During a Saturday night on the town in Whitewater, Lauren LaDell found herself at a small bar with a friend—the same bar that Zakary Kurtz found himself at after returning from Army basic training. When her friend persuaded Lauren to go say hi to Zakary, he turned around and immediately recognized her: They had met three years earlier at Panama City Beach during spring break. Zakary made sure to get her number this time—and the rest is history. After returning from a 13-month deployment to Afghanistan, Zakary joined Lauren on a work trip in Nashville, Tennessee. They strolled the streets and when they paused on a bridge overlooking the city, Lauren turned to find Zakary on one knee. On their special day, Lauren was escorted down the aisle by both of her parents at the Catholic wedding Mass. The event featured shades of cream, gold and black, lit by glowing candles. Dried branches and florals adorned the walls and tables at Onesto, the backdrop for Lauren and Zakary’s romantic day to remember forever.
