Nicole Slay & Chad Parker

Ages: 31 & 34
Occupations: Marketing and Recruiting for Financial Services Company,
Owner Parker Pools

Our First Date: March 1998.
We met 13 years ago while working at my neighbors’ pool store. We had our first date within the first few days of meeting. We went to Peg Leg Pete’s for dinner to meet some of my friends, who ended up being a no show.
But that worked out just fine for Chad and I. After dinner, our first kiss was in the parking lot. It was a warm March night and I was wearing a sundress and sandals and remember having butterflies in my stomach.
Our Story
We fell in love hard and fast that summer. We spent the spring and summer working, going to school, and bouncing back and forth between Destin, Pensacola and Biloxi visiting and meeting each other’s family and
friends. We jet skied and boated almost every weekend all along the coast from Florida to Mississippi. We bonded over beaches, boats, bikinis, and board shorts.
Thirteen years later, a few cross-country moves (solo on my part), lots of packing and tears, missed calls and emails. I moved back for good over 10 years ago and we are planning on getting hitched finally. I love this
man with all my heart, even at times when I want to strangle him…..which any female on earth would share the same feeling if you had to wait over 13 years to get a ring!! We have watched our family grow as my sisters
have gotten married and we have witnessed the births of our niece and nephews. I know that there will be a collective sigh of relief and even some shouts of “unbelievable” and “finally” heard throughout Pensacola
when we actually walk down the aisle together as man and wife. But, the end is well worth the journey and I will be the happiest woman on earth on that day. And our story will begin a new chapter that day.
I can’t wait for the day that I start my walk down the aisle toward Chad. My favorite part of any wedding is when the groom is looking down the aisle waiting for his bride, and the first smile and sometimes tears
when he sees his bride for the first time. What will make my walk down the aisle even more special is that my Dad will be walking me down the aisle. I like most girls have dreamed of this day growing up. It was
always something I took for granted until March 23, 2010. My Dad was involved in a motorcycle accident and is truly blessed and extremely lucky to be alive. It was originally believed dad would lose one if not
both of his legs, but he is a fighter and he has struggled through the pain and therapy and is now able to walk short distances with help of his cane. So now I will walk down the aisle with the first man that I fell
in love with, my Dad, toward the man I love deeply and will spend the rest of my life loving and building a family with, Chad.
Chad and I have had ups and down like every couple. We have laughed and cried together. Words can’t explain all we have been through and learned from each other, and I don’t know the words that will fill the
middle and end of our story. But I know that together we will start the journey with lots of love and see where the journey takes us. As long as it is together, I know our future will be everything I want and more.
Love is where the journey begins and ends.