Billy (BJ) and Nicolet’s story began when they were juniors in college, both education majors who shared several classes together. Their first date was at Red Lobster in Dothan, Alabama, and it didn’t take long before Billy invited Nicolet to meet his family at their home church, just three hours away. It was clear early on that this was something special.

As college life became challenging, they both met with a recruiter, but Billy took the next step, completing his ASVAB and enlisting in the military. While he was away at basic training, they stayed connected through letters and only a handful of phone calls, keeping their love strong despite the distance. When Billy was stationed in Las Vegas, he returned to Alabama to propose, and Nicolet, following her heart, transferred to UNLV to be by his side. Adding two years to her degree but gaining a lifetime of love.

They quietly married on the Las Vegas Strip, keeping it a secret as Nicolet dreamed of having a “real wedding.” Though her mother-in-law promised a vow renewal in ten years, neither imagined it would take this long. Now, 15 and a half years, four beautiful children, and countless memories later, Billy and Nicolet are finally ready to celebrate the wedding they always dreamed of. Proof that true love only grows stronger with time.