Justin + Nina | Married

The great thing about new friendships is that they bring new energy to your soul. Nina and Justin’s friendship came like a pleasant surprise in my life, and it truly feels like their wedding shifted my soul into a whole new dimension. Between Nina’s earthy, friendly essence and Justin’s silly, adventurous nature, these two made my job easy and downright FUN. The Bedsoles entered my life at the most synchronistic time, and I’m so thankful to be sharing their love story with you all today!

Reminisce with me on my favorite photos and moments from their wedding, as well as details on how the couple met, how our new friendship unfolded, and the tea on how these two became quite the matchmakers by the time things were all said and done. Let’s get into it!

I’ve spent so much time at the beautiful Fairview Farm Events property over my career that the space officially feels like home and the staff truly feels like family. As many of you know, I’ve been a preferred vendor for many years at Fairview, and it has always been my absolute pleasure to work with them. Why, you ask? On top of the 5-star accommodations and gorgeous scenery, quite frankly, the couples I’m referred to by the farm are cream of the crop. Like many others, Justin and Nina put their full faith into Fairview’s preferred vendor list, and allowed us all to work together as a familiar, well-oiled machine. This always makes my heart happy to see, knowing that the opportunity for hiccups are limited when everyone has worked together before.

When I met Justin and Nina, they instantly felt like a couple I had already known for years. I’ve met a lot of great friends through this industry, but never a couple quite so committed to making sure I had just as much fun as their guests did – even inviting me to stay past my contracted time just so I could have time to enjoy and be a part of the party. By the end of our first meeting, Nina and Justin were already sizing up which of their very-single groomsmen would be the perfect match for me, and like a couple of old friends, we all agreed we would definitely be hanging out again outside of the wedding world.

In the following interview, Nina gives us more insight into her and Justin’s love story. Her refreshing sense of humor and love for laughter are two of my favorite things that shine through in her answers, and I love how she encapsulates perfectly the fun and light-hearted spirit they both share as a couple. Nina’s warm and kind heart is the perfect home for Justin’s thirst for fun and adventure, and together, they act as a lighthouse, guiding all their friends back “home”.

Let’s dive into all those juicy details we’ve been dying to know! It’s time to check out Nina’s interview answers!!

Question: So Nina, how did you and Justin meet?
Answer: There I was at All Around Pizza, working my fingers to the bone and having very little patience left, when the phone rings. I answer, and the guy on the other end of the phone tries to place an order, but wont stop laughing at literally everything that is said.  After finally someone else taking the phone and getting the order placed, I hang up and think to myself, “I have to make this order as quick as possible, because I don’t want these two in here any longer than they have to be.” So, I fly through the order and get it done just as they walk in. When Justin’s friend takes over on the paying part because Justin cant manage it, Justin steps aside, looks in the drink cooler and says “DUUUUUUUDE they have Yoo-hoos! I like Yoo-hoo!”  A few minutes later, he says it again, “DUUUUUUDE they have Yoo-hoos! I like Yoo-hoos!” I was so annoyed and couldn’t wait for them to leave.  The word I would use for Justin and our first impression…. ANNOYING!  After that day, Justin became a fairly regular customer, always coming in for his Yoo-hoos and becoming friends. 

Question: Tell us a story that describes you and Justin as a couple?
Answer: This one time, we went riding four wheelers on the hunt club property with some friends.  We went down a path that Justin knew was pretty much impassable, and Justin told me to go ahead and run right through the middle. And so I did, and I got stuck right in the middle, and yelled, “ASSHOLE!” Then, he proceeded to come and pull out my four wheeler, and saved the day.  We all had a good laugh. 

Question: What’s your favorite thing about Justin and why? Ask Justin to tell us his favorite thing about you and why?
Answer: I love how he puts all the laughter in my day, even when we should probably be serious. Justin says he loves my cooking – he jokes that “You don’t get big without liking food.” 

*Ashley’s Note: All I can say is LOL, because after getting to know you and Justin as friends, these answers are literal perfection. What I love about you two is that there’s a bond here, based on friendship- and it keeps you both humble and constantly laughing. Life is entirely too short to take it all seriously, and I think Justin’s playful spirit reminds you that you don’t always have to be so grounded. You balance each other out in a way that allows each of your best qualities to shine through, and I just think there’s something really special about that.

Question: How did you get engaged? We want details!
Answer: We had planned on going to a Tides game when Justin’s co-manager called and said he was in the hospital with covid.  Justin went to get tested and then we camped out on the couch for the next couple hours waiting for results; when we got the call, he was negative!  We went to check the weather, – AND OH NO – “this game may be canceled for the weather”. We went anyway and had not a drop of rain during the game. But we really didn’t go for the game, we went for the fireworks, because they are one of my favorite things.  So, when the game ended, they turn off the stadium lights and Justin asked, “How excited are you?”  I said, “1 out of 10?  15!!”  As the fireworks started going off, I was oblivious to Justin next to me on one knee.  He said, ”Baby?” My responds, “NO YOU’RE NOT!?!?!?!”   “Oh, yes I am!” Needless to say, I said yes, and missed all the fireworks.. 

*Ashley’s Note: Awwwww, Justinnnnn! You get a 10/10 for the added element of surprise and determination to see this plan through. Fireworks are a symbol for joy, celebration, and good news, so what better occasion is there to celebrate than saying YES to forever with the one you love?! Side note: I LOVE FIREWORKS TOO! Eeeek – I can already feel some fun July 4th plans coming together!!! Maybe we’ll even be able to actually watch them this year 😉 lol (jusssst kidding, Justinnnn)

Question: Tell us a short story about a core memory you took away from your wedding day. 
Answer: The moment the barn doors opened and Justin saw me, and did everything in his power not to cry.  We locked eyes and he was the only thing I saw.  

*Ashley’s Note: This. This moment right here. It’s what I hope every bride gets to experience on their wedding day. There’s truly nothing more special than THAT moment. There’s a ton that goes into planning a wedding day and making sure everything goes off without a hitch, and it’s so easy to get lost in the “what’s next”, rather than remembering to pause in the “what’s now”. Marrying your soul mate is something you dream about your entire life, and if you blink, you truly will miss it. Nina- I would encourage you to journal about that moment while it is still fresh in your mind. Write about the expression on his face. Write about the thoughts that swept through your mind. Write about the flashes of your future that you felt with each step. Write about the tears and giggles you both shared during your vows. Capture it all. Because it’s truly what that day was all about.

Question: Do you have a favorite memory from working with Ashley Dorton?
Answer: My favorite memory with Ashley was hiking around Belle Isle Park shooting our engagement pictures, learning about her and sharing our life with her.  And talking up our very single groomsmen.

*Ashley’s Note: These were also some of my own favorite memories, Nina. Getting to know you and Justin has been an absolute joy, and I can’t thank you enough for wanting to set me up with someone deserving of my heart. That’s so like you- to still be thinking of others and how to ensure their happiness IN THE MIDDLE OF PLANNING YOUR OWN WEDDING. Like the energizer bunny, your love and light just truly never stops going and going and going and going…

Some of you may have seen through social media that I am now dating Nina and Justin’s good friend, Garrett. So far, he is absolutely perfect for me, and while this blog isn’t about me or my new love interests, I would be CRAZY not to give credit where good credit is due. Nina and Justin truly took the time to listen to me, and they learned all about what makes me tick. Like true matchmakers, they honed in on what I was saying I needed and also a hint of what I probably didn’t realize I needed, and they hit the ball out of the park. I guess it’s true when they say you find your person when you least expect it, and I’m thankful Justin and Nina showed up to help me locate him exactly on time.

Question: When planning the wedding, how did you pick each vendor? What stood out about each one?
Answer: Fairview Farm Events – I had followed them on Facebook for years.  Their property is absolutely gorgeous.  When we had talked before our engagement, we had kind of set the idea that we would get married in Justin’s parents backyard, but I wanted to just check out Fairview.  So after visiting, I knew this was the spot.  We pretty much stuck to Fairview’s recommendation for all the other vendors.
– Eat Catering – After trying their prime rib, the crust on it was to die for!  We knew this was a caterer for us. 
– Ashley Dorton Photography – I knew Ashley was the one for us when she posted on her instagram page, “This wedding was so emotional, even the cake was in tiers.” 

– Illumination Events – I don’t think my wedding would have been nearly as smooth without Abby from Illumination Events.   As someone who  is a planner and doesn’t like to give up control, it was wonderful to share my vision with Abby and she executed it perfectly.  Incredible. 

– Edible Bakery – this was recommended by our event planner because Fairview only had one recommended and they were already booked.  We went to Incredible Edible with the mind set we aren’t doing cake, we are only doing donuts but cake tasting is free so why not enjoy one of the perks of planning a wedding.  But after trying about 10 different flavors we couldn’t NOT have cake.  Nina hates Nutella and we ended up picking the red velvet nutella cake to cut. 

To Nina and Justin,

Thank you so much for coming into my life at the perfect time, and for giving me a taste of what I’ve been looking for all along. The way you both love and LAUGH together is something I look up to, and it’s something I hope to implement into my own new budding relationship. You both deserve the most amazing happily-ever-after. Here’s to creating a lifetime of fireworks with your best friend.

Xo,
Ashley




(Blog designed & Written by Sarah of Aligned Artists)