A Magical Backyard Wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Asbury

By Jordan Staggs | Photography by Sydney Jeter, Sydney Faith Photo

They say divine timing is perfect, and this beautiful newlywed couple would agree. When Meghan Ryan and Lucas Asbury met in 2016, they were both leading a summer training trip for college students. “We hit it off instantly as friends, but we never lived in the same city,” shares Meghan. The pair remained in touch, though, and their friendship thrived even though Meghan lived in Charlotte and Lucas was in Nashville. By December 2022, however, Lucas revealed he had developed feelings for Meghan and had wanted to ask her out for almost a year. As you may have guessed, she agreed, and the rest is history.

“We had known each other so long as friends that when we finally went out, it was just really easy,” Meghan says. “We got married thirteen months and one day from our first date.”

The two continued to date long-distance while Lucas’s job as a construction project manager in Nashville’s medical industry and Meghan’s at Proverbs 31 Ministries in Charlotte—plus writing her own devotional book—kept them both busy. Still, Lucas joined Meghan for several trips to her hometown of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, to spend time with her family and friends. They say, “When you know, you know,” and it didn’t take long for them both to realize they were ready to take the next step on their journey through life together.

“While we were on a trip with some of my friends at the beach last summer, Lucas wanted to go to Black Bear Bread Co. in Seaside for breakfast,” Meghan recalls. “I didn’t think anything of it, and we went—just the two of us. I had no idea our friends were back at my parents’ house setting up a surprise party. After we ate, he suggested we take the ‘long way’ back to the car, and that’s when I knew what was happening. We walked back to the Watercolor trails, and I babbled the whole time because I was nervous and didn’t want to ruin whatever he had planned. He stopped me on the bridge and asked me to marry him. My best friend was in the woods nearby, photographing the whole thing. It was the best and most ‘us’ way for him to do it—in workout clothes, in one of our favorite places. And I had no idea it was happening!”

Meghan and Lucas celebrated their engagement at her childhood home and the nearby white-sand beach all day afterward, with many family and friends joining in the fun. The Florida sunlight, clear turquoise water of the Gulf, and gorgeous beaches are a draw for many destination weddings, and Meghan knew it was where she wanted to celebrate her nuptials, as well—at home with family and friends, old and new. So, plans formed for an elegant hometown wedding near the beach.

“Like most couples, there were some stressful points, mostly when it came to the guest list,” she admits. “But we tried to keep it as simple as possible. Our engagement was pretty short, so we had to move quickly, and we’re so glad we did. We planned it ourselves, but my mom, Renee, did most of the work to help us, and it turned out amazing!”

“When I was four years old, I was the flower girl in my aunt Lisa Burwell’s wedding, and the reception was held at Eden Gardens,” Meghan shares. “I had dreamed of that since I was little.”

There are many stunning venues around the Gulf Coast area of Northwest Florida, but one in particular held a special place in the bride’s heart and became a clear winner.

“When I was four years old, I was the flower girl in my aunt Lisa Burwell’s wedding, and the reception was held at Eden Gardens,” Meghan shares. “I had dreamed of that since I was little.”

On January 5, 2024, Meghan and Lucas gathered with about 160 guests for a heartfelt ceremony underneath the live oaks and Spanish moss at Eden Gardens State Park on the Choctawhatchee Bay. The verdant lawn behind the historical Wesley House mansion, built in 1897, made a perfect setting for the bridal party adorned in varying shades of green, including Meghan’s sister, Abigail, as the maid of honor. Her brothers, Micah and Patrick, served as two of Lucas’s groomsmen. The simple yet elegant setup with lilies, baby’s breath, and other white blossoms lining the aisle allowed nature to be the decoration as Meghan and her father, Jim, walked toward Lucas and her future.

“It truly was a dream day,” says the bride. “Lucas got ready with all his friends and said he felt really relaxed the whole time. I got ready with my friends at my parents’ house while we watched them set up the backyard for the reception. It was fun and easygoing, and no one was in a rush for anything. We kept everything pretty simple to bring out the beauty of Eden.”

Meghan says her “first look” with Lucas was one of her favorite moments. “And our ceremony felt so worshipful and like a really holy moment,” she adds. After the “I dos,” the wedding party took photos while guests of the newlywed Asburys traveled a few miles back to the Ryans’ home in Seagrove Beach.

“There were some restrictions with numbers that made it impossible to have the reception at Eden,” Meghan explains, “so I jokingly asked my dad if we could do it in the backyard, and he (somewhat reluctantly) agreed! He and my grandfather built our house, and it’s the most special place in the world to me. Getting to be there with our closest friends and family was the best. A real Father of the Bride moment!”

Lucas, a musician and songwriter, even took the stage several times to play with The Park Band, a popular cover band based in Alabama, which Meghan says was a huge hit. “We were obsessed with our band. The guests loved it, too—everyone was committed to the dance floor the whole night.”

After a joyful evening, it was time for the Asburys to bid farewell to their family and guests and prepare for a tropical honeymoon in the Dominican Republic! They enjoyed a week at the Sanctuary Cap Cana in Punta Cana, which was full of relaxation, Caribbean views, great food, and lots of memories made together. “We wanted to sit by the pool and do nothing for a week, and it was the perfect spot to do that,” says the bride.

Cheers to Meghan and Lucas! May your journey together be full of love, family, God, and more unforgettable moments kicked off by a beautiful backyard wedding for the ages.

— V —

Special Thanks

Flowers: Rose & Co
Catering and rentals: Grayton Beach Catering
Reception band: The Park Band
Photography: Sydney Faith Photo
Bridal gown: Jenny Yoo from J Majors Bridal in Charlotte, North Carolina
Invitations: A collaboration between two of the bride’s best friends, Shelby McIntyre of SB Art and Design and Riley Moody of Good Mood Design Co.
Hair and makeup: Brenna Kneiss and Shae Hill