“Keep in Touch!” “You are an amazing person! Never Change!” “Thanks for the memories!” are the few of many entries left on yearbooks. However, for Shay Williams and Carlin Levister their yearbooks were probably flooded with paragraphs and paragraphs of how much they meant to each other and the love they will always cherish. High-school sweethearts Shay and Carlin met when they were 15 years old. The first time Shay fell in love with Carlin was when he played the song “Rain,” by SWV. Carlin says that for him, the spark was there since the beginning.
Although they remained friends after high school, destiny was sure to bring these two back together. Shay was in college and Carlin was doing Basic Training in the Air Force when they lost contact with one another. Their lives took them on different paths. But as the saying goes, “What is meant to be will always find its way.”
Several years later, Shay and Carlin ran into each other while Shay was in the process of filming her reality show. Shay and Carlin’s spark came back and naturally they became best friends again, never leaving each other’s side. While celebrating a Disney Christmas in Orlando, Carlin proposed in front of their children and Shay happily said, “Yes.” There is no doubt that these soul mates were made for each other.
Shay and Carlin wanted their engagement session to reflect their love and spark for one another. Luckily, Jaxon of Jaxon Photography was there to capture every intimate and loving moment.
Congratulations Shay and Carlin!
- Bride’s Name: Shay Williams
- Groom’s Name: Carlin Levister
- Wedding Date: 08/31/2014
- Wedding location: Bradford House and Gardens, Flowery Branch GA
- Wedding Website with Proposal video: www.Carlinandshay.com
The first date
As reunited adults, our first official date was on Christmas 2012 at Carlin’s family members home! This was our first time hanging out as more than friends!
We spent the evening playing charades and Shay easily fit in with the family! It was the first time since Carlin and I reunited that I saw him as more than a friend and realized that I was in love with him…again
Favorite thing to do as a couple
Our favorite thing to do as a couple is travel! We have been to Cozumel, Antigua, the Florida Keys and many other places. We love the joy of experiencing new places together!
The engagement session
Carlin and I are very affectionate. We were like this as kids and consider ourselves to be each other’s best friend. We love to laugh, play and kiss all the time. We wanted our engagement session to reflect who we were as a couple.
Our photographer was excellent at sitting down with us and to know us before the session. Jaxon did a good job at capturing this aspect of our relationship by watching us interact during our first meeting. He also encouraged us to choose a location that was special to us.
We chose to have our engagement session at Rays On The River because it is our favorite restaurant. The backdrop of the Restaurant includes a garden, bridge and the Chattahoochee River. It was the perfect place for us!
The wedding planning
Carlin and I always said that we wanted to create a love that was so amazing that it would seem like our story was straight out of a “fairytale.” It is for this reason that we themed our wedding “Fantasy Fairytale!”
We are especially happy that on such a busy holiday weekend to get married that we have been able to book one of the most intimate, professionally ran locations like the Bradford House and a world class, talented photographer, Jaxon Photography. Our wedding will include roses hanging from the ceiling, the release of doves, a live band, DJ, photo booth, gold-rimmed China and glasses and gold plated flatware! We even plan to surprise our guests with a surprise first dance!
What the bride looks forward to most
On our wedding day we will marry our best friend! I can’t wait until I say “I do!”
Vendors
[…] is an honor to be a part of Shay and Carlin Levister’s journey. First they graced us with their engagement session, now, their wedding! Shay and Carlin’s love story began when they were in high school, but fate […]