kristen + jim // Glen Iris Inn Wedding at Letchwork State Park

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We knew that Kristen and Jim were going to be a perfect fit for us almost immediately. Big time nature lovers who met while hiking the Appalachian Trail?! Sign us up! Not only do we share a love for all things green and glorious, but we also share a deep love of the importance of those we hold most dear. Capping their guest list at only 100 people (during pre-pandemic days!) was a sure fire way to make certain that their beautiful Letchworth State Park wedding was easy, relaxed, and intimate, which perfectly suited their matching laidback personalities.

What truly made this day special was simply the clear and overwhelming amount of love that Kristen and Jim have for each other. The way they looked at each other, laughed, touched; there was a steady stream of undeniable joy and admiration in their eyes from their very first glances until long after the sun had set. We are honored to have been a part of their special day.

Jim: “I met Kristen, the love of my life, while hiking on The Appalachian Trail. It was May 2016. While hiking, Kristen and her group were on a similar pace with me, meaning that we mostly stayed at the same shelter and tent sites at night. Over the next several days, I hiked with Kristen’s group and stayed in the same shelters.”

Kristen: “I could tell Jim was kind and smart and compassionate. Everybody at the campsite woke up before the crack of dawn because we had heard that the sun rises right between the mountains and that camp had a perfect view. It did not disappoint! I watched the sunrise next to Jim without speaking. It was perfect. He left camp before me and my friends that day but we bumped into him at Charlie’s Bunion (a beautiful overlook). We started really talking there. He hung back when my friends and I left to keep hiking north. We met again at the shelter that night and I think that was when I first started falling in love with him.“

Jim: “At the end of our trip, Kristen invited me to stay in the city of Gatlinburg, TN in the foothills of the Smokies to cap off the trip. I did, we all went out to dinner and explored the city. When it was time for me to leave, I felt a pit in my stomach about leaving this woman I had just met. We promised to stay in touch and we did. That flight out of Tennessee was one of the toughest in memory. It was back to western Massachusetts for me and back to south Georgia for Kristen.“

Jim: “A short while after I was back living and working in Massachusetts, Kristen booked a flight to Boston where we would see each other for the first time since meeting in the woods. We had been talking on the phone and Skyping ever since. That weekend in Boston was amazing. It seemed like we had known each other for years. Kristen allowed me to indulge my love of history by checking out all Boston has to offer. Again, it was back to the airport with goodbyes.

A while later, I flew down to Jacksonville to meet Kristen. We went kayaking and got tattoos together (not matching ones, just ones we had both been thinking about separately for some time.) Being with Kristen, I felt like our souls had known each other in a prior life.“

Kristen: “We were in Tennessee (where I’m from) for a wedding in March of 2018. We decided to hike back to Charlies Bunion, the place where we had first started really talking two years before. When we were there in the summer of 2016 he took a pictures of me from behind, facing out of the overlook. He told me to stand on a rock so he could take a similar picture, and when I turned around he was on one knee. I can’t remember what he said or if I even said yes! But it was an understood yes and we hugged and celebrated and it was absolutely perfect.“

Jim: “I think I checked to make sure the ring was there every 60 seconds during that hike.“

Jim: “Seeing Kristen walk down the aisle during the ceremony was stunning, joyous and beautiful.“

Jim: “Hearing our friends speak about our journey as we held hands was incredibly moving.“

Kristen: “I never believed people when they said ‘when you know you’ll know’. But I knew there was something special about Jim. I felt like I’d know him for 100 years, at least. I could read him immediately and he understood me immediately. It has been effortless. He is supportive and respectful. We are better together than we ever were apart and that is enough to convince me that we are meant to share this life together.“

Kristen: “The more things Jim and I experience together, the more our relationship grows. Those experiences and adventures are want build our relationship.“

Kristen: “I loved walking back down the aisle after the ceremony to the Star Wars ‘Throne Scene’ music. It is such a triumphant song and we lifted our hands in victory while we listened to all our friends and family laugh with us at the fact we played Star Wars music at our wedding.“

Kristen: “I went dress shopping with my mom and a couple bridesmaids while I was in my hometown for Thanksgiving. I had no preconceived ideas of what I wanted. Honestly I had never put a lot of thought into my ‘wedding dress vision’. I tried on several different types of styles and tried to gauge reactions from my friends. I ultimately went with one that I thought was timeless and suited me. I’ve never been one for wanting to look like a princess so I was really happy to find an elegant flowy dress that suited my nature.“

Jim: “Dancing with Kristen (including our practice dance in the Glen Iris Inn, our formal first dance, and slow dancing later on) was incredible. We laughed during the practice dance, smiled during our formal dance and cried during our slow dance amidst the guests.“

Kristen: “We danced to ‘Come to Me’ by the Goo Goo Dolls. Much to Jim’s dismay, I didn’t want to dance to a country song. The Goo Goo Dolls song stood out to us very early in our relationship, having a very touching music video. It was upbeat and easy to dance to. We danced to it many times in our living room!“

Kristen: “Dancing with my dad at my wedding was one of my favorite memories and something I know he put a lot of thought into. We danced to a song mashup of ‘My Girl’ and ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’. It reflected our special bond from a young age but finishing out as adventure partners and two peas in a pod.“

Jim: “Dancing with my mom was incredibly moving. We danced to ‘The Greatest’ by Kenny Rogers. We listened to that song together when I was a kid on a cassette tape to and from baseball games. It has a joint message of overcoming adversity and humor at the same time, which is reflective of our relationship. I know that moment has stuck with both of us.“

Kristen: “Feeling lost on the dance floor with my new husband even though we were surrounded by people was surreal.“

Jim: “Having our closest friends and family in one big circle singing ‘Friends in Low Places’ all smiling and laughing will be an image that will stay with me forever.“

Kristen: “The DJ did a great job of keeping people on the dance floor and I had an absolute blast dancing with friends and family.“

Kristen + Jim: “Three words: ‘It’ll be fine’. Don’t get wrapped around the axle with wedding details. Small details won’t be remembered by you or the guests. Big picture is what’s important! The details don’t make the experience. The people and their enjoyment at your wedding is what makes the experience.

It was SO easy to work with everyone at Ayres! Everything felt seamless and everything behind the scenes was taken care of.“

Looking for another wedding in a beautiful outdoor setting? We’ve got you covered!

Wedding Vendors Include:
Venue: Glen Iris Inn at Letchworth State Park
Hairstylist: Rachel Rizzo Hair and Makeup
Bride’s Makeup: Hannah O’Hamill
Bridal Dress Shop: David’s Bridal
Dessert: Sweet Sarah’s
DJ: Rigg’s Entertainment