jason knows what he believes in and is comfortable with himself no matter where we are or who we are with. He has an ease about him that other people seem to be drawn to, and people feel comfortable letting their guard down when he is around. Jason knows me better than anyone in this world, and understands my complexities more than even I do at times. He is so patient with me and always makes me feel safe and loved. I know that I can always count on him. I also love that he can laugh and be silly with me over nothing at all. Basically, he is my best friend and my true soul mate and I couldn’t imagine life without him.

Jason: What I love about Kelly is her big heart – she is a huge softie and it’s so cute to see her get teary-eyed during movies. She cares about people who are less fortunate and is always considerate of other’s feelings. Kelly is the person I trust most in the world and I know that no matter what, I can depend on her to give her honest opinion in any situation. I also love her sense of humor and witty comebacks. She makes me laugh at the most unexpected times and I love that she can keep me on my toes, even after five years. She also challenges me in a very loving way, pushing me to be a better and more loving person. No matter where we are or what situation we are in, I can always feel her love.

Anything else you want people to know?
We know that so many people will be traveling from afar to attend our wedding and we just wanted to say thank you to everyone for being there to celebrate with us. We feel so blessed be surrounded by such wonderful people and we can’t wait to see everyone in Asheville!