Caitlin and Trevor will be married at Claxton Farm this July after dating for nearly two and half years.  I have known Caitlin and her family for a few years now, and I just adore them.  I couldn’t be happy for them!

Trevor is an Account Executive for Fedex in Pennsylvania.  His major is in International Business with a concentration in Asian Studies and Japanese (wow!).  Caitlin just graduated from Appalachian State University with a Health Promotions Degree with a concentration in Psychology.  Caitlin and Trevor met at Appalachian, and the rest was history….read more about this very special couple!

How did you meet each other?
Trevor was dating one of my friends I met freshman year of college and I was dating someone else as well. We became friends then and after they decided it wouldn’t work out, we remained friends through the years and became very close. He was a sophomore when we first met and I was a freshman. We didn’t start dating until my junior year/his senior year.

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
Got engaged January 13, 2010. Two days after my 23rd birthday and in between snowstorms in Blowing Rock, NC. He said he’d take me on a date for my birthday later in the week. He let me choose the day and even the place to eat at, so I had no suspicions at all. He had arranged with the Parks and Recreation and with the police to leave up the twinkling Christmas lights in the gazebo. He also planned for two of our close friends to set up a dessert by candlelight in the gazebo in the park in Blowing Rock and after dinner asked whether or not I liked eclairs. We drove up to Blowing Rock to his apartment to set the food in the fridge, and so that he could secretly grab the ring which he had wisely hidden until that moment so that I wouldn’t feel it on his person when I gave him a hug. Then we walked up to the gazebo which was lit with 17 candles and the table and chairs he had brought from home. There was sparkling grape juice and eclairs already waiting. I couldn’t believe it, and I was confused when we hadn’t turned towards any of the shops or restaurants and instead proceeded to the gazebo. Our friends were blocks away awaiting his signal to clean up. We talked awhile and I wasn’t sure if this could possibly be a proposal or if it was just an amazing birthday dessert. After we’d almost finished eating, he talked about our adventure in life together, and if I was serious about spending it with him. After my agreement, he stood up, knelt to the icy ground in front of me, and asked “Caitlin Lewis, would you marry me?” I whispered yes, I was so captivated by the moment, and then promptly knocked over my glass of sparkling grape juice as I threw my arms around him in a wonderful embrace!

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
Caitlin: We enjoy hiking, reading, talking, watching TV shows, cooking, biking, playing video games and painting together. Both of us like exploring anything new that sounds like it could be interesting or adventurous!

Trevor: Believe it or not, books and movies play a big part of our time together. It’s not as shallow and boring as it sounds, though! We both have huge imaginations and we get very involved in the stories we see, so we always enjoy one literary and cinematic journey after another.

Why did you choose Claxton Farm as your wedding location?
Caitlin: We chose Claxton Farms mainly for the view. Trevor and I both love the mountains and the beautiful landscape Claxton has to offer. I personally fell in love with Claxton because it reminded me so much of my Great Grandfather’s farm-complete with the brown cows!

Trevor: Caitlin had her sights set on Claxton Farms from the moment she realized it was an option, and I wasn’t about to stand in her way. I grew up in and around the Mississippi Delta, so getting married on a farm seemed rather fitting, truth be told.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
Caitlin: I am most excited to marry the man of my dreams: a godly man who understands me, protects me, and is also fun to be around! But I am also excited to be having a fun wedding with ample space, tons of family and friends to share the day with, and marshmallows to roast at the farm.

Trevor: I’m inexpressibly excited about spending the rest of my life with the woman I’ve always hoped for and wasn’t always sure I’d find. Caitlin is the only person I’ve ever met that can keep up with my ambitions, interests, and passions. In fact, she’s taught me a thing or two! As far as the wedding is concerned, I’m looking forward to the biggest coming-together of friends and family in my life. I can’t wait to see so many people I love and care for all in the same place!

What do you love about each other?
Caitlin: What I love about Trevor is…
His character. He is committed and strong-willed. Intelligent, fun-loving, and sincere are also top descriptions of his character. He is so observant and makes every effort humanly possible to meet my needs. There is no one I know as optimistic as Trevor, and he is always so uplifting to me. He makes my days brighter and more adventurous and intriguing as our conversations progress and deepen. I don’t question his love for me. He is constantly finding creative ways to express it as well as reminding me so eloquently. In short, I love all of him because he is Trevor.

Trevor: What I love about Caitlin is…
Her sheer, unbridled joy. When Caitlin is happy, her smile is so bright it could be a second sun. There’s no stopping or diminishing a joy like that. She’s brilliant, hysterical, delightfully well-rounded, and, of course jaw-droppingly beautiful. She always expresses sincere interest in what I’m doing and allows me to be a gentleman. She respects me deeply and I love her immensely for it.

Anything else you would want people to know?
Trevor: Incredibly enough, Caitlin loves me enough to allow me to whisk her away not only for our honeymoon in Bermuda, but immediately after to our new home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She’s never lived outside her native Appalachian mountains, and now she’ll be both married and in a foreign land! I have every confidence, though, that she’ll blow me away in how quick she’ll adapt to life away from the Blue Ridge.

Carrie and Matt are so creative and so talented, and this is going to show in every detail of their wedding.  I am so excited to be a part of their very special day…it will be truly spectacular!  Their wedding ceremony will be at Basilica of St. Lawrence with a reception following at the Deerpark on the Biltmore Estate.  On the day they become husband and wife, Carrie and Matt will have been together for three years and three months, and as Carrie puts it, ‘We are SOOO ready!!’.    Read more about this handsome couple…

How did you meet each other?
It was Good Friday. My (Carrie’s) parents always go out to the same restaurant every Friday, but this particular Friday, my sister Jackie (and Matron of Honor) convinced them to go to a new place- Guy Harvey’s Island Grill. Matt wasn’t supposed to be working that night, and we weren’t his table, but he waited on us because there were a few “pretty girls” at the table. ☺ So pretty much the night we met- my Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother-in-Law, Mom’s best friend, and my sister’s good friend were all there!!! It was truly love at first sight- and the whole family was in tow! As soon as we saw each other sparks flew! Too shy to ask for his number, Jackie’s friend Jessika took matters into her own hands and slipped Matt Carrie’s number while she left our table to “visit the bathroom”. The next day, Carrie went to visit her hairstylist (another Jessica) and told her the whole story. Being a social butterfly, Jessica knew a few people that worked in the restaurant and called around to try to get some info on “Matt”. She ended up going to eat at Guy Harvey’s that night with a friend and Matt served them at the bar. Once Jessica realized it was him, she told him that if he didn’t call- he would be making the biggest mistake of his life! The next day, Matt texted Carrie that he would be working at the bar that night. Against her character, Carrie went to go sit at his bar alone…and once she walked in Matt did a double take – and the rest is history! They closed down the bar, and Matt collected a kiss as his tip! Without Jackie, Jessika and Jessica – it might not have worked out the same!

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We got engaged at the Biltmore the Wednesday before Thanksgiving 2008. It was my (Carrie) idea to go see the Christmas decorations- and that played right into Matt’s hands!!! He knew I would want to do that. So after we walked through the decorated House, we took a stroll through the gardens and into the Conservatory. The moment we were alone- I had a weird feeling come over me… I became VERY aware that we were alone. As I turned around, Matt had a sly grin on his face… and he pulled out a ring he had designed and said “Carrie, I Love You, will you Marry Me?” .. then he got on one knee to put it on my finger. I cried and asked the next person walking by to take a photo of us!

What do you two do for a living?
Carrie is a Wedding/Event Planner so this wedding has been planned forever! Matt is a Property Manager, but is also a man of many talents including woodworking, landscaping and impressive bartending!!

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
We enjoy going to see Notre Dame football games, watching “Cake Boss”, visiting Disney World on a regular basis, visiting North Carolina on a regular basis, drinking Biltmore wine on the couch while watching the Celtics, Patriots, Bruins or Red Sox, going to see Red Sox spring training games, cooking out, sitting at Matty’s Bar (that he built himself), going to Carabbas (or anywhere out to eat!), playing with our dog Ponch, being creative!!!! Everything and anything- as long as we are together!

Why did you choose Asheville and the Biltmore Estate as your wedding location?
We got engaged at the Biltmore, but living in Florida- we wanted something different. A lot of couples travel to Florida or to a beach for their ceremony- we are coming to the mountains! It is also a good central location for our guests – Carrie’s family is from Chicago and California, Matt’s family is from Connecticut, and then a lot of friends are coming up from Florida.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
Carrie: Walking down the aisle and seeing Matt and the end of it! I have imagined this moment so many times, and I cry every time! Having all of our guests all around – but being focused on my partner for the rest of my life- waiting for me at the end of the Basilica’s aisle! Of course celebrating our vows at Biltmore afterwards comes in a close second!

What do you love about each other?
Carrie: What I love about Matt is…too many things to list! I guess that’s what happens when you find your perfect match. I am absolutely smitten with him! “Twitterpated” in my lingo ☺ It was truly love at first sight! Even when I think I look horrible, nothing ever changes- he always loves me 110% It puts me at ease- and makes life so much easier! He makes me feel comfortable no matter what and takes great care of me (and the house, ha ha). Matt is also so creative, just like me- so he understands the weird ways my mind works, and it keeps us both from every being bored! It amazes me how he can build such elaborate things! Matt inspires me to be a better person- and he is the reason I now own and operate my own event company. He had faith in me early on- and pushed me to reach my potential. Finally, he always speaks his mind, so I always know where he stands. It is so amazing to be in an honest and trusting place with such a handsome man! So cute! I can’t wait to walk down the aisle- I was ready the day we met☺ I am a very lucky girl!

Matt: What I love about Carrie is…There are so many reasons that I love Carrie which is incredibly hard to put into words. I first fell in love with the way she smiled at me with her eyes sparkling, and her infectious smile, this happened the first time our eyes met. As time progressed and we really got to know each other, I fell in love with everything else she does; I love the way she is never negative, always engaging in conversation, the way she takes care of me and our dog, Ponch. I’m infatuated with the way she always puts others first and how if there is a way to make people happy she finds it. I love how she is always the most creative person in the room, but doesn’t make it obvious. I love the way that she has learned what sports teams I follow and how she now understands how they are played and what the calls are. I love the way her skin is so soft and her lips are always gentle. I love the way she is confident while working with her clients and is able to make their ideas and dreams become real. But, most of all I love her because she is my best friend and there is no one in the world I would rather spend time with. She’s the best, and on June 26th I will be extremely excited to finally be able to call Carrie my wife.

Anything else you would want people to know?
We are both very excited for the Honeymoon in Hawaii! After a year and 7 months of planning, it will be a nice reward! A romantic vacation together!

To see more of their engagement photos by Corey McNabb, click here.

Debra and Tripp will be married on the Vista at the Inn on Biltmore Estate this June.  Debra is a Nurse Anesthetist and Tripp works in finance focusing on the sale and pricing of financial instruments.  Debra and Tripp met nine years again, and the have lived in Omaha, Naples, Boston and New York!  They are so nice, and I am very happy for them!  Please read more about this wonderful couple!.

How did you meet each other?
Tripp: We both were offered positions as camp counselors at a camp in Maine. I was a generalist but she taught gymnastics. Even though my cabin did not show a speck of talent or interest in gymnastics they all signed up for a rotation.
Debra: And in walked Tripp and six 8 yr old boys to learn gymnastics. I taught them all cartwheels. He definitely caught my attention and the rest of the summer we were inseparable.

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
Tripp: I had the ring for a few weeks and was planning to ask her on the anniversary of the first day we met. She was deeply involved in her graduate studies at Northeastern and had an exam on Monday. She worked hard that week and wanted to go to the beach on Friday, but as I had a big day planned for the anniversary on Saturday so I persuaded her not to go. Of course, this backfired as I couldn’t escape her on Saturday to set up my “engagement scavenger hunt.” After being almost caught countless times throughout the day, she finally frustrated at the lack of anything going on, cracked open her textbooks and started angry studying. It was then that I came clean, explained why I was so subversive the entire day and dropped to one knee. We still made it to our favorite restaurant, The Top of the Hub, for a champagne toast at sunset immediately followed by dinner.

Debra: In retrospect I should have had an inkling but at the time was caught up with studying for that exam. Tripp isn’t the type to tell me to skip the beach and study, so I cleared my schedule for the whole day. He really couldn’t shake me for long enough to get his scavenger hunt setup. He was acting so strange–now I know he was nervous and desperately trying to pull off the “perfect engagement”!

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
We are up for trying everything at least once…snowboarding, surfing, snorkeling, but on a consistent basis we play tennis, go fishing with my dad, take Remy (our dog) on long walks in the South End, and we drink coffee constantly.

Why did you choose Asheville and the Biltmore Estate as your wedding location?
We were spending time with Tripp’s grandparents in Burnsville, NC around our second anniversary. He arranged for us to stay at the Inn on Biltmore Estate to celebrate our anniversary. That was the first time I had ever been to the Biltmore-we saw the house, toured the winery and spent hours exploring the estate. We have traveled all over the world and the Biltmore continues to be one of our favorite places. We wanted to share the enchantment we felt there with the rest of our family and friends.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
Both of us moved away from family & friends to live in Boston and subsequently New York so just seeing faces we have not seen in awhile will be the highlight of the wedding for us. Also since we have dated for 7 years, been engaged for two years, we are pretty confident in our relationship and it is a way to share our little family with our loved ones.

What do you love most about each other?
Debra: What I love about Tripp is…
I love Tripp’s enthusiasm for life- he is always ready to checkout a museum, discuss current events at a local coffee shop, surf the North Shore or just hang out with “the fam” (me and Remy). He is by far the smartest person I have ever met and he makes me laugh relentlessly! Plus he makes a mean egg-in-the-hole and Mickey Mouse pancakes.

Tripp: What I love about Debra is…
How passionate she is about ideas that inspire her. How once she sets her mind to a task she pursues it endlessly. How she is a selfless person who cares more about the needs of others over her own; in her self-sacrifice I get to see the best part of what humanity can be.

Carolyn and Todd are such a sweet couple, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and Carolyn’s parents.  This handsome couple met four and a half years ago, and they both live in Florida, but in different cities.  Carolyn’s parents have a jewelry store in Florida, McCaskill and Company, and Carolyn has opened up her own fashion designer jewelry boutique, Sarah Carolyn, right next to them.  How much fun is that!  I love Carolyn’s jewelry and accessories, and I recommend to all my brides to check out her beautiful items!

Carolyn and Todd will be married at the lovely Homewood, in Asheville this May.  Here is some more information about these two…

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We got engaged on August 19, 2009. We were playing by a waterfall and before going inside, Todd wanted to go and see a beautiful view. As he kissed my cheek, I closed my eyes. When I opened my eyes, he was down on one knee with the magical words, “will you marry me”. It was a complete surprise to me!

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
Hiking, going to the beach, enjoy dinner and movie date nights

Why did you choose Asheville as your wedding location?
Carolyn’s parents have a second home near Asheville and both absolutely love to visit. They love the Smokey Mountains and wanted to share this with their friends and family.

What do you love most about each other?
Carolyn: What I love about Todd is…
We always have fun together. If I am down, he makes me smile. He has such a good heart. I am so proud of his relationship with the kids that he coaches.

Todd: What I love about Carolyn is…
How genuinely sweet and honest she is. How much she cares about people – she never, ever puts herself first.

Anything else you would want people to know?
After graduation from college in Tallahassee, Florida, Carolyn moved to Destin to start her business. They have been separated by 170 miles for 2 years and look forward to finally being together!

Gigi and Rich lived only a half a mile away from each other when they met in Washington, D.C, and now they are getting married!  Their ceremony and reception will be taking place in May at the Deerpark, located on the Biltmore Estate.  I love spring weddings, and they have chosen the perfect place.  Please read more about this beautiful couple….(I really love Rich’s answer about what he loves about her…made my heart melt).

How long have you two been together?
We had our first date on January 26, 2008 – so almost two and a half years. I had just moved to D.C. from Tennessee only three weeks before for a job. Rich came to pick me up on our first date and as soon as I our first course was served, I knew he was the one for me.

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
Over the year and a half that we had dated, I had mentioned several times what a special place my grandparents’ cabin in the Smokies was. As a child, I spent every summer at the cabin with my grandparents swimming at the river and playing in the mountains. For Memorial Day weekend last year, we planned on spending some time at the cabin and grill some steaks. While grocery shopping on the way, I tried to pay for some of the wine and groceries, but Rich insisted on paying for everything, which I did not think much of. I did get curious when he bought a more expensive bottle of champagne, but quickly forgot about it. As my brother and sister were leaving after dinner (we had some unexpected company, which I learned later on stressed Rich out a lot,) the sun started to set and I began to clean up the dishes in the kitchen. Rich pulled me outside and walked me down beside the river. I then noticed a bottle of expensive champagne that I did not remember buying at the store and two glasses. As I turned back to Rich, I saw that he was down on one knee and realized what was happening. After I said yes and put on the beautiful ring he had picked out all by himself, we sat down on the beach next to the water. Rich told me how he had pulled an airline employee aside to make sure the expensive bottle of champagne made it to Tennessee in one piece without me even knowing. He told me how he had been holding on to the ring for over a month waiting for that night. Then we called our parents and closest friends and told them the news. It was truly an unforgettable night.

What do you two do for a living?
Rich works for Booz Allen Hamilton, a government consulting agency in Washington, D.C. and I work for a Congressman from Tennessee as a Legislative Assistant for Telecommunications, Labor, and Agriculture.

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
We both really love to go to hockey games and the Verizon Center – where the Washington Capitals play – is walking distance from our condo. We have also started hiking recently and have found some great trails in Virginia and Maryland that are close by. All that said, probably our favorite thing to do is to rent a great movie, order takeout from our favorite Thai restaurant in Chinatown, open a bottle of wine, and enjoy some time together alone.

Why did you choose The Biltmore Estate as your wedding location?
Besides Biltmore being in one of my favorite areas in the whole country – Western North Carolina – Asheville was a great mid-point for both of our families. Rich grew up in Southern Virginia and I grew up in East Tennessee. We scheduled a visit with both of our parents last June and fell in love with Deerpark. We knew it would be the perfect mix of elegance with that mountain charm that I love so much.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
I think the most exciting thing about the wedding is getting both of our families together for this great big party. We will be having three nights of dinners together and it will be the first time our siblings have met each other, so it should be a great opportunity for everyone to get to know their new family members.

What do love about each other?
Gigi: What I love about Rich is… the way he will say things out loud that were just going through my head. Rich has so much passion – when he sets his mind to do something, he always completes the task. I admire how confident he is. He has this great way of speaking to people with strength and that same passion that I love so much. The best thing about having Rich in my life is that I know when we are old and wrinkled, we will still be able to share a laugh together and genuinely enjoy just being in each other’s company.

Rich: What I love about Gigi is… Gigi’s kindness, patience, and honesty are genuine. And her and ability to make decisions quickly and confidently with no remorse is truly remarkable. But my favorite thing about her is how she squints her eyes and smiles when she’s on a roll telling a funny story, which happens just about as often as I need it. So maybe I’ll change my answer… my favorite thing about Gigi is that she is here right next to me.

I just featured Jana and Noah’s engagement pictures by Two Ring Studios on my blog, but I wanted to also give you some information on this very sweet couple!  Jana and Noah have been together now for two and a half years.  Jana is currently in school pursuing her Ph.D in Higher Education Administration at the University of Tennessee and working as a graduate assistant.  Noah is a programmer/analyst with the Tennessee Valley Authority.  See below for more…

How did you meet each other?
We met playing in a Mud Volleyball fundraiser for the Epilepsy Foundation of East TN. We have several mutual friends, but somehow had never met. It was great on our first “real” date seeing each other in clean clothes!

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We got engaged on Christmas Eve. We were driving from TN to NC and Noah stopped the car at the Newfound Gap scenic overlook. He said he wanted to have our picture taken with the TN-NC state line sign which is almost perfectly between our two home towns. Noah asked a passing by couple to take our picture then knelt down on one knee.

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
We enjoy traveling, spoiling our dogs, and listening to live music around Knoxville. We also have a horrible, mutual addiction to Mexican dining!

Why did you choose The Farm and Asheville as your wedding location?
We both love the Asheville area and the beautiful mountain scenery of Western North Carolina. Specifically, The Farm provides a laid-back, yet stylish, comfortable feel that fits our personalities perfectly.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
Knowing that we get to spend the rest of our lives together. We are also very excited that we are able to share this amazing day with our closest friends and family.

What do you love about each other?
Jana: What I love about Noah is…I love Noah’s sense of humor and giant heart! On my worst day, he effortlessly makes me laugh. He is the kindest, most genuine person I’ve ever known. He never hesitates to help a stranger, and he never expects anything in return. He always sees the good in everyone and is a beautiful person inside and out. I truly feel like the luckiest woman in the world.

Noah: What I love about Jana is… I love Jana’s sense of adventure and her constant willingness to put up with all of my excitement and energy. She’s smart, beautiful, and our values are so closely aligned that I can’t imagine making this life journey with anyone else. I’m just super excited about her, and that makes me the luckiest guy in the world.

Anything else you would want people to know?
We want to thank everyone who has made this special day possible from our caterer (Colorful Palate) to our florist (Polly’s Florist in Waynesville) to our baker (Tiffany’s Baking Co.). Thanks to Two Ring Studios for the amazing engagement photos. Galen, you’re great at what you do! Additionally, to our parents, we’ve been overwhelmed by your support, generosity, and love. We love you dearly. And, of course, Tara Jordan has been phenomenal. Words cannot fully express how helpful her advice and expertise have been. Tara, you are truly amazing! Well, THANK YOU, Jana and Noah!

Ann Parr and Chet will be united as husband and wife this April 2010.  The wedding will take place at the beautiful and historic Homewood, located in Asheville, North Carolina.  They have been engaged for nine months, and together for a total of two years.   Ann Parr and Chet are both pilots for Atlantic Southeast Airlines, which I am SO jealous of because I love to travel!    Here is some more information about this very handsome pair…

How did you meet each other?
Ann Parr flew with one of Chet’s best friends and he suggested that she meet Chet. We went on a group date and hit it off!

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We were engaged in July, in Anchorage, Alaska. Our friend, Chad, is a pilot for UPS and he has his own small plane. We planned to go flying and we took a picnic with us. Chad flew us to a glacial lake that can only be reached by airplane. When we got there, Chet took the two of us out in a canoe and we paddled towards an iceberg. He stopped to take my picture and afterward, proposed!

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
We love to travel (outside of work!). We also love to hike, ski, and cook for our friends together.

Why did you choose Asheville as your wedding location?
Ann Parr has a lot of family in Asheville and we knew our friends would love visiting the area. Asheville has so much to offer for out-of-towners.

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

What do you love about each other?
Ann Parr: What I love about Chet is…
I love Chet’s compassion and sincerity, humor and passion. He is also one of the most loyal people I have ever met. Chet would go to the ends of the Earth for a family member or friend. He loves deeply and without stipulations. He is a beautiful man and, to me, the most beautiful man I have ever known.

Chet: What I love about Ann Parr is…
I love everything about my beautiful wife to be. I cherish the days we spend together, even the days when she “thinks” she has been in a bad mood. The fact is, there is not a more perfect woman in the world for me. She is the light when my world is darkest, and she is everything I have to hold on to.

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!