Mallory and Christopher have known each other since middle school, but it was on their mission trip to Haiti that things finally clicked for them both. Read their amazing love story, as told by the groom, then watch their stunning wedding day captured by Seth Dunlap of Ivory and Iron.
From The Groom:
It all started riding the bus in middle school. I was the goofy kid that would give her an awkward hello every once in awhile but she ignored me. Not for long. We grew up together in youth and it always seemed as if the timing was off, either i was dating someone and she liked me or vice versa. In the summer of 2012, I decided that it would be a good ideas to go on a mission trip to Haiti. Mallory also decided to go on this trip. Something clicked near the end of our time there and I began to see Mallory in a whole new way. Individually, God did an amazing thing in our hearts.
Prior to Haiti, Mallory had feelings for me for 3 years. We were always friends, but something felt different after the mission trip. More text messages were being exchanged and maybe a call here and there. Mallory tried to not overthink it, but she knew something was different, a good kind of different. A couple months later I asked Mallory to be my girlfriend through a little note in a fortune cookie. The love story had finally begun.
Our first year together started on August 29, 2012. It was the best, Mal was finishing senior year of college and I was working while also finishing my degree. Throughout the next 14 or so months, life started to shift. I applied to Hillsong College in Sydney Australia. Those last few months before leaving for school were spent celebrating the holidays, and spending every minute together. We knew we wouldn’t see each other for a year. The plan was for me to go to Hillsong for a year, and for Mal to move to Atlanta, Georgia in order to pursue her graphic design degree. We knew it wouldn’t be easy. January of 2014 eventually arrived and we said our final goodbyes, already counting down the days until we would be reunited. That year was probably one of the hardest (and best) things we could’ve experienced.
Half way into my first year at Hillsong I felt that God was calling me to attend college for another year. The only issue with that idea was, it wasn’t exactly what Mallory and I had in our minds. God’s agenda tends to be like that, and it is always better than what we originally hope for. We may not have fully understood it at the time but once we both made the decision to move to Sydney together for my 2nd year God started revealing his faithfulness to us. Yes there were ups and downs but we fought through them together. We are stronger and more equipped because of our year there.
In January 2015, we stepped foot onto the largest plane Mal had ever seen. Once we stepped foot on Aussie soil, I was eager to introduce Mallory to my friends as she was trying to wrap her head around the fact she was so far from home. Our year together in Australia was one the best things that could’ve ever happened to us. We both made close friends and Mallory got a job as a Graphic Designer at a fashion company. Now we have friends all over the world, and are more than excited to have them join us on our wedding day!
Once we moved home, as we began getting use to being home again I quietly planned a proposal. That involved the most acting I have ever done in my life. In order to make it a surprise I had to give her the impression that the idea of buying a ring was a distance reality. Meanwhile I was contacting our friends from St. Pete to ask if they would be willing to photograph our engagement and they agreed! I couldn’t have been happier. The plan was to take Mallory to Washington Oaks Park where we both had one of our favorite dates over 2 years ago. Everything was set, so the day before Easter I convinced her to go on a picnic with me.
Finally the day came and I was unbelievably nervous. It was 100% chance of rain and I was praying for God to bring clear skies. There were scattered showers all morning as I sat nervously for the time to come for me to pick her up. As we headed to the park it started raining and I wasn’t sure what to do! I kept praying and praying and as soon as we parked the rain stopped! I quickly grabbed the cooler in the back of my car (which had practically nothing in it because I was so nervous that morning), and we proceeded to walk to the gazebo by a rose garden. As we arrived to the gazebo there was a family hanging out in the spot where I planned on proposing! I ended up saying hello and giving the father a death stare that eventually caused him to leave and then I started talking to Mal. I don’t remember exactly what I said but I knew my intention was to be very sweet and thoughtful. As I was talking to Mal our friend was sneaking up behind us to take a photo but Mal ended up catching a glimpse of him behind us and got distracted.. Right then, I decided to get down on my knee and ask her. Thankfully she said YES!
Bridesmaids Dresses: Mismatched
Cake: Creme De La Cocoa
Ceremony Venue: Bowing Oaks Plantation
Cinematographer: Seth Dunlap
Dress: Lovely Bride ( It was about 5 different designers because it was pieced together from skirt to top)
Flowers: Chandler Williams at Marble and Pine
Groom: Men’s Warehouse
Hair: Lauren Burks at Braid Bar Sta
Makeup: Britnye Shore at the Bardot Beauty Bar
Music: Band – The Royals
Officiant: Matt and Jill McCloghry
Photographer: Flora and Fauna
Planner: Heather Canada
Reception Venue: Bowing Oaks Plantation
Shoes: Jessica Simpson