Kelly Martin & Joshua King
July 30, 2022, at The Market at Grelen
Photos by Audra Jones Photography
Kelly was getting something to eat at the UVA food court one day when a stranger walked up to her.
“He said he’d seen me around and asked for my phone number,” she says. “We went on two dates, and then I decided I wasn’t interested.” But that didn’t deter Joshua. A year later, they saw each other at a coffee shop and he suggested they meet up to catch up. That was September 8, 2018. On September 8, 2021, he proposed.
The couple decided on The Market at Grelen after spending a day touring the venue (rather than hiking their trail, as they’d planned to do for Joshua’s birthday), and set to planning.
“We both wanted to highlight our faith during the ceremony and include people from every stage of our lives,” Kelly says. They took communion with their guests, and braided colored cords to symbolize Jesus at the center of their marriage. And about an hour before the ceremony, the couple had a “first touch.”
“We didn’t want to see each other, so we met up by the greenhouse and stood back to back,” Kelly says. “We talked and prayed together. As I’d been getting ready throughout the day, I kept thinking, ‘I just want to see Joshua.’ We only talked for a few minutes, but our first touch calmed my nerves immensely.”
All together now
The couple asked friends and family to contribute to the day in special ways. Kelly’s 89-year-old Grandma Lillie was the flower girl and Joshua’s 7-year-old cousin was the ring bearer.
Sweet surprises
Since getting married, Kelly has discovered her husband is an amazing cook—lentil stew, pork loin, omelets? “All fantastic,”
she says. And Joshua says he’s never been more excited to come home from work.
Hands in
When it came to DIY, Joshua’s mom made the wedding
favors (gift bags with trail mix, mints, and personalized
ink pens), while Kelly’s sisters created signage.
Good eats
On the menu was Groovin’ Gourmet’s flint steak (“Joshua
has been pining for it since our tasting in March,” Kelly says),
TNT Cakery’s almond cake, and a special blackberry cheesecake for Kelly’s maid of honor, Michelle.
THE DETAILS
Event planner: Johanna Allen from Orange Blossom Style Officiant: Pastor Nathan Walton Catering: Groovin’ Gourmet Flowers: Orange
Blossom Style (Johanna Allen) Cake: Tanisha Chase (TNT Cakery) Music: DJ Donald Dickerson Bride’s attire: Ava Laurenne (dress and veil), Glamour Bride USA on Etsy (hairpiece) Bride’s jewelry: Emilia Rae Bridal Jewelry & Accessories (Etsy) Bride’s shoes: Lulu’s Groom’s attire: Men’s Wearhouse Groomsmen’s attire: Men’s Wearhouse Bridesmaids’ dresses: Birdy Grey Rings: Andrew Minton Jewelers Hair: Vickie Whiting Makeup: Alaina Hudson (AKBeautiful) Videographer: Sydney Koerber Films
