Since I did not tell you anything about this lovely couple yesterday, today I want to start with their story.  The first time I sat down with Shay and Christopher – I could tell they were meant for one another.  I sat, sipping on my Chick-Fil-A diet lemonade, listening to them talk about how they met, hearing Shay say “I am so excited to be marrying my best friend” and hearing Christopher talk about the qualities in Shay that he had prayed for in a wife.  According to Christopher – everything about their relationship relates to a movie.  The first movie was You’ve Got Mail as their relationship started through a singles group on-line in 2007.  Shay knew pretty quickly that they had a lot in common – just by reading over his profile.  And once they began to exchange emails and learn more about each other, it was obvious that they were going to be great friends.  In June of that year, they decided to meet up for lunch and saw one another very regularly after that – for “friend dates.”  Over the 4th of July – Shay knew something was different when (in her own words): “I was getting lost in the crowd, when Christopher turned to me holding out his hand and said, “Friends can hold paws too.” He took my hand in his big strong hand and lead me through the crowd. That was the first time I thought, “I think I could really LIKE this guy.” It would be months before either one of us admitted this to one another.“

In 2008 while visiting New Orleans, Christopher took Shay to Greenwood Plantation, the place where his grandparents had gotten engaged and later that day asked for her hand in marriage at Galtories Restaurant.  She said yes and over the next couple of years their relationship grew in depth.  They started a business together (which you will hear about tomorrow), read My Utmost for His Highest and the Bible daily and learned so much about who it was they had been waiting for.

On January 22nd, 2011 Shay and Christopher got married at Hyde Park Presbyterian Church where they attend Sunday school and the contemporary service weekly.   You might recognize this church from these three other weddings.

Before the ceremony, I had a few minutes with the groom and his men and the bride and her girls separately . . .

Coolest tux tails ever!  So classy.

Pastor Shick praying for their wedding day and their marriage.

And then, the ceremony.

Shay and Christopher hired a side shooter for a couple hours during the day and I was delighted to have the talented Rayma Jenkins at my side!  She captured this shot above of them leaving the church.  LOVE it!

See you tomorrow for part {3}: happily ever after.