05/04/2024
Big Congratulations to Riley and Ian for booking their wedding with us Saturday, May 24, 2025. We are honored!
Check out their love story below!
While Ian + Riley would first "meet" on Instagram, it was their friends who were pulling the strings to get them to that point. Riley was relatively new to the area when she met Cassie through work and they became fast friends. Cassie mentioned that her husband, Derrick, worked with a guy about her age and it might be nice for them to meet.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, the co-worker is Ian.
Wouldn’t that be a nice bow on top? We’re getting there.
Stephen - the coworker.
Stephen and Riley spent a few weeks chatting, but never officially met. All Riley knew was that Stephen had a group
of loyal, long-time friends. A year later, Stephen was at a party with Ian, and eventually told him to get in touch with Riley saying, "I think y'all will hit it off pretty good." He was right + we are so, so thankful to Stephen (and Cassie + Derrick)!!
So yes, it all started when Ian followed Riley on Instagram. She promptly sent his profile to her friends to see if anyone recognized the name. Fortunately, this is a small town and Cassie (see best friend from earlier text) went to high school with Ian’s older brother. With that small bit of approval and security, Riley accepted the follow request + Ian lurked her stories for two weeks before sending this DM. Riley responded “Thank you!” and figured that that would be the end of their interaction. Thankfully, she was wrong. They chatted a few days via Instagram and quickly exchanged numbers…
Plans finally made it out of the chat a few weeks later when Riley told Ian “this day demands ice cream”. They met for the first time at Yarborough’s + talked (non-stop) for 4 hours. They’d make plans to see each other twice the following week - just because Ian “would be in the neighborhood”.
And, as they say, the rest is history. That summer would hold weddings, beach trips, visits to VA. Days on the boat, by the pool, and in the gym. Over the course of the year, they’d go on to adopt two kittens (Steve + Benny), spend holidays together, change jobs, face loss, and learn so much about each other…nothing fancy, just a whole lotta love.
It would not even take the year for them to realize that this was in fact, “it” - forever. Early 2024, Ian started building the ring. Erin, Riley’s sister, being the sole secret keeper. After a few weeks, he told his parents, and he would use his grandmother’s diamond for the center stone of Riley’s ring. The rest he created based on what he knew Riley wanted - she had not been very low key about her specifications. 😉
In March of 2024, on a trip back to Riley’s parents’ house, Ian asked her dad for his blessing. Tony gave it, and a week later, Ian would propose while the two were taking pictures by their neighborhood lake.
April 7, 2024 Riley said “HECK YES!” to the easiest question she’s ever been asked, and now they’re counting down the days to until forever!
