Laughter, Strength, and Happiness – ALEXA MICHELLE NAGY and PATRICK CHARLES KELLY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIERSTEN STEVENSON PHOTOGRAPHY
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t was a perfect sunny day on the Gulf Coast. Alexa and Patrick’s family and friends could not wait to see the beautiful bride stride down the aisle. All eyes were on Alexa when she stepped through the doors of the wedding chapel with her typical contagious smile brightening her face. She looked stunningly beautiful in a designer wedding gown that featured multiple layers of crinoline and lace—a picture-perfect bride. Except for the family and close friends, no one knew and could have told that the couple had to face several obstacles and trials just a few months before the wedding. Alexa summarizes the whirlwind of events that preceded the wedding and that kept the couple more than busy: “Patrick proposed while on a cruise ship in June of 2018. In September we visited Virginia to have our engagement photos done, only to return home two days before Hurricane Michael made landfall. Our home was uninhabitable and I was one of the nurses laid off in December following the storm.
“… we came together as a team and tackled
each challenge and somehow, despite all odds,
love each other more.”
The mother-in-law suite located in Patrick’s parents’ backyard became our new home for approximately 11 months while we continued to plan the wedding, have one house fixed while building a new one, and getting acclimated to my new job, not to mention being enrolled in a master’s program to top things off. Through all of these hurdles we came together as a team and tackled each challenge and somehow, despite all odds, love each other more. We have had numerous people say that if we can live together in a one-bedroom mother-in-law suite and not hate each other by the end, then marriage should be a cakewalk.” The fun and outgoing couple met four years prior when Alexa had just started nursing school. Alexa remembers, “It didn’t take long to see how well we worked together and enjoyed each other’s company. I’d say after around one year we knew we loved each other. One of the things that drew me even closer to him was witnessing how much he cared for and loved his family.
All eyes were on
Alexa when she
stepped through the
doors of the wedding
chapel with her typical
contagious smile
brightening her face.
His kindness towards animals also earned him extra brownie points. His sense of humor and ability to always make me laugh is just another reason that I love him. For his part, Patrick says he knew he wanted to marry Alexa after they had been through thick and thin. “I couldn’t imagine not being with her,” he professes. Their favorite moments during the wedding were profound and deeply felt. “Being surrounded by close friends and family the whole weekend was a wonderful feeling,” Patrick says. “It was an amazing thing to sit back and see friends and family from all over the country and from all walks of life coming together and having such a good time sharing each other’s company,” Alexa remembers. “We want to thank each and every single one of our family and friends,” they say. “The entire weekend was nothing short of incredible. We have a lifetime of memories from that weekend. What was going to be a wedding ended up being a weekend-long party of people who mean the most to us.”
When asked if life has changed for them as husband and wife, Alexa says that being together for five years and everything that has gone on in the last year has made married life seem pretty normal. With their eyes on the future, Alexa is working on completing her master’s and becoming a nurse practitioner, and Patrick has forged a career in the automotive retail business where he strives to work his way further up the ladder. Reminiscing about their special day, they would recommend that other couples avoid stressing over small details.
Throughout all of the parties, showers and the wedding itself, take a moment to yourself to look around the room and take in what a beautiful time in your life it is. “Enjoy each other. Anytime you find yourself overthinking, remember that this day should be one of the happiest in your life. Don’t let stress take that away from you,” Alexa says. When thinking back, the couple feels that the wedding has gone by too fast. They remark, “The most accurate and helpful advice we got was, ‘Enjoy every minute. It will fly by.”
Wedding Party
PARENTS OF THE BRIDE
Mike and Joanna Nagy
Danielle Poe
PARENTS OF THE GROOM
Charles and Jean Kelly
BRIDESMAIDS
Haylee Dauphin (maid of honor and
bride’s sister)
Erin Jernigan (matron of honor)
Kayla Carleton
Natalie Canavan
Justine Hamer
Meghan Kelly (groom’s sister)
Olivia Nagy (bride’s cousin)
GROOMSMEN
Steven Boyce (best man)
Dr. Matt Barrios
Adam Frye
Sean Platt
Jeffrey Reynolds
Colin Gallien
Joey Nagy (bride’s youngest brother)
OFFICIANT
Dr. Maggie Salib-Barrios
Alexa’s oldest brother, Jack Ryan Nagy,
was unable to attend the wedding as he
had recently graduated from BMT for
the U.S. Air Force and had started tech
school at Shepard AFB. “We are so proud
of him,” the couple stated, requesting to
recognize his achievements in this list. [/box]