Wedding Winners E Seshy!

Thank you Hara with Documented Photography for your beautiful work, once again! Your talent shines with every picture taken! Nicole and Chad, you guys are the best and deserve this wedding! I am super excited about all that is coming together!! Next on our list... the tuxes, courtesy of Don Alan Fine Clothiers.

In honor of "Shark Week"

In honor of Shark Week, here is a beautiful inspiration board that you can sink your teeth into. Here in Pensacola we heart beach themed weddings! We have the gorgeous back drop for it. Enjoy!~

Allison VanGrowski &Miles White

Ages:28 & 34
Occupation: Licensed Massage Therapist, Yoga Instructor,

I was on a 'working' vacation in Costa Rica (studying with a bunch of Americans) & on the penultimate night this stunning little fox walked up to me, bold as brass, & paid me a compliment so outrageous, I was lost for words. Later, when I finally managed to get her alone to talk, I summoned all my charm & told her she looked like a little elf! Yep, that's what came out of my mouth! I've no idea how or why it worked, but in the two days we had left to get to know each other, I felt something so strong that I was convinced to shorten my long-dreamt of vacation in Paradise to fly to some backwater Pepsicola town I'd never heard of to meet her family & former Marine father… oh Joy!


I'll let her finish my story (as usual)….


When Miles showed a photo of me climbing a tree and said very sincerely and strangely complimentary, " Awww look; ya loook lyke a lil' elf " (in his English/Aussie accent)….I knew this was his strange way of saying he liked me, but I had to take that to the limit..."I tell you you're the most gorgeous guy I've ever seen and you come back with that?! Geezums you Aussie guys sure know how to make a girl's knees knock!"


Everyone saw and witnessed our love develop from that point. We spent our last 2 days we had together getting to know each other and shared our hopes, dreams, spiritual beliefs, visions and morals....all of which were strangely similar, despite the differences in our upbringings and cultural backgrounds... It was like looking in a mirror and seeing ourselves, but as the opposite gender. True. Twin Flames.


When he got to Florida, Miles was DRILLED, GRILLED CHEWED, ASSESSED & ultimately approved, accepted, welcomed and loved by ALL my family and friends, especially my 8 year old son, who's hit guys I've dated before!


Miles surprise proposed 3 months later, on my birthday (in a fantastically romantic way, overlooking the quaint English countryside with both our families involved). His family being properly English, I thanked my grandma for taking me to violin, piano, etiquette classes and having tea time since I can remember. It was like Hill-Billy Hollywood meets the Royal Family!


The last year has been a roller coaster ride with him living in Australia and us dealing with massive emotions, separation and a plethora of financial/logistical complexities that any sane couple would have bailed long ago. Despite the torturous months of separation, tears, heartache, long haul flights, phone bills(love you Skype) and the many obstacles we face it's really been a fairy tale. We've managed to stay strong, our love has grown from it all we still cherish every second we have together.

Tasha Lamb & Brennan Cooper

Ages: 28, 28

Occupation: Manager for a non-profit, Student (working on a degree in Chemical Engineering

First Date:
Our first date was Monday November 11, 2006. Brennan did not tell Tasha until later but he missed Monday Night Football, wings and beer with the guys to go out with her. We had dinner and drinks followed by a few rounds of video bowling. Tasha beat him mercilessly but rewarded him with a kiss for being a good sport.

Love Story:
From the first time I saw Tasha I was enamored. I told everyone at work that I had the hots for her just because I knew someone would probably end up telling her. In the meantime she was busy not liking me. Upon hearing about my hots for her Tasha was quoted as saying that she would never ever go out with me…ever. Tasha and I had hardly spoken up to this point in time.

Of course I found out exactly what she said. I actually didn’t care if she wanted to marry me or not: I just wanted her to think I was fun to be around. I cracked a few jokes here and there and tried to be extra helpful with her at work. I would talk our managers into letting us close up together just so I could work with her longer and hang out with her more. Sometimes a group of us would go have beers after work. I typically would only go when Tasha was going to be there. If we were riding somewhere together I would leave the top of my Jeep down because I knew that she would be cold.

Before you go thinking I’m crazy just remember that I was pretty much in love with her at this point. I look at it like how a good coach puts his underdog team in position to win the game at the last minute. I started to realize that I didn’t want to leave her when it was time to go home. I started to wonder if she felt that way too.

Turns out she did. We finally figured out that we were in love with each other. We are now engaged and I look forward to marrying her. I already know that day is going to be the happiest day of our lives.

We haven’t set a date yet because we don’t know what we are going to be able to do. We’re saving what we can and we’re going to see where it gets us. We will live happily ever after no matter what happens, but I will be eternally grateful if you guys helped me make my bride-to-be the happiest girl in the world on October 21st.

Erica Laxson & Travis Huffman

Ages: 25 & 25
occupations: Manager-David’s Bridal Pensacola
University of West Florida, Educational Doctoral Fellowship Student


First Date: (50 words)
After first meeting in 2004 we did not go on our first date until 2005 (after spending most of the summer getting to know each other via
lengthy phone conversations from 10 hours away) Travis invited me to meet him at the UWF gym for our first date upon return for the
upcoming fall semester. If you know Travis, this fits him perfectly!

Tell us your love story in 350 words or less.
Travis and I met in 2004 during move-in day at Martin Hall on the University of West Florida campus. As the semester proceeded,
I would occasionally chat with Travis in the hallways or he would catch my eye outside the Martin Hall dorms while I sat wrapped in ice
(because I played softball at UWF). Throughout the year we would continue to develop a casual friendship that consisted of these brief
encounters. After our first year at UWF we each ventured our separate ways home for the summer. Shortly after our departure from school,
we began to message each other on facebook. We eventually began to call one another and converse for what quickly evolved into hours
on end. We realized that we shared many things in common and could easily entertain one another even from such a great distance apart.
When we returned to campus for the 2004 Fall Semester, Travis invited me to the UWF fitness center for our “first date” (if you know
Travis this is standard operating procedure). The chemistry did not seem as strong in person as it had over the phone all summer long
and our “date” did not develop into anything further. We simply continued on our separate ways and realized that timing wasn’t right
for a relationship between the two of us.
After a few failed attempts at love from both sides I was randomly “facebooked” on my 21st birthday by Travis once more in 2007
while on my summer vacation home. We immediately picked up right where we left off years ago and decided that we would give it
another shot. Upon our arrival back to school in 2007 Travis took me on our first “real” date in August. The classic “dinner-and-a-movie” format
won out this time over the previous gym offerings. On September 5, 2007 after our lunch at Jerry’s Drive-In I asked Travis if I should tell my
grandmother if we were courting. His response to the old-fashioned inquiry was a definite yes! Three years, 10 months, and some odd days later we have
been happily together ever since!

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.

Kelly Blackwell & Nicolas Pauwels

Ages: 31/32
Occupations: Communications Coordinator at UWF
Assistant Electrician at Johnson Electric

Our First Date: The Fish House
We sat on the deck underneath the stars and enjoyed an amazing dinner. Nic was nervous, fidgety, and oh so charming. When our drinks arrived, he clanked them so hard that I thought they would break! I smiled softly while he recovered and then proposed a toast, “Here’s to a beautiful evening, I’m so glad I found you again”.
Our Love Story:
Nic and I met in high school. Almost 15 years had passed since I had last seen him. He sent me a message on Facebook telling me that he was in town visiting for a few weeks (before moving back to California) and would love to grab coffee. We did just that, and neither one of us expected anything more than a friendly reunion. We talked until the store closed, like long lost best friends. By the end of the night, I think we both knew we felt something major transpiring. We made plans to meet up at the Oyster Festival the following day. I showed up at the beach with my best friend, who happens to be male, and I couldn’t figure out why Nic wasn’t approaching me. I finally realized that he thought I’d brought a date! I got up the nerve to go talk to him, and made it obvious that I wasn’t with a date. We ended up seeing other friends there as well, and hung out collectively for a bit. Towards the end of the night, we decided to head into town and ended up at Sir Richard’s Lounge. Chris, my best friend, ordered us both a drink, and said “Kiss her already”. The next day was full of cute text messages helping us pass the time at work. The last one said “I can’t move to California–I’ll either have to kid nap you or change my plans.” Needless to say he never left Pensacola, and has been by my side every single day since the first day we had coffee. We never dated in high school, just friends. I think that we both needed to grow up, live life, make mistakes, and be absolutely comfortable in our own skins before finding each other again. We know for certain who we are as individuals and ultimately who we are together as a couple. We have cherished every single moment since our reunion. He leaves me little notes in my lunch, sends me flowers for no reason, compliments me when I’m not wearing any make up, protects me from the boogie man, and is the most amazing man I’ve ever known. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together!