In the fall of 2016, Charlie had no idea that she was about to meet the love of her life. She was starting her first semester of college at Belmont University, surrounded by aspiring musicians and creatives. A workaholic from McLean, Virginia, she was an avid lover of live entertainment, art, people, and chaos.

At the same time, Casey had decided to take a chance and transfer to Belmont from LSU to pursue his musical dreams. A driven, passionate songwriter and trombonist from Covington, Louisiana, it was easy for him to make new friends in a place like Music City.

They met in First Year Seminar, when Casey sat next to Charlie after a particularly vulnerable presentation. He wanted to make sure she was okay. She loved his kind energy and genuine nature.

That next semester, they sat together in First Year Writing. They bonded over their love of The Revivalists, Chago's Cantina, music festivals, and writing. In their third semester, they took Entertainment Industry Studies together. Then Fairs & Festivals.

It was no coincidence that they had a class together every semester until graduation.

By junior year, Casey and Charlie were best friends. They had attended several festivals together, traveled to new states, thrown parties with mutual friends, and made unforgettable memories throughout the city of Nashville. Casey was in a band, and Charlie went to every show she could. By the summer of 2018, nearly two years into their friendship, Casey was madly in love.

He spent the next several months debating whether or not to risk such a cherished friendship in the pursuit of something deeper. When his birthday came and went in December 2018, he knew that he couldn't keep hiding from reality. He had run out of excuses not to make a move, and after one vulnerable night where he bared his soul, it was Charlie's turn to consider whether or not it was worth the risk to transition from a friendly relationship to a romantic one.

Fortunately, she had already invited him and a few others to her hometown of McLean, Virginia over New Year's to celebrate, see family, and show our friend Nomi Washington D.C. for the first time. On this trip, as the clock struck 12:00 and Casey and Charlie shared a midnight kiss, she had decided it was worth it to give it a shot.

The rest is history, as Casey and Charlie's wedding in April 2026 comes over seven years since that day. In that time, they've survived a pandemic together, worked in food service together, grew into unique and independent career lanes together, shared a home together since July 2022, traveled across the country together, raised Louie and Monty together (the two goodest bois), and have built a deeply loving, energy-filled, whimsical, accountable, ambitious, comfortable, and transformational relationship.

If you're reading this story, you have laid an important brick, if not a crucial layer, in our foundation. We could not have found each other, ourselves, or the resolve and wisdom to continue building if not for at least one interaction with you. We cannot wait to share this celebration in your company.

By Charlie and Casey's 5-year anniversary on New Year's Day 2024, Casey already knew that he was going to marry Charlie. He decided that she was his person, but he wanted to make sure that the moment was as special as it deserved to be.

As he was doing this, Charlie mentioned that she wanted to see Darren Criss, her favorite actor, in a Broadway production in New York City. Casey had never been to New York City, but he knew it was Charlie's favorite city in the world.

As this trip started to become a reality, he remembered that she told him years ago that the Top of the Rock in New York is her favorite view anywhere. And so the proposal wrote itself: a secret photographer at her favorite view in her favorite city, right before seeing her favorite actor perform live, in the middle of a whirlwind trip through the streets of Manhattan.

While Casey is from the nearby town of Covington, Louisiana, he never expected to get married in his home state. Since he met Charlie in Nashville, and since they both have friends and family in Middle Tennessee, he thought the wedding would be in Tennessee. Charlie had other ideas.

Charlie fell in love with New Orleans years ago, even before being in a relationship with Casey. Since he has so much family there, and since so much of her family has never seen it, she was inspired to show them the magic and charm of the Crescent City.

We both recognize that this is a destination wedding for many of you, and we are aware of the sacrifices that come with inter-state travel. We thank you for your willingness to make those sacrifices, and we're excited to share this unique slice of American culture with you.