Nicole Chavarria + Michael Reyes
May 3, 2025 • Corpus Christi & Skidmore, TX • engaged 13 months
photos by Kaitlynn Seidel Photography
Venue: The Steel Belle
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> Click here to view their spotlight in The One Bride Guide magazine
How we met:
We met via the Blind Date feature on Bumble. The question the app generated to both of us was “What are you cooking for date night?” You can’t see the other person’s response until you answer. When it was revealed that we both answered “DoorDash,” we knew we had to meet in-person. We met at St. Michaels Brewery in Navarre, Florida for our first date!
The proposal:
The proposal was intentional and intimate. At a favorite restaurant of the brides.
Favorite detail:
Bride: My favorite part was having all of our loved ones around us. Everything just felt like family, from the venue staff and owners to all of our guests. I especially loved the flowers for the Virgin Mary and the beautiful décor throughout the reception venue. It all came together in the most intimate way, with a family-style dinner and the perfect guest count. We truly remember every detail, and everyone had such a great time. They still ask when we’re doing it again!
Groom: My favorite detail was how intimate it felt. We didn’t have a huge guest list, just the people who mattered most to us. It felt like family in every way. Most of our guests traveled from out of town, so it turned into a getaway or reunion for everyone. The whole weekend had this amazing, celebratory energy!
Favorite moment:
Bride: Right after we did our vow exchange, there was a moment when Michael randomly kissed my forehead (this was before we could officially kiss). It was so sincere, sweet, and genuine.
Groom: At the very end of the wedding ceremony, when the priest pronounced us “Mr. and Mrs. Reyes.” Everyone clapped and it was a surreal moment that I will never forget!
Biggest challenge:
Bride: TIME. We were both really busy with work and living in two different states during the planning process. Not being in the same city (or even time zone) as the wedding location was definitely a challenge. Thankfully, we had Madeline to help us plan and provide local vendor recommendations. There’s no way we could have pulled it off without her help!
Groom: The biggest challenge was being so far apart while trying to plan everything. We were both busy and stressed with work, and it was hard not being able to see each other or even talk as much as we wanted in the months leading up to the wedding. Wedding planning is stressful enough on its own, but adding distance into the mix made
it even tougher.
Funniest moment:
Bride: We got to our hotel and by the time I got out of the shower, Michael had fallen asleep. So I decided to kick off married life by watching HGTV and enjoying leftovers from the wedding.
Groom: I drank a lot… and may or may not have gotten a little sick.
If you could do one thing over:
Bride: The whole wedding day! It was so much fun, and I’d love the opportunity to relive it over again, exactly the way it happened.
Groom: Spend more time on the reception playlist. And stay awake a little longer once we got to the Omni!
Advice for couples:
Bride: Don’t sweat the small stuff. At the end of the planning, you won’t remember the little details that kept you up at night. It will all come together, and you will love it. Also, hire a good wedding planner or day-of coordinator you trust to bring your vision to life (and who can tackle those little details for you!).
Groom: Communicate and make sure to respect each other, before, during, and after the wedding planning.
Why you got married:
Bride: Marriage, to me, is a big deal because it is all about love and commitment. I got married because we love each other, and we were choosing to make a promise in front of our community. When you get married, you are taking a vow to stand by each other, even when things get hard, and they will sometimes. It is a covenant to love and respect each other forever, and having our community there made that commitment feel even more meaningful and serious.
Groom: I got married because I really liked her when we first met and now I really love her (and still really like her!). I knew she was the one for me. She is hilarious, beautiful, and there is no one else I would want to spend the rest of my life with.
How to make your spouse happy:
Bride: Learn their love language and practice it, consistently. Be affectionate towards one another.
Groom: I keep my wife happy by asking what makes her feel loved and appreciated, and then actually doing those things. If having fresh flowers every week makes her happy, then she’s going to have flowers every week. For me, it is all about the little things in between the big moments.
What you look forward to most:
Bride: Growing our family together! I love knowing that we never have to do anything alone, we’ll always have each other. Plus, we can DoorDash together whenever we want!
Groom: Building experiences together and having a partner for life. I also look forward to growing our family.
More advice for couples:
Bride: We had a great experience at The Steel Belle! The Shirley family was so hospitable and truly made the experience seamless. We were planning our wedding from out-of-state, each on opposite ends of the country, and the Shirleys were so accommodating in their communication with us. It truly felt like working with an extension of our family. We will never forget the memories we made at The Steel Belle.
Groom: Communication is so important. In both the wedding planning process and in marriage. It seems so cliché, but it is vital!
DETAILS:
Ceremony: Most Precious Blood Catholic Church
Reception: The Steel Belle, 60 guests
Wedding planner: Madeline Shirley, The Steel Belle
Photographer: Kaitlynn Seidel Photography
Dress: ceremony: Simply Elegant Bridal, Fort Walton Beach, Florida; reception: bride’s stepmother’s dress
Tuxes: Men’s Wearhouse
Wedding rings: Reeds Jewelers
Jewelry & accessories: bride wore a blue stone ring that belonged to her friend Natalie’s late grandmother as “something borrowed” and “something blue”
Bridesmaid’s dresses: Azazie
Hair & makeup: Ashley Frye
Stationery: Shutterfly
Flowers: ceremony: Always in Bloom; reception: Kate Shirley
Decorations: bride and The Steel Belle
Caterer: P.O.E.T.S.
Cake: Sugar Sugar
Reception rentals: Butler Signature Events & Bridgett Reindl
Bar: Daisy Gauna, Golden Daze Bartending
Entertainment: Spotify playlists
First dance song: “So this is Love” from Cinderella
Wedding night lodging: Omni Corpus Christi Hotel
Favors: blue and white floral jewelry dishes with a white rosary
Bridal party gifts: bridesmaids: slippers, matching robes, jewelry for the wedding, hangover kits; groomsmen: shot glasses and fun socks
Registry: Zola
Honeymoon: Cancún, Mexico
Meet Chris and Tina Lain: business owners, family-focused, and powerfully creative, these two have been through all types of adventures to get to where they are now as a couple. We asked them to tell their story and give us a glimpse behind the curtain to learn what success in marriage means to them after over thirty-four years together. Tina describes their thoughts below.
What do you want readers to know about your family
Tell us about getting married – When? Where? How long did you date? How long were you engaged? Tell us about the proposal.
What was a belief you had about marriage that has changed over the years? Or what was an expectation you had about marriage that you had to let go of?
What do you do, or who do you go to for support in your relationship when you are having conflict? Are you private about your conflicts and deal with it between the two of you or do you talk with family, close friends, counselors, etc. as you are going through it? Are there any “external” resources or people that you turn to for help?
Through the years, what is the “thing” that keeps you together and keeps your commitment solid? What is the “glue” that holds you together no matter what?
What does “legacy” mean to you?
