An Unconventional Wedding For An Unconventional Couple

When Charlton returned to his family’s traditional home in middle Georgia after living in Atlanta for more than a decade, he had no idea that he would meet his soul mate living on the ranch next door. Living in middle Georgia his whole life, Billy believed that he knew everyone in the area, especially the gay ones. He had heard of Charlton, Charlie to his family and closest friends, but knew that he lived in Atlanta and rarely returned to the region. Both of their families knew one another well after years of social and economic interactions. After all, it was a small county and everyone knew everyone else. As fate would have it, one afternoon In October Charlie returned to the town in which he’d spent large parts of his childhood and held many happy family memories. He was there to check on the family home that had recently been left to him. He thought it would be amusing to see what the locals looked like on a certain dating app, and right beside him on the screen was the most handsome man he’d ever seen -smiling Billy in his baseball Coach uniform. So Charlie messaged Billy, who actually thought he was being catfished because usually the nearest attractive person was 30+ miles away. And after Billy found out that it was Charlie, he definitely thought he was being catfished because again, Billy knew the entire family , he’d been to the family’s clubhouse , various social and political events, but yet had never seen Charlie attend. Being from a small town, Billy was very nervous to meet another gay guy publicly. After much conversation, both agreed to meet for lunch the next day. Charlie waited 30 minutes, and no Billy showed. Charlie had been stood up! The next day after a long phone conversation, they both finally met to spend the afternoon hiking in the pine forests of a state park in the region …and the rest they say is history. The very auspicious beginning to a very unusual relationship with no end insight.

It was March 2022 -Charlie, Billy and one of their best friends Jeff (Yes Nick Alexander- the one trip you missed!) were on another friends vacation. This time they’d flown to Oahu to enjoy the sun, mountain hiking and Pacific Ocean. It was the first time Billy had ever seen the Pacific! The three friends were to spend 8 days In Hawaii exploring and generally doing what they do best -clown around. Now for several months leading up to this trip Charlie has been thinking of marrying Billy. He’d begun going through all of the steps - he’d consulted with the all-knowing Cynthia (his mother) and immediately received her blessing, he’d talked it through with all “the boys” -Pedro, Nick, Jeff, Jordan - he’d doubled checked with his sister Peyton that he wasn’t losing his marbles - all confirmed that Billy was the best thing that ever happened to him and they were a strong match. Before meeting Billy, Charlie never believed in marriage or any traditional “straight” values that mainstream America held so dear. - but for Charlie; Billy is special, he is resolute and a ballast stone that steadies Charlie’s ship. Simply put they are each other’s best friend. - so with these facts in mind, Charlie took a ring out of billys dresser and promptly went ring shopping, buying a ring that cost more than his first car! But he didn’t care - he was going to ask Billy to be his! And he was going to do it on their upcoming trip to Hawaii … So after landing on Oahu, the boys enjoyed the water, shopping, activities and great nightlife. Charlie kept trying to find the perfect time to ask him, but never finding the perfect time - the hike on coco head being too hot and sweaty, the beach - not quite private enough , the nightlife - not coherent enough lol. All the while, the ring was in Charlie’s pocket just waiting. And all the while Charlie was getting more and more anxious and billy was oblivious. (and Jeff, being Jeff, happily and amused sat nearby with a cocktail and watched the entire thing happen). - finally on the 4th morning, they woke up, the light looked great on Billys face , the resort was quiet, the wind was rustling the palm trees near the balcony. The time was now Charlie decided - so he gently woke billy up, and asked him to come see the sun just beginning to rise above Waikiki Beach and the Pacific beyond. Finally they were both on the balcony enjoying the view! The sun was just rising above Diamond Head across the bay. Charlie got down on one knee and asked the most terrifying question he’d ever asked , and to his IMMENSE relief , Billy said he would! From Us To You: For a long time we tried to find the best way to incorporate both of our families into our wedding the plans. - the celebration of a very unusual couple, celebrating in our own way - we tried to go the traditional route until it became clear that wasn’t the path the universe had in store for us. There would be no traditional white wedding with rows and rows of blood relatives there. Instead in time, we realized that the universe has something much more real-sweet-honest-and loving planned for us. Ultimately We were in-fact going to be building a life with our chosen family. You guys are blood realities, friends -new & old, brothers and sisters from different mothers, adopted aunts & uncles, you guys are our Dr, lawyer, best friends, therapists, chefs, boat captains, favorite drinking buddies, board game partners, - the ones we run to celebrate our successes and to lament our failures! The ones on this guest list represent the true us - the summation of all of our parts, each one of you are our family. So with that said, we hope that you will join us in Savannah on the weekend of October 20th for the first of family gatherings, to help us celebrate the beginning of a our new beginning. Here’s to family and the love that only comes from those that truly know and love you. XoXo Billy & Charlie