TOWN
Weddings / by Andrew Huang
Emily Ayer & Ben Olson October 12, 2013 Sometimes, the people who know us best are the perfect matchmakers. For Ben and Emily, that matchmaker was Emily’s cousin and Ben’s friend. Despite constant urging from this mutual friend, it took over a year for the couple to meet. But after they started dating, it only took 6 months for Ben to propose. For the big day, Ben planned to take Emily on a historic tour of downtown filled with reminiscences of their relationship. As the tour wound down at the Peace Center’s amphitheatre, Emily noticed giant paper boats with neon flags floating in the water. The flags showed the important question: “Emily, will you marry me?” The couple was married at Greenville’s historic Downtown Baptist Church. PHOTOGRAPH BY CARTER TIPPINS // CARTER TIPPINS PHOTOGRAPHY
Stacy Pye & Ryan Ziegler August 31, 2013
Molly Garrison & Jonathan Stauning September 7, 2013 Molly and Jonathan didn’t adhere to the script as far as Furman University lore goes. Although the two met during orientation week as freshmen, they didn’t begin dating until after they graduated. For five years, the two dated long distance across multiple cities until a fall evening in Manhattan. After dinner at a little French restaurant, Molly and Jonathan walked home along the Hudson River before heading to a neighborhood park where Jonathan got on one knee and proposed. The two were married at Charles E. Daniel Memorial Chapel at Furman and now live in Charlotte. PHOTOGRAPH BY LINDSEY & CRAIG MAHAFFEY // SPOSA BELLA PHOTOGRAPHY
Ryan made sure to take Stacy’s breath away on a Christmas trip to Las Vegas. First, Ryan chartered a special helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon—in and of itself a breathtaking experience. But instead of flying away at the end of the tour, the helicopter landed at the bottom of the canyon. There, with a picnic and Champagne waiting, Ryan popped the question. Stacy and Ryan, who met 13 years ago as students at the University of South Carolina, had begun dating after reconnecting three years ago. Their ceremony and reception were held at Zen, and they now live in Des Moines, Iowa. PHOTOGRAPH BY CRYSTAL HEART & KEITH CARSON // RED APPLE TREE PHOTOGRAPHY
Allison Strong & Zach Brown October 5, 2013 Sometimes, you get exactly what you ask for, and, in the case of Allison and Zach, that turned out to be a good thing. The couple was in Savannah for Allison’s birthday weekend. While on the beach at Tybee Island, Allison spoke her mind. “Why are you being weird? Are you going to propose or something?” Although Zach hadn’t planned on proposing at that very moment, the cat was already out of the bag. The two Clemson graduates were married at Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, with Zach arriving to the ceremony by plane. They now live in Alvarado, Texas. PHOTOGRAPH BY JANA CANDLER // JANA CANDLER PHOTOGRAPHY
HEARING WEDDING BELLS? TOWN Magazine wants to publish your wedding announcement. If you currently live or grew up in the area and were recently married, please write to us at TOWN Magazine, Attn: Andrew Huang, 148 River Street, Suite 120, Greenville, SC 29601, or e-mail ahuang@towncarolina.com. Due to space constraints, inclusion is not guaranteed. 40 TOWN / towncarolina.com