Page 62 - Panama City Living May/June 2019

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Time stood still when Ashlee McPherson and Rich Johnson said their vows, with joined hands and exchanging deep looks. At last, they had found their perfect life partner and stood before God to unite their families.
In the private setting of Ashlee’s parents’ home, a Panama City Beach residence with beautiful east views onto St. Andrews Bay, surrounded by close family and friends, the couple celebrated their families' union that, with shared love and compassion, had truly grown together in the last four years.
The big day went without a hitch, the newlyweds remember. “It was so comfortable and there was such a peace about everything. I was so at ease and enjoyed every moment,” Ashlee says.
Rich recalls the moment he saw her walking down the aisle to meet him. “She was beautiful. My favorite memory of our wedding day will always be seeing her in her wedding dress.”
Ashlee’s mother, Vicki McPherson, oversaw the decorations and flawlessly transformed her Bay Point home into her daughter’s dream-come-true wedding location. An assortment of pink, orange, and white peonies set the mood for the happy event.
Transforming the waterfront home and garden into a wedding venue was an easy task for the family that works so well together. But one feature took much more planning than any other. Ashlee and Rich exchange meaningful smiles as they recall their parents' ingenuity to make the venue perfect. “My mother felt that there should be a long aisle. With the large swimming pool in the yard, the best option would be a bridge that would lead across the pool.”
“Ashlee’s parents are amazing people,” Rich adds. “Her mother has great ideas and her dad is always happy to make them come true. He designed
and constructed the walkway over the pool. Her dad is a remarkable man. Ever since Hurricane Michael, he has bought equipment to help people with their fallen trees. He goes out every day, works for free, and has even hired a helper and continues to provide free tree removal.”
Ashlee and Rich were looking for each other long before they met. This is where their love story begins—with about 100 miles between two people and a few clicks that declared that they were a perfect match. It would change their lives forever.
After messaging back and forth for several months, they decided to meet in person in May of 2014. But neither of them showed up at the proposed location and it would take another half-year for them to find the perfect
62 • May–June 2019 • www.PanamaCityLiving.com