I love May weddings (I was married in May!), and so I think that Melissa and Casey chose the perfect time of year for their ceremony and reception at the Grove Park Inn.  Melissa and Casey have been together for almost 6 years now, and it has been so wonderful getting to know them.  Now it is time for you to get to know them!

How did you meet each other?
We went to the same high school but managed to pass each other in the halls without ever meeting. It wasn’t until my freshman year of college that we started hanging out together with our mutual friends. I lived in an apartment complex with a basketball court and all of our friends would play every afternoon. Casey started playing with the guys more and more and it wasn’t long until we hit it off and started spending everyday together!
When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
Casey and I had discussed that we wanted to spend our future with each other, so it wasn’t if he was going to do propose, but when he would do it. We were both working at the same restaurant at the time and we had a very stressful Saturday. It was a very busy day and we both knew we were going to have to work the next day as well, which was Valentine’s Day. It was going to be our 5th Valentine’s Day together so I wasn’t expecting much this year especially with our work schedules being so hectic. We both got off work at 5 and drove separately home. On his way home, he called me and told me to go to the back room and watch a movie for 2 hours or so, while he could make dinner for me and set up a surprise. The whole time I was just thinking, “Wow, this is going to turn out to be a great Valentine’s Day!” When he was done cooking and decorating, I walked into our living room and I could smell the wonderful dinner he had made, candles spread out all over the house and rose petals leading me to the candle lit table. He had Valentines decorations everywhere and it was beautiful! He had a card sitting next to my plate but told me not to read it until we were finished eating. I still had no idea that a proposal was coming. During dinner, Casey told me how happy he was with me in his life and how far we had come from 5 years prior. We now lived in a brand new town, shared a home and had a great job together. When it was time for me to open his card, I didn’t even notice him get up from the table. I started reading the card and at the very bottom he wrote in small letters…. “Hopefully you are no longer just my girlfriend, soul mate and best friend. But my……….?” And when I looked up he was down on one knee with the ring!!!!

What do you two do for a living?
Casey and Melissa both work for Zaxby’s in Asheville. Casey is the District Manager over three locations. Melissa is the Training Manager for all three stores and is also a Licensee in one location. They are working to have 4 stores in Asheville within the next year.
What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
We love to take our two boxers, Rooney and Chloe, on walks by our neighborhood lake. Our favorite time of the year is spent in the summer at my family lake house in Hartwell, Georgia where we wake board, tube and cook out! We just bought a new home and we love spending time outside working on our yard. We love watching ESPN together and supporting all Georgia Bulldog sports!
Why did you choose the Grove Park Inn as your wedding location?
This will be a destination wedding for the majority of our guests and we wanted our family and friends to see the beauty of Asheville that we get to see every day! What better way to show them the mountains than the view from the Sammon’s Balcony? We only live 5 minutes from the Grove Park Inn and have dined at the beautiful Sunset Terrace Cafe before. After seeing the Sammon’s Balcony and the Sunset Terrace I knew I couldn’t find a location any more gorgeous to represent Asheville. I love that the ceremony site has a covered roof for a more romantic feel and that the reception will be both indoors and outdoors for the guests.

When you think about your wedding, what are you most excited about?
We are most excited about marrying each other, then dancing the night away with our friends and family!
What do you love about each other?
Melissa: What I love about Casey is… how thoughtful and caring he is. When it comes to my fiancé, he always makes the little things in life count. Not one morning goes by where he doesn’t make me a cup of coffee. He is amazing at everything he tries. He is a hard worker, very kind to people, an outstanding athlete, and my best friend. Casey has an extraordinary outlook on life and he inspires me to be a better person every day!
Casey: What I love about Melissa is…how she can always make me smile when she walks in a room. She lifts me up if I get down. She is one of the most kind and understanding person you could ever meet. Melissa was an awesome soft ball player in her day and she absolutely loves sports I could not have gotten any luckier. Melissa is truly my best friend I trust in her, believe in her and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with the woman of my dreams.