The Wedding Party

Amy's Attendants

Anna Burgess , Maid Of Honor -- Niece of the Bride
Angela Burgess , Matron of Honor -- Sister of the Bride
Marissa Parsons , Bridesmaid -- Friend of the Bride
Cari Downie , Bridesmaid -- Friend of the Bride
Andrea Leslie , Bridesmaid -- Friend of the Bride
Amy Sweatt , Bridesmaid -- Friend of the Bride
Stephanie Yoakum , Bridesmaid -- Friend of the Bride
Danielle Robertson , Bridesmaid -- Cousin of the Bride
Caroline Guinn , Flower Girl -- Friend of the Bride

Joel's Attendants
Chris Jolley , Best Man -- Friend of the Groom
Will Alley , Groomsman -- Brother of the Groom
Brian Boyles , Groomsman -- Friend of the Groom
Jimmy Smith , Groomsman -- Friend of the Groom
Brendan Handel , Groomsman -- Friend of the Groom
Stephen Burgess , Groomsman -- Brother-in-law of the Bride
Andrew Burgess , Groomsman -- Nephew of the Bride
Daniel Burgess , Groomsman -- Nephew of the Bride

The Proposal

Joel proposed on Saturday, March 29, 2008 at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. We had already had many discussions about getting married; we had even already been ring shopping so I knew that it was coming but was uncertain as to when he would propose. The week of the proposal he kept mentioning that I needed to keep Saturday clear...that we were going to have a day just for us. I didn't think anything about it, really, or even think that he was going to propose that day. Honestly, I was scared that I would be disappointed if it didn't happen so I had almost talked myself into believing that he was going to wait until mid-April or early May. I knew that he had planned a picnic and that we had tickets to a Casting Crowns concert that evening but besides those two things, I had no idea what he had planned. Once Joel picked me up, we spent some time together just driving around and talking (which is something we both really love to do) and then had our picnic at the gardens. After our lunch, we walked through the Orchid Conservatory and he proposed at the gazebo which overlooks a reflecting/wishing pond. It was a day I will never forget...it was perfect.

How We Met...

On our own we might never have met. Over several years our paths crossed from time to time at church, but we always seemed to be going in different directions. After two years, a mutual friend of ours, the Singles Pastor at Hickory Grove Baptist Church, decided to get us together. He and his wife invited us over to their house for dinner and introduced us to each other there. We had a great evening chatting and getting to know each other, and at the end of the evening we decided to exchange numbers. We had our first date the following weekend and have been together since!