Sunny Days
in capital city
The Meet
Lauren
Lauren grew up in a small town in south central Virginia. An avid sports fan, Lauren played three sports in high school (basketball, volleyball, and softball), as well as playing for a traveling volleyball league in the winter and Dixie softball in the summer. When Lauren wasn’t on the field or the court, she was embracing her other passion: reading. A self proclaimed nerd, Lauren has always loved reading and learning. Lauren graduated from Bluestone Senior High School in 2004, and enrolled at James Madison University with a double major in Justice Studies and Public Administration.
Matt
Matt grew up in Harrisonburg, VA. A family love for the outdoors and for fellowship led Matt to pursue the Boy Scouts throughout his youth. Matt earned his Eagle in 2000, and is a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow. From a young age, Matt also had a love for all things technology. Despite having grown up in Harrisonburg, Matt always knew JMU was the place for him. After graduating from Harrisonburg High in the summer of 2003, Matt enrolled at JMU in pursuit of a degree in Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT).
James Madison University, 2004
Lauren and Matt met in the fall of 2004 at James Madison University. Matt and Lauren became quick friends, sharing a love for TV police and crime dramas, bad horror movies, and all things JMU. Thier friendship grew and they started dating in February of 2005.
The Proposal
Matt proposed to Lauren on Friday, February 15, 2008 on the Quad at JMU.
On his way to Harrisonburg for the weekend he asked Lauren to meet him on the Quad to take a walk with Foosa (their dog). They parked in the deck and walked to the Quad. Once there, they had Foosa running between them (back and forth). When Foosa was on Matt’s side he pulled out a black sock (one of Foosa’s favorite toys), with the ring inside, and gave it to Foosa. She ran to Lauren with the sock.
When Foosa got to Lauren and she opened the sock to find a box, she questioned if it was part of her Valentine’s presents, but Matt told her “It’s not Valentine’s Day.”
She opened the box to reveal the ring. Then Matt asked her to marry him, and as you can see, she said YES!
The Wedding
Providence Presbyterian Church, October 16, 2009
Lauren Elizabeth Brice and James Matthew Gilkeson were married on at 7pm on October 16, 2009 at Providence Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, VA. Rev. John Wimberly, of Western Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. performed the ceremony.
The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father, and presented in marriage by her parents. Blythe Dalton served as maid of honor, and Jeff Allen, Jennifer Taylor, VA, and Becca Gilkeson served as bridal attendants.
Matthew Meinhold of Harrisonburg, VA was the best man. Groomsmen were Derick Gilkeson and Jared Brice.
Naomi Brice and Kenzie Albrecht, cousins of the bride, were flower girls.
The guests joined the new couple for Desert and Dancing at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfax, VA directly following the ceremony.
