Jonathan Zachary and Lauren Moore

Jonathan and Lauren’s love story was long in the making. The couple met each other at a church youth group as teenagers. After being friends for eight years, they finally had their first date at a roller rink where they skated and held hands. Just before their one year anniversary, Jonathan popped the question on a weekend trip to Kansas City. A fun day exploring the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Country Club Plaza and a surprise dinner at Cooper’s Hawk Winery ended perfectly as Jonathan proposed on a park bench.

“He pulled out a journal I had made him, opened it to the last page and handed it to me,” Lauren says. “He had written the sweetest poem, and by the time I finished reading, he was down on one knee.”

After only three and a half months of planning, Jonathan and Lauren had their big day at The Barn at Stone Valley Plantation. Surrounded by friends and family, they said their vows with their best friends by their side. Lauren’s maid of honor was Krista Cockrum, and her bridesmaids were her Victoria Daugherty, oldest friend Jenni Bailey, Cassey Crawford and sister-in-law Amber Moore. Jonathan had his best man Jacob Scowden and groomsmen Javan Daugherty, Jordan Fox, Ethan Wilson and Aaron Chisholm, who are all his best friends from college. Javan Daugherty actually knew Jonathan and Lauren from their teenage days at church.

Guests enjoyed a buffet of finger foods from Simply Delicious Catering while listening to local musicians Charles McDonald and A.J. Moore, who is Lauren’s brother. Lauren’s bridesmaid Victoria Daugherty also sang a special song for the ceremony. “We have pretty musical family and friends,” Lauren says.

The couple now lives in downtown Springfield where they are settling into married life.