A Bloom Of Love

Love has a funny way of unfolding when you least expect it. Kara and I didn’t start as high school sweethearts or childhood best friends. We were just two kids who shared the same spaces, unknowingly weaving the foundation for something much bigger.

I first met Kara somewhere in my middle school years—this beautiful blonde girl with confidence about her. We both did FFA—she thrived in floral design, and I was just finding my way into the organization.

Every morning, we had this unspoken routine. Our groups would gather at Holt’s Bakery—her with her mom, Karen, her sisters Abbi and Alex; me with my mom and friends. My mom always commented on how beautiful those girls were.

Through FFA, we grew closer. We competed, traveled, celebrated wins, and learned from failures together. One night, a group of us planned to go out to eat. But somehow, everyone else backed out, and it ended up being just Kara and me at the table. We didn’t think much of it—until our ag teacher walked in. He took one look at us and immediately asked:

“What are y’all doing? Is this a date?”

I freaked out. Super nervous. But in that instant, something clicked. Maybe… maybe it was a date? Maybe we were already thinking it, just waiting for someone else to say it out loud.

After that night, things shifted. We started eating lunch together every day. We spent even more time together. And then, one day, Kara called me.

“What are we doing?” she asked.

I didn’t hesitate. “I guess we can be daters,” I said.

She hung up the phone. And that was that. We’ve been ‘daters’ ever since.

When the time came to propose, I wanted something iconic, something meaningful. The Martin Theatre was perfect. It’s a landmark in our town, a place that has stood the test of time—just like I knew our love would.

I even went as far as putting “Will You Marry Me?” on the marquee sign outside. It was all set.

Until it wasn’t.

That night, just as everything was supposed to happen, a wreck happened right in front of the theater. My videographer called me, telling me I needed to stall.

So, I did the only logical thing—I drove Kara all over every single neighborhood in Coffee County. Then, I walked all through the aisles of a Dollar General for absolutely no reason, pretending I needed something. Killing time.

At some point, she had to know something was up. But she went along with it.

Finally, the delay ended. We arrived at the theater. I got down on one knee.

Her answer? “Absolutely.”

We took pictures. We laughed. We celebrated. And just like that, our forever started.

We got married on New Year’s Day, 2022, at Carver Baptist Church. It was beautiful. Simple. Us.

The flowers? Solid white. Kara’s work, of course.

The photography? Controlled by me—every detail, every shot, except for actually clicking the shutter. That’s just who we are.

And then, just like that, we were husband and wife.

Somewhere in our marriage, Kara was growing her wedding floral business. She had talent—real talent.

Then, one day, we got a phone call from Randy Wooten, a dear friend and mentor. He had an offer we never saw coming. He wanted us to take over Delorice’s Florist—a 50-year-old floral business with deep roots in our community.

My first reaction was no. 

But we prayed about it. And the more we prayed, the more we knew this was God’s direction for us. So we said yes.

Owning Delorice’s has been nothing short of life-changing. Not only were we running a successful photography studio, but now, we were responsible for preserving and growing a legacy business.

The Challenge of a Legacy

Taking over a 50-year-old business isn’t easy.

The hardest part? The pressure.

Long-standing customers had expectations. They had known Delorice’s one way for decades. Changing things—even for the better—meant earning their trust all over again.

We pushed forward, knowing why we were doing it:

• To bring new life into a legacy.

• To introduce home decor, bridal registries, and gifts.

• To serve people in their most emotional moments-from celebrations to sympathy.

The most rewarding part of it all? Walking alongside people in their highs and lows. We aren’t just selling flowers. We’re honoring lives, celebrating love, and helping people say things words can’t.

Running two businesses together is a challenge. Some days, it’s messy. When you’re together all day, every day, it’s easy to get frustrated.

But we always come back to what makes us great partners:

• Kara’s strength: She’s a calm, steady leader—no matter the pressure, she handles it with grace and control.

• My strength: I know how to love on my people—our clients, our customers. I know how to create an experience that makes them feel valued.

And now? We’ve built something amazing.

Looking back, it all makes sense.

The bakery mornings. The awkward first “date.” The late-night proposal. The wedding. The businesses we built side by side.

A rose. A camera. And a God big enough to weave it all together.

That’s our love story. And it’s still being written.