As soon as I met this couple, I knew they were special.  They went from being New Yorkers to Texans over this wedding planning process, so they have been troopers with so much going on in their lives!  Needless to say, they are looking forward to relaxing in the mountains of North Carolina for their wedding weekend coming up this spring.  Claxton Farm is where they will become husband and wife all while being surrounded by incredible mountain views, and their closest friends and family.  Can’t wait!  Continue reading to get to know Aven and Wes…
 
How did you meet each other?
Like any good love story, ours includes football, Cowboys & Indians, Mexican (well, Spanish) food, and New York City. We met in 2010 when mutual friends invited me (Aven) to join Wes’ flag football team. At the time, as luck would have it, we lived only a couple of blocks apart in the West Village and quickly became friends. In September 2011, under the guise of “helping me install window blinds,” we ended up on our first date at a small tapas restaurant on Bleecker Street. That fall, we began spending more and more time together: The Hunt, Cowboys & Indians Halloween Hoe Down, Hudson River Park, and countless late nights at restaurants and wine bars (and the Village Tavern, our local West Village dive bar). Over the next few years, the bright lights of Manhattan provided the perfect landscape for our relationship to flourish. We exercised in Central Park, took summer vacations to the Hamptons, and cheered on our beloved New York Yankees. I shared my love for the Tar Heels, and Wes introduced me to Texas A&M football and the music of Pat Green. By early 2015, Wes was ready to pop the question and so, he began to devise a plan…

How long have you two been together?
We’ve been dating for a little more than 4 and a half years and have been friends for nearly 6.
When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
In February 2015, I received an email from Wes about tickets to a Jazz concert at Lincoln Center that he’d snagged from a colleague. “Mark your calendar! We’ll get dressed up and make a night of it.” Fast-forward to March 28th, the morning of the concert, Wes told me he had errands to run and suggested I get my nails done during that time. So, I went to get a mani/pedi, while Wes ran around NYC buying fresh roses and champagne, and setting the scene for the surprise he had planned for later that night. That evening, we ran out of the door to make our “dinner reservation” (which I was causing us to be late for, per usual) when Wes suddenly suggested that we first head up to the rooftop to take a photo of ourselves all dressed up. I, still totally clueless, agreed. When we got to the roof, we asked “the lady taking photos of the sunset” to kindly take one of us, too. As she prepared her camera, Wes turned to me, got down on one knee and under the glistening lights of the New York City skyline, asked me to marry him. Of course, I said YES! And the photographer – who Wes had planted there – captured the moment beautifully!
What do you two do for a living?
I work in marketing and business development. Wes is in equity asset management.

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple?
We love exploring new things and places, traveling, being outdoors and running, and we’re huge sports fans – so, watching the Tar Heels, Aggies and New York Yankees!
Why did you choose Claxton Farm as your wedding location?
I (Aven) grew up in Asheville and knew I wanted to get married outside in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. Wes grew up in the Texas Panhandle on his family’s farm. We both had an “elegant barn setting” in mind. Claxton totally fit the bill!
What do you love about each other?
Aven: What I love about Wes is…
I love Wesley for his goodness. He is kind and honest and is truly guided by the values of faith and love and family. I have never met anyone who embodies the phrase “salt of the earth” in the way that Wesley does. I love Wesley for being smart and confident, without being boastful or proud. He has achieved so much, but done so in his own, casual way. I love Wesley for being up for anything and always on the lookout for a new adventure. His willingness to experience new things (and faith that they’ll work out) led him to New York City and us to each other. I love Wesley for being competitive and never settling. I love Wesley for how much he loves the Aggies… and is learning to love the Tar Heels too. I love Wesley for being so thoughtful about everything he does. Our engagement story is a perfect example of just how thoughtful he is. He had everything planned down to the last detail, including making sure I had my nails done! I love Wesley for always helping me to see the forest for the trees and reminding me of what really matters in life. I love Wesley for always making me smile and never taking himself (or me) too seriously. I love Wesley for his smile, which always makes me smile, too. I’m so excited for us to be husband and wife, and I couldn’t imagine a better person to have by my side for all of life’s adventures!
Wes: What I love about Aven is…
Anyone who knows Aven will speak to her contagious happiness. She’s always smiling and laughing! As we look back through pictures of her childhood, Aven always has a glow about her. That comes from the goodness and kindness in her heart. It is an inner beauty that is matched by an outer beauty. I love that Aven can stun in a cocktail dress when going out on the town, and then wake up the next morning to outrun you in a 5k. I love that Aven truly cares about having a successful professional career. She is equally admired by both those who work above her and those who learn under her. I love that Aven loves sports! She knows and understands the in’s and out’s, which makes playing alongside her challenging and cheering from the bleachers with her fun. Aven cares about living a healthy life, which is reflected in her diet and exercise. I love that her healthy, active lifestyle will be passed along to our kids. And maybe most important to our relationship, I love that Aven is low maintenance and easy going. This particular trait matches very well with my personality. We have big things ahead of us, and I am truly honored and excited to have Aven by my side for the rest of my life!