As fate would have it, we arrived at a singularly beautiful and magical moment in time. Our story is vulnerable. Thank you, firstly, for giving us a safe space to celebrate our love authentically and with your support. We whole-heartedly love each and everyone of you (for those attending and those in spirit), and want to acknowledge your effort in showing up for us . We feel so much gratitude, happiness, and joy as we begin this new chapter of our lives. Thank you for being here. We first connected playing opposite each other as Cathy and Jamie in "The Last Five Years." For each of us, this was and is a show that has held us, saved us, has broken our hearts, and put them back together again piece by piece. We were presented with the rarest of gifts - to perform Jason Robert Brown's two-person musical that follows the beginning and ending of a marriage. This show stands out as so poignant because the audience is told the story through both Cathy's and Jamie's differing perspectives, in opposite time (Cathy at the end, Jamie at the beginning - only to be truly seen together on their wedding day). This show gave us an opportunity to fall in love, to discover ourselves again, and to create true magic. We are forever grateful for the artisitic opportunities this show presented us. We are even more grateful for the grace we received from family and friends witnessing a beautiful and, at times, heartbreaking time. You know who you are and we honor you always. From here our love story was explosive - at times we experienced pain, independence, deep growth, heartbreak. We perservered in times apart and always kept each other close to our hearts. The level of peace, happiness, safety, trust, adventure, and love we share now is something we cherish with each fiber of our beings. We do not take our love story for granted. "Have I mentioned today how lucky I am to be in love with you?" - Jamie With love and gratitude, Haley & Kiefer (and Barney, Murphy, & Moxie)
I've never been much of a wedding dreamer. When we got engaged this last year and began the planning process, I was overwhelmed by choices, by my own wants and desires concerning my wedding day, pleasing others, the list goes on. Our chapel was the only thing I was 100% sure of - right away. When I was sixteen, my family and I visited my late grandparents Jackie and Mack Moore in Green Forest, AR. We went on a family drive through the winding hills of Eureka Springs, where we explored the famous Thorncrown Chapel. It was breathtaking. I have never in my life felt a stronger feeling of falling suddenly into a fairytale. I said out loud to my parents that day that I would get married in that church one day. I've never again made another dreamy wedding statement, aloud or silently. Also designed by E. Fay Jones, The Mildred B. Cooper Chapel was our perfect compromise. The chapel is nestled beautifully in the wooded Ozarks, surrounded by the small thriving community (artsy and outdoorsy) of Bentonville, AR. The town genuinely feels like Stars Hollow, for my Gilmore Girls out there. A few days after we got engaged I told this story to Kiefer, half expecting he'd opt for a more sensible location like... oh, I don't know.... Houston or Ridgeland. But he, ever the Enneagram 7 and adventurer, said "we should get married there." We booked the venue a week after getting engaged. I am the dreamiest bride I know, now. Thank you Kiefer for bringing my dreams to life. I love you, forever. Thank you all for adventuring with us, for taking a chance on Arkansas, and exploring for a day or two. I am forever grateful for my sweet, kind grandparents for sharing the magic of the Ozarks with me. "I wish More than anything More than the moon I wish to go to the festival." - Cinderella, "Into the Woods" In loving memory of Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Mack (Jackie and Mack Moore) In loving memory of Opa (James "Ralph" Slaton) In loving memory of Grandma Betty (Betty Hedrick)