Crosswalk Church

Ceremony

Dinner Reception 

Fall

Our Wedding

Our Story

Once upon a time in October of ‘22, a boy met a girl in a cafe. McKenzie, a teacher at the time, was on her way back to school after a pumpkin patch field trip. She decided to make a quick stop to get a coffee at her favorite cafe, Hohl. Little did she know the boy she had been hearing much about (who just moved here from Australia) would be sitting at a table in the corner. His name was Ethan. As he was leaving, she introduced herself to him and shook his hand. After that brief exchange, they went their separate ways in the parking lot – not without a second glance back to each other. An undeniable spark as their eyes met. For a month, they would see each other often at church and both frequent this cafe and “run into each other” (both knowing the other went every Saturday). Sometimes they would sit at the other’s table and talk for hours. One day in December, while the song “Harvest Moon” was playing, Ethan asked her out to go on a date that Saturday. They had their first date at Spoke &amp; Art, a bike shop/cafe, on a rainy day with fall fading out. The day felt perfectly written by God (or a hallmark screenwriter) and involved refills of tea, taking the long way, safe conversation, spontaneously going to a Christmas market, and then ending in quite literal fireworks they didn’t know would be happening downtown. Sadly Ethan went back to Australia soon after that, and they both kept that memory of that one date, wistfully writing songs about each other, and wishing things were different like one another’s good ole fashioned “one that got away”. After some time had passed and touch was lost, a happy birthday message reacquainted them. They started sending each other quick audio messages to catch up. These started to get to be an hour long, back and forth. Finally, Ethan asked if they could call. So one day in April, Ethan asked if McKenzie would be open to a relationship. After a summer of intentional FaceTimes, Ethan made a visit to Virginia in August to ask McKenzie to be his girlfriend. He asked her while they sat on the porch swing of the cabin she was living in. He gave her a letter and sunflowers, signifying that the rain was over and the sun showed a clearing before them. And they would be like sunflowers, always positioned towards the Son. That started their 1 year long distance journey. In that time, they sent letters, got creative with FaceTime dates (they made cardamon buns over the screen!), McKenzie visited Australia to meet his family, and Ethan made a few more visits to America (his last one a surprise for their 1 year anniversary). During that visit, they received McKenzie's working holiday visa to live a year in Australia! Their time dating in Australia has been filled with spending time with Ethan’s family, going to the beach, lots of cafes, serving in church together, and getting ENGAGED! Of course, the proposal involved sunflowers like all important questions should! They’re excited to get married this fall where it all began and make their home in Virginia.

Photos taken by Lara Saunders Photography Alfred Nicholas Gardens (Melbourne, Victoria AUS)

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

S E M I - F O R M A L

Below are our wedding colours for your perusing! For the gals, think end-of-summer into a fall soft harvest glow. For the guys, wear your best suit. Also -- please refrain from wearing bright red...or white ;)

Dress Code

Travel

Wander around the historical town to experience some living history! You can explore the shops and purchase passes for tours/more access. Pop into colonial hohl while you're there, too! There's also the Farmers Market on Saturdays!

Colonial Williamsburg

Walk the grounds of Historic Jamestown, where brick foundations and river views quietly mark the place it all began. You can board the full scale replica ships of the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. You may even catch some blacksmiths at work and demonstrations like butter churning and colonial cooking!

Jamestown Settlement

The best way to get here is by the Colonial Parkway -- what we think is the prettiest drive in Williamsburg. The 23-mile route was designed to connect Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown into a single, continuous experience, which makes it feel less like a highway and more like part of the story itself. Roll down your windows and enjoy the ride! Once in Yorktown, begin with a walk along the Riverwalk for waterfront views and an easy feel for the town. Then explore the Yorktown Victory Monument and the port of Yorktown, which was the site of the final battle of the American Revolution. Our favorite coffee spot here is Mobjack!

Historic Yorktown 

This is our favorite place to go on runs!

Waller Mill Park

Hohl - our favorite (and the best) coffee and food in town! Check out the location in Toano and Colonial Williamsburg. (This is also where we met!)Amber Ox - excellent restaurant in downtown Williamsburg with great seasonal selections! (Kenz &amp; Ethan's first date as boyfriend &amp; girlfriend)Spoke + Art - beautiful, tucked away cafe off of the Jamestown bike trail. You can rent bikes here, too! (Kenz and Ethan's first date spot!)FTH Pizza - fabulous wood-fired pizza (call ahead to book a time slot to pick up - they sell out quick!)Cava - classic go-to quick Mediterranean take out.Cheese Shop - takeaway sandwiches in downtown Williamsburg with a great cheese selection and provisions.Downstairs at Fat Canary - relaxed, upscale wine bar-style restaurant with small plates and tapas.Food for Thought - a favorite local spot with classic American dishes and some seafood specialties.Amiraj - our favorite Indian food in town

Food / Coffee 

Williamsburg's newest boutique hotel just a few miles from the colonial downtown area!

Ethan & McKenzie