Morgan Demczak & Jake Hembree

A mutual friend of Morgan and Jake set the two up on a blind date, something neither of them expected to enjoy. For their second date, Morgan gave Jake one requirement: It had to be something she could wear sweatpants to. The two drove through Sonic and went to an arcade where they stood side by side playing against each other. “That’s when everything changed,” Morgan says. The conversation on their first date had felt forced and formal but the casual atmosphere of their second date allowed Morgan and Jake to talk about their lives and their families. 

Throughout their relationship, they have introduced each other to new hobbies and have encouraged each other through new habits. “The things he’s really good at are the areas that are my weak points and vice versa,” Morgan says. “We’re healthier people together.”

Ten and a half months after their first date, Jake surprised Morgan and proposed on Christmas Day. Planning for the wedding happened in just three months. The couple sat down and made decisions together and established non-negotiables. “We knew we wanted an intentional intimate time with the people that mattered to us,” Morgan says. More than anything, the two wanted to create a night that was centered around their connections and friendships. With only 80 guests, Morgan and Jake were able to have a memorable and personal wedding that exceeded their expectations. Guests could choose to play rounds of ping pong, listen to live music or get custom watercolor portraits painted as their favors. 

After their wedding, the newlyweds waited a day before they left for their honeymoon to have a lake day with their families and guests. The celebration on the water added to the summer theme and colors of the ceremony the day prior. Looking back, Morgan says spending genuine time with their favorite people over the weekend was the best part of the wedding.