Summers
S
STEPHANIE Schumaier + GRANT Summers
October 26th, 2013
Like everyone else who grew up in a small town, Grant and I both knew we wanted to move away after high school because we thought we could find something better somewhere else. By 2008, though, we had both moved back to the area and since we moved in the same circle of friends we started to see a lot of each other. Gatherings at the lake, dinner parties, cookouts, and sporting events were just a few of the group events that we both ended up going to pretty regularly. This happened for roughly four years and it wasn’t until the end of 2011, that we both realized we wanted something more from one another. We put our friendship to the test and began dating. I didn’t realize that Grant was intending on proposing to me, but that was exactly his plan in November of 2012. We were in Mexico on vacation for Thanksgiving and everything was as normal as any other vacation had been before. The night of the proposal we were going on our special date night, something we tried to do pretty regularly, so arrangements had been made at one of the best restaurants near our resort. On our fishing trip earlier in the day I had caught a yellow fin tuna, so Grant decided to ask if the chef could cook something special for us with the catch. The restaurant was, Las Ventanas al Paradiso or “The Windows to Paradise”, was a gorgeous location for dinner. When we arrived at the restaurant we were escorted onto the beach via a candlelit pathway that lead to our own little private cabana, complete with nothing else but a beach view, a fire pit, and us. After our wine was poured, we toasted to our First Thanksgiving together and Grant said, “I think we should go ahead and put all the rest of the holidays on the calendar.” Then before I knew it, he was on one knee with the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen asking if I “would do him the honor of being his wife.” After I was able to stop cryingI said YES! Wedding: Oct 26th, 2013 at Middleton Place in Charleston, South Carolina. Ceremony took place in the Octagonal Gardens, Cocktail hour by Butterfly Lakes, and Reception at the Pavilion- Catered by Duvall Events and Catering- we danced the night away to “The Celebrity All-stars” (who were phenomenal by the way). Hair was by Weddings by Charlotte, Make-up Pamela Lesch, Hyer Images- Photographer, KLC Productions-Videographer- D’Lish Desserts- Cake (I’m not sure you care who the venders were since it was in Charleston) My sister, Sarah was my Maid of honor and Grant’s Best Man was his best friend, David Brisske from Duke. Our niece and nephews were our flower girl/ring bearers. A funny side note: my sister actually sprained her ankle during the rehearsal at Middleton. It swelled up black and blue and she had to wear tennis shoes under her dress on wedding day. She was a trooper though, bless her heart... Honeymoon: We left the Monday after our wedding weekend and flew to Virgin Gorda and stayed at Little Dix Bay for a week. JANUARY 2014 | VIPSEEN | 65