This week's #WCW couple goes Mr. & Mrs. Peyton. I've known Patrice for a long time now. She and I both attended high school together. She has always been super sweet and I am happy to see she found her soul mate, Spike. The two live in the Northern Virginia area. Spike works as a dispatcher for a local HVAC company and Patrice works in the health care field, as a nurse in pain management. The two have talked about trying to start having children sometime next year, but for now they are enjoying their 'Fur Baby', Bullet. Please read on to see how these two planned their wedding, ‘Peyton Style’.
How and where did you two meet?
"We met back in high school. He went to Stonewall and I went to Osbourn, obviously, and we met through a mutual friend. We didn't really talk much while we were in high school. I'd say maybe a year after we graduated we met back up and dated ever since." Answered Patrice
How long were you dating before you got engaged?
"About 5-6 years" the couple collaborated on their answer
How did you know she was the one?
"Well for me, when it came down to it, as a Christian man I needed a wife that was in church. I needed a wife that could hold her own mentally and also physically. I feel like a few of the females that I dated in the past or met in the past, when it came to certain things they didn't hold themselves as a lady. I needed someone strong enough to walk with Me." answered Spike.
How long were you engaged?
"A year and a half" responded Patrice.
Wedding Date: May 24, 2014
Why did you pick that date?
"I've always wanted a spring wedding. We got engaged in November so the upcoming spring would have been too soon so we had to wait another year." answered Patrice
Inside Ceremony (First Baptist Church) & Inside Reception (Wyndham Garden)
Approximate expense: $15K-$18K
Color Scheme: Periwinkle, Lavender, and Platinum
Where did you get inspiration from for your color scheme?
"Spike's uncle actually picked those colors. I was on the phone with him, his mom, and uncle on three-way and he's the one that pointed out Periwinkle and Platinum. As we started planning we kind of threw Lavender in the mix." Patrice explained.
Did Spike help with the planning or did he just say 'you do it all and I'll just show up'?
Taking a moment to think, Patrice replied, "I don't want to say that he didn't help me plan, but he was not as involved with the planning as I was."
What caused the most stress while planning?
"We didn't originally start off at the Wyndham. We had this place in Tyson's, but as our guest list kept growing, the venue became more expensive and we couldn't afford it. I'd say about 3 to 4 months before the wedding, we had to relocate the venue and that was extremely stressful." expressed Patrice
Spike replied, saying "The most stressful thing for me was my wife being stressed on what we needed to do and how we were going to get it done."
What was your best memory?
"The best memory would have to be when I saw my wife and her dad walking down the aisle. Both of them were just smiling from ear to ear. He was happy, she was happy, so I was happy." responded Spike
"Seeing Spike tear up at the altar." answered Patrice
What was your worst memory?
"Umm, nothing went dramatically bad that day. The only thing I could think of was that the reception had my tables wrong. I gave them a seating chart of where I wanted each table and where I wanted everyone seated and they got that all wrong." answered Patrice.
Spike answered, "I didn't have a bad memory that day. Everything was fine for me."
If you could, would you get married all over again and if so, would you do it the same way?
"I would do it again, but I would not do it the way I did it. I'm a 'people-pleaser' and I kept trying to get every one's opinion and advice and I wanted everyone’s input and feedback. If I could do it again, I would do it how I wanted to do it because it just got too much to try to please everyone." expressed Patrice.
"For me it really doesn't matter how it was done. If she decided to do it a different way, then most likely I would agree to it." stated the husband Spike that clearly takes pride in ensuring that his wife is happy.
Do you want or plan to renew your vows?
"We haven't really thought much about it" stated Patrice.
Was your wedding day everything you expected?
"I think that our wedding met my expectations." replied Spike
Patrice agreed, stating "I think it did too. I never really thought about a wedding or getting married growing up. The first time I really thought about it was when he proposed and it definitely met my expectations."
Are there any pictures that you wish your photographer would have captured, but did not?
"I don't have a picture of Spike, his mom, and his brother and sister with just them. We have some pictures but other people were in the picture, so it would have been nice to have one of just them." replied Patrice.
"I thought the pictures were fine. I probably could have gotten some more pictures with my mom, but it is what it is. They came out fine." answered Spike.
What was your most wasteful purchase in regards to planning your wedding?
"Maybe the programs" Spike answered
Agreeing, Patrice added, "I would say programs too. That stuff costs. Paper costs, the ink costs and I really just did not want it. It adds up."
Spike added, "Most of the time people keep them for the day and then they throw them away. The only people that keep programs are old people"
Additionally adding Patrice exclaimed, "The only people that still have them to this day is our family. We could have done without them."
What is the best advice you would give to someone else planning their wedding?
"If you know what you want, go for what you want and don't let other peoples' opinions alter what you want. ’DO WHAT YOU WANT!' Now if someone is helping you pay for it then you may have to compromise, but especially if you're paying for it, do what you want. Don't be a 'people-pleaser'.' advised Patrice.
"When it comes to planning the wedding and different ideas, voice what you want and what you don't want. You don't want to have something that you don't like and you have to pay for it." responded Spike.
I hope you enjoyed reading about these two's wedding experience and if you want to get more tips, advice, and guidance then tune in every Wednesday for a new #WeddingCrushWednesday couple.
Happy Planning Folks!