One day while Lane was bored in his office, he logged onto the gay dating app, Scruff, to find he had a ‘Woof’ notification from someone by the name of Ryan. Intrigue ensued, and a conversation started immediately. It wasn’t long before Lane asked Ryan out on the first date.

“After texting for a few weeks, I asked when I would be able to take him to dinner. I took Ryan to one of my favorite Mexican restaurants in Dallas called ‘Mesero’. However, I had no idea that Ryan was live-tweeting our first date! Both of us are pretty laid back individuals, so when the cookie shop I intended to be part two of the date was closed, we went to a Sonic Drive-In and got milkshakes.”

Lane knew instantly that Ryan was different from others he had dated. There was something particularly different in the feelings he had for him. Things moved quickly. Knowing there was something special about Ryan, Lane decided he was going to break the news and tell Ryan he loved him. Lane reflected, “I was mortified to the point Ryan thought I was trying to work up the courage to break up with him.” Lane originally planned to write out “I love you” in chocolate sauce in a bowl of ice cream, but the words just didn’t work for the sauce. As Lane’s nerves continued to escalate, Ryan also started to worry, “I put on sweatpants and was ready to get to Taco Bell because I was braced for break-up mode!” Regardless, Lane worked up the courage and finally confessed. “I told Ryan I loved him and he replied with, ‘I love you, too.’”

Not long after, both Lane and Ryan’s apartment leases were approaching renewal. “One night when he was coming over, I created a huge blanket/pillow fort in my studio apartment. It literally took up most of the apartment! I made homemade mac and cheese, played his favorite music and asked him if he wanted to move in with me. He said yes! Ryan and I had been talking about ‘forever’ and our future so I knew that we would one day get married. We had shared with each other that we wanted to get married one day. As soon as Ryan said yes to moving in with me, I began planning out my proposal.”

Ryan and Lane found a place for themselves in Dallas, and Lane was able to get access to the keys a little early. “I decided I would have his closest friend fly into town to take photos, but other than that it would just be the two of us. I put a wreath on the door decorated with candles. I hung streamers, and got champagne and pastries. The next day was move-in day. Ryan showed up to get the keys to our apartment and was met by his closest friend who handed him the keys. I had put a leather keychain on the keys that had what would be Ryan's new initials, RCH. Ryan said he still didn't understand what was happening. When he came into the apartment and saw the decorations, it hit him. I knelt down, read him a letter I wrote, and asked him to marry me.” Ryan responded with an astounding “Yes!” They moved into their new apartment later that day. While in the U-Haul, Ryan and Lane started talking about what they both wanted for their wedding, agreeing that it was important for it to be easy, simple and focused on their love. “We decided that it made perfect sense to get married in Las Vegas and my only request was that we get married at the famous Little White Wedding Chapel, because Britney Spears got married there."

The wedding date was set for exactly one year after they officially became boyfriends. “We moved quick! But only because it felt natural.” Photography being of great importance for their wedding day, Lane researched online and eventually found someone’s work they fell in love with just by searching #VegasWeddingPhotographer on Instagram!

“The wedding planning process was as easy as every other part of our relationship. When we landed in Vegas for the wedding we stopped at the County Clerk’s office to get our license. When they instructed us ‘please fill out this paperwork,’ I pulled out a giant envelope with all the completed documents that I had printed online. ‘These documents?’ I replied.”

“Because we were getting married at the iconic Little White Wedding chapel, there were no stresses about the ceremony itself. We wanted to look classic, but also a little Las Vegas.” Lane and Ryan had a little trouble locating something affordable, but fitting, until one day they were walking through Macy’s. “We saw these white jackets that we loved, but there were only 2 left. However, they were both in our exact sizes. We knew it was fate.”

As Lane and Ryan woke up for their wedding day, the nerves set in and they got quiet as they put on their suits. “We got to the Little White Wedding Chapel and there was just one other couple in front of us. They looked really scared and nervous, which made me question why I was so nervous.” As the nerves subsided, the ceremony ensued with the perfect mix of joy, humor, and love. “Ryan and I walked down the aisle to “It Had To Be You,” by Billie Holliday. I promised that I was his family forever, making this promise while quoting his favorite diva, Beyoncé. Ryan promised that he would love me through thick-and-thin, and would make an attempt at liking Bloody Mary's on my behalf. We left the chapel feeling elated. Our package included a live stream which allowed all of our family and friends to watch our beautiful ceremony.”

On their limo ride back to the ARIA Resort & Casino in Vegas, “Can't Stop The Feeling” by Justin Timberlake came on the radio. “Ryan and I turned it up and sang the entire drive. It was the perfect moment because we needed a song to match the joy we had from what just happened!” Continuing the fun, they decided to make a pitstop at Shake Shack. “While in line, an employee asked, ‘Why are y'all so dressed up?’ We of course responded that we just got married! They proceeded to shower us with t-shirts, milkshakes, sunglasses, and so many other things. Our ‘wedding reception’ was flawless.”  Buzzing with excitement, Lane and Ryan got ready for their photo shoot with their photographer. Meeting her outside The Little White Chapel, their photographer suggested going out to the desert to take some photos. “Maybe it was the adrenaline of getting married, but we hopped into her car and she drove us to the middle of nowhere just outside of Las Vegas.” They stopped to get champagne, and for the next two hours, they lived the dream sipping champagne and capturing incredible memories out in the desert. “Stephanie was hilarious, fun, creative, and made our wedding photos the envy of our family and friends. She was right, popping the champagne in the desert is one of our favorite photos!”

After the photo shoot, Lane and Ryan went back to the hotel to change for the evening. “We had to get ready to the Zappos Theater to see our wedding band perform… also known as Britney Spears! We screamed, we shouted, we let it all out at the concert. Britney was the perfect way to end our perfect day.”

The wedding day essentially was the best party the two could ask for. “Being that it was just Ryan and I on our special day, there were no stressors. We put so much time and attention just focusing on each other and our love. And, we basked in all the attention we got wearing our ‘Groom’ t-shirts.”

This being their first time in Las Vegas, Lane and Ryan stayed in the city for their honeymoon. They particularly loved the people watching and just experiencing all of the momentous fun throughout the area together. Now, they continue the tradition of visiting a new city for each of their anniversaries.

Ryan and Lane now host a weekly podcast together called @wedandwoke, where they interview people & organizations making the world a better place.

Photographer: Stephanie Rapp
Lane: @Lane.hollingsworth
Ryan: @hellomrholly