Wedding Date on Sep 4, 2021

I like to think that all of the best connections in Carolyn's life came from social media. First, she serendipitously met Neil through Bumble. Second, she met me through instagram! (No really, she slid into my DM's.) My beloved Mercury Hall, where my husband and I got married nine years ago, was expected to close shortly after filming this wedding. I had never filmed there, so I posted on instagram looking for a connection to try to film a wedding there before they closed, and Carolyn reached out. I'm not sure I could have ended up with a more perfect couple on a more perfect day! Their day was vibrant, joyful, and full of laughter from start to finish. Together they have the coolest little family, and through their banter and the way they interact, you can tell they balance each other and make an amazing team. Wishing these two all the best! From the Bride: "It was Lizzo that brought us together, really. I was visiting a friend to see Lizzo at Austin City Limits in October ‘19. It was on this trip that I serendipitously forgot to deactivate my Bumble account before leaving Dallas. This mistake wasn’t realized until returning home, only to open the app and see Neil, smiling in front of a big Austin sunset. What started as a message and GIF about our shared career quickly turned into endless text messaging and LOLs, a nervous first facetime date, and a first IRL date so eagerly anticipated that Neil moved it up a few weeks and came to Dallas instead. I like to think that we both fell fast for each other, but in all honesty, I know that I fell first. Neil is many things… A great father to two amazing young women. An eternal optimist. A food, drink, and music enthusiast. A fitness lover. A mediocre multitasker (sorry, Neil, had to). A blossoming doodle Dad. He is thoughtful, deeply caring, witty, smart, and wildly funny. I have found myself in physical pain from fits of laughter induced by him more times than I can count. And he is my partner in every sense of the word. I often said throughout my dating experience that I wasn’t looking for an “easy” life with someone— rather, I was looking for someone I could do the hard parts of life with. Since those early, carefree days of 2019 (those really were the days, weren’t they?), we have navigated a long distance relationship, a global pandemic and all the associated stressors, the early challenges of blending a family (Starbucks frappucinos, FTW!), and a historic Austin snowstorm. And through it all, still… Neil smiling. Last fall, I sold a house in Dallas, finally closed the gap that was 3.5 boring hours on I-35, and started a new job as Neil’s newest coworker. On Thanksgiving Day, right after dinner, Neil got down on one knee (with the help of Avery and Alora as ring design consultants/ proposal coordinators/ florists/ photographers/ videographers) and asked me to be his wife. I said yes (through a lot of tears for a girl who rarely cries) and am so, so, so happy to spend forever with him. * As a small token of our gratitude for the introduction, we have invited Lizzo to the wedding but we make no guarantees. She’s a busy woman." From the Groom: "It was Lizzo that brought us together, really. On a perfectly peaceful Sunday afternoon in Austin, TX, Avery, Alora (my two daughters), and I trampolined mindlessly in our backyard, when a truly unpassable opportunity bounced our way: 3 discounted ACL wristbands with all the headliners yet to play for purchase. Within minutes we had pounded some water, filled our fanny packs, and away we dashed to Zilker park. Oh how I remember the first time I saw her: bold, beautiful, captivating… but, when the music dropped, so did her pants, out came her flute (a woodwind?!), and, if I’m being completely honest, I really don’t know the first bit about doing a thing to any Tempos. Alas, my romantic pursuits of the ever talented Lizzo fizzled away. Back at home, girls in bed, I resigned myself to my bedtime routine of teeth brushing and Bumble swiping. I really do remember the first time I saw her: a gainfully employed CRNA, a cultured friend to camels and humans alike (pics confirmed), and, as my girls remind me to this day, way out of my league by any and every measure. Whether it was an iOS glitch or a brief lapse of judgement, I will be forever grateful that the bold, beautiful, captivating and oh so lovely Carolyn’s swipe matched mine. I like to think that we both fell fast for each other, but in all honesty, I know that I fell first. Carolyn is SO many things… unapologetically organized, inspiringly intentional, fiercely loyal, tirelessly caring. A passionate doggo mom. A supportive patron of fine food and drink. A #fitnessinfluencer, at least for me. A hugger, a fighter, a GOOD friend. Clever in wit, thoughtful in action, and cute to boot. Truly, I am at my best whenever near, around, observing, or hand-in-hand with Carolyn; she sharpens me. Since the start of this thing, it’s been a roller coaster. The highs have been high: from being scolded for kissing at the diveist of bars, to epic confetti egg battles with the girls, to sipping value prosecco together soaking in the big Texas sky… and the lows low: from packing all of our crap into boxes, to job transitions, to deadly pandemics, to murder hornets. Remember those? Murder hornets. Looking back, if there ever was a silver lining to the difficult terrain together we’ve traversed, it is how struggling through these times with the unwavering support, care, and conviction of such an incredible human has brought abundant joy and hope and deep love to this home. Carolyn is a loving partner and a nurturing soon-to-be evil stepmother and I believe I can speak for this little Tuna crew in saying that we are pinch-ourselves lucky to invite Caro into the fam. I am so grateful to love and be loved by Carolyn and cannot wait to enjoy the life we build together. Lizzo, please come."