Story
Jay and I met on a cold November evening in 2015 in St. Louis, MO, where we lived. We met at our mutual friend, Amanda's, apartment. Side note: Amanda will be officiating g our wedding! While Amanda finished getting ready for our night out, Jay and I talked. Our conversation flowed easily. I remembered thinking how it easy it was to talk to him.
The next day we got together for breakfast and a hike at Castlewood State Park. We spent the morning and afternoon getting to know each other. We talked about our friends, families, passions, and more. I felt like I could be myself around Jay. Time flew by and before we knew it was the late afternoon.
I didn't see Jay for the next few weeks as we were busy with Thanksgiving. Then one week in December Jay asked me out to a concert and we started going out on a few dates. We saw the band, Of Monsters and Men, watched the new Star Wars movie together, and tried new restaurants. In January we decided to be exclusive and have been together ever since ❤️
Tidbits
How did you first meet?
See our story 😉
What was your most memorable date?
We have so many memorable dates, but the one that sticks out in my mind was back in 2016 on an unusually warm January day in St. Louis. We left Jay's apartment with no set plans and decided to spontaneously take the Metrolink. We rode it west out of downtown until we got to the suburbs. I remember sitting on the train seat snuggling up to Jay, thinking about how happy I was in that moment, how safe I felt with Jay. We stopped in Maplewood and walked around the small downtown. We had dinner at a little Greek restaurant and cocktails at local bar.
What's your favorite activity together?
I think it's changed over the years. In the early part of our relationship seeing live music together was our favorite activity. We would go to music festivals every year and countless concerts. While we still love to see live music, our happiest moments are spent when we're with our dog, Finn. I cherish the times when we go out for dinner or a drink or even when we take a walk or even hang out at the dog park. We are happiest when we're together as a family.
Where are you going for your honeymoon?
We are planning to a do a quick trip to Cancun and a larger trip to Europe in late 2024 or early 2025.
The most spontaneous thing we’ve done
I am generally not a very spontaneous person, but Jay enriches my life with his spontaneity. He typically pushes me out of my comfort zone to experience life more fully and I am grateful for that. I think the most spontaneous thing we've done was move across the country together. In 2018 we moved from St. Louis, MO to Austin, TX. At that time Austin was a place we were both drawn to and still are.
We are regulars at
Moontower Saloon in South Austin--one of our favorite places for a drink. It's just a mile from our house.
We take pride in
We take pride in each other. We are both hard workers who put so much into our jobs, families, and friends. We take pride in the home we've built together, in our dog, Finn, and in our community.
What's with the disco?
On New Years a few years ago, there was an incredible band that played disco music. We felt like ourselves and that it was the perfect way to end one chapter and start a new one. We couldn't think of a more perfect way to describe our lives transitioning from dating to husband and wife.
Schedule
Friday, April 5, 2024
Welcome drinks at Easy Tiger 🐯 🍷
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Come join us as we kick off our wedding weekend at Easy Tiger. Easy Tiger is one of our favorite spots to grab a drink and a quick bite to eat. They're known for their robust beer collection featuring Austin favorites and their artisan bakery. We buy their sourdough bread weekly. They have 36 beers on tap, a delicious cocktail menu, and a full coffee selection. Kim's favorite cocktail is the Lavender Lemonade. Drinks are on us! Please join us! Kids are welcome.
No dress code :) Austin is a casual city. Anything goes.
Gibson St Bar
10:15 PM to 11:59 PM
Jay is planning on taking some of the party animals to Gibson St Bar after Easy Tiger closes. It's 5 mins away (towards downtown) for anyone who wishes to join him.
Saturday, April 6, 2024
♥️ The Wedding
4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
We invite you to join us in a celebration of love as Kim and Jay say "I do." Join us at Pecan Springs Ranch for our ceremony, cocktail hour, and disco-inspired reception with live music.
We will be providing a wedding shuttle to and from the venue. Please see Travel section for more details around the shuttle.
Please note that our wedding is an adult-only event to prioritize the safety and comfort of all guests.
Funky, disco-inspired cocktail.
Monday, April 8, 2024
Post Wedding Total Eclipse Watch Party at 12 Fox Beer Co.
11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
We hope you extend your trip to watch the total eclipse of 2024. This is an astronomical phenomenon and we'd love if you are able to celebrate it with us. We will be meeting at 12 Fox Beer Co. to watch the eclipse together. The event will be outdoors so please make sure you watch the weather. While 12 Fox Beer Co. has many picnic tables, this event will be crowded so please consider bringing a blanket or chair to sit on. Jay and I will do our best to bring extra blankets.
dress for the weather as we'll be outside
Travel
Getting In
We recommend flying into Austin-Bergstorm International Airport.
Fairmont Austin
The hotel is currently SOLD OUT for our wedding weekend as of 03/25/24. Please find other lodging arrangements. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Stay at an Airbnb!
There are a TON of Airbnbs in the Austin area at a variety of different rates.
Easy Tiger Welcome Drinks 🐯
For Friday's welcome drinks, we were supposed to be at the east 7th location, HOWEVER, this location is closing prior to our wedding date. We are now at the SHOUTH LAMAR location. We appreciate you understanding the change of locations.
Complimentary Wedding Shuttle
Apr 6
3:15 PM - 10:00 PM
To ensure your comfort and convenience on our big day, we're thrilled to offer a shuttle service for our esteemed wedding attendees. The shuttle will depart promptly from the Fairmont Hotel at 3:15 pm, whisking you away to the enchanting wedding venue. Relax, enjoy the scenic journey, and leave the transportation worries behind!
Questions on the shuttle? Please try Sarah Beadle 810-360-3959
Departure:
📍 Fairmont Hotel
🕞 3:15 pm
Return Journey:
🕙 10:00 pm from the wedding venue back to the Fairmont Hotel
Let us add an extra touch of elegance to your celebration. Hop on board and let the festivities begin! 🚐✨
See you there! 🎩👰
Total Eclipse on April 8th 2024 🌔
We are excited to plan our wedding around a rare total eclipse, where the moon completely blocks out the sun. The Austin area will experience this astronomical phenomenon for 1 minute and 46 seconds of total solar eclipse at 1:36 pm CST. Jay and I saw the total eclipse of 2017 in St. Louis, MO and it was well worth the experience. We hope that you stay in town for this event!
See the schedule for information and details for our post-wedding eclipse watch party at 12 Fox Beer in Dripping Springs. This is an event open to the public so please note that it will be crowded and we encourage you to come early. You will need to arrange your own ride to the event. If you have any issues or need assistance, do not hesitate to contact Kim or Jay.
Our Favorite Restaurants
Things to do in Austin
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 March 2nd 2024
Will there be a shuttle to and from the wedding venue?
Yes! We are offering complimentary wedding shuttles leaving from the Fairmont Austin Hotel at 101 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701 at 3:30pm and departing from Pecan Springs Ranch (wedding venue) at 10pm. Please see our Travel section for more information.
Are kids welcome?
As much as we love your little ones, we will not be including them in the ceremony or reception. Our wedding will be an adult-only event to prioritize the safety and comfort of all guests. If you are traveling to Austin with your little ones we ask that you arrange childcare during the event. Thank you for understanding.
Where should I park?
There is plenty of free parking at the wedding venue if you do choose to drive. We are also offering a complimentary shuttle service. Please see Travel section for more information.
What will the weather be like?
Almost perfect! Spring is one of the best times to visit Austin. The average high is typically in the low 80s and the average low is in the high 50s. However, Austin weather can be unpredictable, so double-check the forecast before coming.
What kind of shoes should/shouldn't I wear?
Please wear whatever kind of shoes you'd like! Just note that weather permitting our ceremony will be outside in the grass.
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 on our app Joy.
However, please refrain from taking photos during the ceremony.
What should I wear?
A famous expression in this city is "Keep Austin Weird" so don't hold back if you feel inspired to rock a disco outfit. In fact, we encourage it. :)
Is the wedding indoors or outdoors?
Our ceremony and cocktail hour will be outside weather permitting. Our reception will be inside.
Does your wedding have a theme?
Sort of...while our wedding doesn't have a set theme, we are inspired by disco vibes, bright colors, Art Deco, and retro accents. 💖 🧡
How will food and drinks be served?
Dinner will be served buffet style. There will be multiple non-alcoholic hydration stations and alcoholic beverages will be served at the bars 🍷 🍸
What if I have a dietary restriction?
We have options for our vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free friends. If you have a specific dietary restriction that is not listed please contact Kim or Jay.
Will there be dancing?
Absolutely! We are so excited to have the band Love & Happiness perform at our reception. Brush up on those dance moves! 💃
What time will the reception end?
The reception will end at 10 pm, but that doesn't mean the party has to end. Join us in downtown Austin for after-party activities. We are likely going to be going to Rainey St once we arrive back downtown.
Have questions about the post wedding eclipse watch party?
Please see our schedule and travel section for more information. If your question isn't answered there, please contact Kim or Jay.
I have a question not answered here; how do I contact you?
Please contact Kim or Jay
Registry
Hi friends & family,
Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift we could ask for. The time, effort, and expense of traveling to be with us is something we deeply appreciate. We are thrilled that we will be able to celebrate this happy occasion with you.
Since we have lived together for the past 7 years, we are grateful to have many home essentials. While we have a few items under our registry our main priority is saving for home furniture that will grow with us as we expand our family. In light of that, we have set up a furniture fund if you'd like to contribute.
Thank you,
Jay & Kim
Get the app
Download Joy and join our app using our event handle kimberly-and-james-eclec7vn7h000r01w25tnw4t8os. View and share photos and stay up-to-date with details on the go.