Our first wedding in weeks without the threat of rain. We spent Saturday at Payne Meadows in Murphy. It was a gorgeous day with blue skies and fluffy white clouds passing by. Every detail from the flowers to the location was perfect. We loved celebrating with Justin and Samantha’s friends and family. The two shared the first look under a gorgeous dogwood tree. Then sharing gifts with each other Samantha gave Justin a new wooden watch and he gave her a diamond bracelet. Samantha and Justin were married behind the barn at Payne Meadows in a beautiful field framed by gorgeous aged trees lining the creek bank.
The barn was built in the 1950s then restored in 2013. It is surrounded by 38 acres of rolling pastures split in half by a cool running stream that twists and turns throughout the property. Owned by Ronnie and Linda Payne, the property has been in the family for over six generations.
Samantha is an Employment Specialist Manager at a Non-Profit Organization in Andrews. She works in a rehab facility that helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Helping people is her passion. Justin is a Gwinnett County Fire Fighter. He has worked for the department for 10 years as Firefighter and EMT and was recently awarded Firefighter of the year for his service. As an avid outdoorsman, Justin likes to deer and turkey hunt as well as a fish. The two like to go riding through the mountains, spending time with their families, sitting on the back porch, and playing with their dog Gunner.
When the two first started dating, Justin took Samantha to his land where he was going to build his house and that’s where they told each other “I love you” for the first time. Two and a half years later, the house was built.
The two were engaged when Justin proposed in October of last year. A plan to have dinner and carve pumpkins with friends seemed like the perfect time. They were about to start carving on the back porch when Justin told Samantha not to sit down yet, he had something to say. This should have struck Samantha as odd because Justin is really quiet and would never bring attention to himself. He said ‘you know I love you right?’ She said ‘yes’ and then he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him! She was in shock, to say the least. Him proposing on the back porch of our forever home was priceless because that’s where it all began and will continue to grow our lives together.
Congratulations to Samantha and Justin.
May 2, 2018
ELSEWHERE
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