Saturday August 26, 2023
Winchester, VA, USA
585 days 5 hrs 29 mins ago
Story
Random Swipe Right and a Hike in the Woods! All the makings of a serial killer (or an everlasting relationship)!
Looking back, our first date was a bit of a gamble, a blind date in the woods may have not been the best idea (thank goodness she didn't break out the pepper spray)! A beautiful hike, good conversation, and an ice cream cone afterward turned into a great first date!
After a few more dates and a run together, both knew that they were best friends and running partners for life.
Tidbits
What was your most memorable date?
Amy's favorite date:
Early on in our first year of dating, Brett invited me to downtown Frederick Maryland for an event - Alive at 5. This event had drinks and live music along the canal of downtown Frederick. During the concert, a huge storm broke out and we both got soaked! We did not know each other that well at this point, but we started running in the rain and took shelter together at a very small local pizza shop- Pizza Pretzel. Talk about great pizza- the dough is all pretzel! We just talked and ate until the storm passed, but during this time, I really got to know Brett. Sometimes the most simple dates are the best ones!
Brett's favorite date:
Amy gifted me tickets to the Maple Leafs hockey game in Pittsburgh, PA on my actual birthday. As a lifelong fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, this was a perfect birthday gift. We went and explored Pittsburgh, had a drink and meal at Church Brew Works, and then enjoyed a night of great Hockey. The Maple Leafs lost, but it was otherwise a great birthday shared with Amy.
What's your favorite activity together?
We love outdoor adventures! We like to run (Brett maybe more than Amy) and take bike rides together. We also enjoy hiking and we now have all our gear to start backpacking! We also enjoy eating out and family game nights! Amy is the queen of the game Catan, but Brett can smoke Amy in any trivia game.
What's the most memorable trip you have taken together?
In April 2022, we took a 5-day vacation and went to a total of 11 states! Most of our time was spent in Boston, Massachusetts; Freeport, Maine; and Newport, Rhode Island. Brett ran his second Boston Marathon and then a road trip to Maine and back occurred. During this trip, we also spent some time in Bar Harbor, Maine, and explored some of the beauty of Arcadia Park. Of course, this trip is most memorable as it was in Arcadia that Brett and Amy got engaged.
Fun Facts
1) We have been long-distance 100% of our entire 9+ years of dating and engagement time period. Most of the time together we have been 3-4 hours apart, but we have made long-distance work! One hour is nothing these days!
2) Both Brett and Amy are avid eBay sellers (we have to pay for this wedding somehow). Check out our eBay stores and maybe get friends and family discount!
3) Amy and Brett are both runners who were athletes on their high school and college teams. The two running courses that Brett and Amy have both competed on happen to be Amy's high school and college home courses. We both continue to run- Brett more so than Amy!
4) Brett is the proud owner of Winston, a cat and Amy is the owner of Fluff AKA Doddle, a bunny. We are not quite sure yet how the two will do together.
5) We both took on the long journey of earning our advanced degrees. This doctor duo has you covered in the field of plant pathology and physical therapy. Brett holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech while Amy has earned a DPT (Doctorate of Physical Therapy) from Slippery Rock University.
Schedule
Registry
Brett and Amy are registered at Target and Crate and Barrel
Please use below to find our registry items.
Travel
Q & A
For all our friends and family who have lots of questions, please check out our Q & A first!
When is the RSVP deadline?
Please RSVP by August 5th, 2023
Where should I park?
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley: There is plenty of parking available, we would encourage you to park closer to the garden entrance which is immediately on your left as you enter the venue.
Springdale Farms: There is plenty of parking available to the right of the barn.
Will I have to pay for parking?
You will not need to pay for any parking at the ceremony or reception location. Fees to enter the museum gardens have been waived by the bride and groom.
Are the ceremony and reception locations wheelchair accessible?
Yes; however, please let us know if we can help assist you in any way.
Is the wedding indoors or outdoors?
Wedding ceremony: Outside at Museum
Reception lawn party: Outside at Springvale Farm
Reception dinner and dancing: Inside the barn at Springvale Farm
Is it okay to take pictures with our phones and cameras during the wedding?
Yes! We would love for you to take photos and share them with us. However, please refrain from taking photos during the ceremony- we hope for all of you to be fully present during this special time.
What should/could I do between the ceremony and the reception?
Following the ceremony, there is an hour and a half break to accommodate photos. We encourage you in this time to enjoy some refreshments and explore the entire museum gardens. Want to have some fun? YES! Take one of our scavenger hunt lists and snap some photos to send to us!
During this time, you can also elect to participate in your own activity and join us later for the start of the reception- the lawn Party at 4:00pm.
Please accommodate 30 minutes to get from the Museum to the reception at Springvale Farm. We would ask that you leave the ceremony location no later than 4:00pm.
What should I wear?
Please see our Schedule for the dress code. If you would like to participate in the lawn party portion of our reception, feel free to change into something less formal.
What kind of shoes should/shouldn't I wear?
Calling all ladies! Do not wear stiletto heels. There are a bunch of grassy/dirt areas that you might have to walk in so if you would still like a heel, consider wearing chunky heels or sandals. Please otherwise wear what is comfortable for you!
Are kids welcome?
Please check your specific invite if includes guests that are children.
Can I bring a date?
Please check your specific invite if includes an additional guest.
What if I have a dietary restriction?
Please inform us of any dietary restriction in the RSVP so we can accommodate your needs.
Whom should I call with questions?
Please call the master of everything Winchester and direction giver extraordinaire, Tim Youmans (Father of the bride), for any Winchester City or direction-related questions. He can be reached at 540-409-7821.
All other questions can be related to Amy or Brett Youmans. Amy can be reached at 540-431-7904 and Brett can be reached at 717-903-1912.
Wedding Party
Get the app
Download Joy and join our app using our event handle brett-and-amy. View and share photos and stay up-to-date with details on the go.