American Heroes Dream Wedding Giveaway
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. -Elmer Davis
On August 10, 2019, eight local Brazos Valley wedding vendors came together to gift one lucky couple with a free wedding. Why? Simply to say “Thank you”.
The “American Heroes Dream Wedding Giveaway” was birthed from the desire to honor the military personnel, first responders, and teachers that have faithfully served our community. The first ever Dream Wedding, hosted at the lovely Inn at Quarry Ridge, was gifted to Cody and Jessica. After 11 beautiful years of marriage, Cody and Jessica finally got the wedding they never had. You can read their amazing love story here…
Jessica+Cody’s Real Wedding: Our 11 Year Story
Written By | Jessica (the Bride)
Born and raised in the south, our love story starts the way so many do when Cody and I met in High school. What started as an innocent girl crush on an upperclassman, led to a light-hearted friendship that was more than it seemed. Cody was tall and handsome, and he would often, with a twinkle in his eye, flirtingly tease me about my more petite stature. On the last day of school, I boldly walked up to him, asked him to take a picture (this was well before selfies) and handed him my phone number. My boldness won his heart and that summer was a true summer romance was born. However, our romance sadly ended before the first day of the next school year. We both realized, as he was starting his senior year, that I was simply too young for him. But the spark that had been ignited was not going anywhere.
Later that year he decided after graduation he would serve in the US Military. He soon left for boot camp. Cody faithfully wrote me letters and after boot camp we stayed connected through email and yes, Myspace! After boot camp and a little more time, in 2006 he was deployed to Iraq and I was going to Texas A&M University. Again this spark between us just made us feel more love for each other even with great distance. Soon we began to make a plan for his return. My heart was flooded with emotions and I told myself that if it was meant to be, he would return from Iraq and we would give it a shot. He returned to Washington in 2007, that Christmas. I visited him and we had the most romantic time. Of course, I had to return back to College Station for school, but we didn’t want it to end. We spent New Years at Hurricane Harry’s in 2008. By now that little spark from high school was full on love. As an exclamation point to our whirlwind romance, on March 23, 2008, we decided to elope. Shocking many family members and friends, I shared the news, and moved to Washington to be with him. Our hearts knew we were meant to be, so why delay?
We’ve been married a while, we’ve grown in our love. We’ve walked through buying our 1st home, an Iraq tour, Australian vacation, Afghanistan tour #1, my father’s death, Afghanistan tour #2, his father donating a kidney to his mother, my graduation from A&M, my mother’s death, his return home with no job, the birth of our oldest child, foreclosure on our home, a move to Houston, Afghanistan tour #3, my 1st teaching job, his return home, and the birth of our second child. Each event has drawn us closer together. I would love to say that our marriage has been perfect, but it has been full of bliss and strength that has brought us through heartache and beauty, leaving us stronger together than we would ever be apart.
Now, we have two beautiful boys, David, 5, and Christopher, 3. I am in my 5th year teaching. Cody has joined the Houston Police Department and the best is still yet to come.
We were so gratefully excited to finally be able to host our Wedding Day at the Inn at Quarry Ridge with the following Amazing BABV Vendors: Buppy’s Catering, Downtown Event Services, Ashley & Co, Post Oak Florist, Fabulous Fare, Patti Darby Photography. The food was amazing, the bar was awesome, it was such a memorable day and everything was not only perfect, it was absolutely beautiful! Thank you!!!
The Dream Wedding Giveaway is open to Military, First Responders, and Teachers who reside in the 9 county (Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Milam, Robertson, Walker, Washington) area BABV serves. We plan to give away one Wedding a year valued at $10,000.00 along with our participating partners. The next Giveaway will be at the Spring Bridal Show March 1st, 2020. Enter HERE for a chance to win. The deadline to enter is Saturday February, 29, 2020 at 11:59pm – Details below.