“When we finally did meet, we instantly connected over our mutual love of the New Orleans Saints, rosé, and Austin’s bad sense of fashion.” (#lovestoryburn)
THE STORY
For two years, Chris and Austin lived within one block of each other but never met—that is, until they were introduced through mutual friends at a party.
The next day, Austin and Chris spent their first date doing a lot of laughing, and drinking a lot of rosé. They knew there was something special there, so rather than calling it a day, the two grabbed more rosé (what else?) and watched the Grammy Awards at Chris’s place. Six months, and presumably… (does the math) …10 cases of rosé later, Chris and Austin were inseparable.
On vacation in Tulum, Mexico, as they walked together on the beach, Chris noticed an empty glass bottle in the sand. He opened it to find a handwritten note from Austin. As Chris began reading it, Austin got down on one knee and proposed. “It was a complete surprise and it was perfect!”
Chris said yes (because, c’mon, message in a bottle proposal), and the two began planning their wedding. From the fun (cake and food tastings at BIRD Bakery and their venue) to the frustrating (finding said venue), they quickly learned the value of staying calm and making decisions together. Decor and floral elements were important to the couple, and ultimately, they chose to open up their budget to accommodate upgrades in those areas. They also hired a wedding planner—who turned out to be their wedding MVP—to help execute their big day.
For honorary roles, Chris asked his best friend Kera to be his Best Woman, while Austin chose his brother Travis to be his Best Man. Kera and Chris have been best friends for over 10 years and speak multiple times a day. Austin and his brother grew up in a single parent household, and became very close, with Austin taking on a paternal role in their relationship. “[Austin] was a father figure to his brother, so the two of them have a very unique bond.”
On their wedding day, Chris and Austin bucked tradition by getting ready together, heading to Dior Beauty and ERA Salon to prep. They also invited everyone up to their suite at Hotel Zaza before the ceremony. “This made the entire day special and allowed us to share many more moments together.”
And at their reception, Chris threw a bow tie—an alternative to the traditional garter toss. (We enthusiastically approve.)
THE OUTFITS
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