L’amour
T I M ES T WO
MR. AND MRS. WELLER By Jo rd a n S ta g g s | Ph o to g ra p hy by S a ra h C o l e m a n
FATE CAN BE A TRICKY THING, AND ITS OUTCOME RARELY IS WHAT WE EXPECT. BUT WHEN GOD’S PLAN COMES TOGETHER IN A BEAUTIFUL UNION, IT REINFORCES THE BELIEF THAT ALL THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON. FOR OLIVIA LEE PIERCE AND MATTHEW THOMAS WELLER, IT SEEMED IRONIC THAT THE PAIR BOTH GREW UP ALONG THE EASTERN SHORE OF MOBILE BAY, JUST TEN MINUTES FROM EACH OTHER, BUT NEVER MET UNTIL THEY BOTH MOVED TO THE AREA NEAR DESTIN, FLORIDA, IN THEIR MID-TWENTIES.
“Our high schools were even rivals, but somehow, Matt and I never met until we both moved to the Emerald Coast in the early summer of 2017,” says Olivia, who graduated from Auburn University and moved south again to be a full-time graphic designer. “We each came to the area for new jobs. When we met, I said I was looking for someone to go to the beach and grab a beer with, and that’s what we did. It was really fun to explore the area with Matt. We instantly bonded and fell in love in our new home away from home.” Matt earned a degree from the University of Alabama in Huntsville before his move to the beach, making the future Wellers’ colleges rivals, as well. They made it through their first NCAA football season together, and the rest fell into place quickly. After many visits back home to Daphne and Fairhope, Alabama, to meet each other’s families, many game nights with friends, other travels together, and countless beach days and brewery dates, it was clear they were ready to take the next step toward being husband and wife. 36 | JUNE 2 0 21
