Occasions: Just Married - Lacy Jane Janson & Warren Anthony Harper

BRIDE’S PARENTS
Chuck and Laurie Janson

GROOM’S PARENTS
Marie Harper; George and Wanda Harper

HOW THEY MET: Warren and Lacy met on the track at FSU. Both being pole vaulters, they spent a lot of time together at practice, and also off the field with other track friends. In 2009, Warren forgot her birthday (Feb. 20) and she gave him a pretty hard time about it. He appeased her by promising to give her a hug every day for a year. He was true to his word and often made special efforts to bestow his daily hug.

One summer while playing beach volleyball, Lacy offered to buy Warren a banana split if he helped her carry her poles down to the other side of the track. He accepted, and, thus began their tradition of regular Bruster’s dates. Many times Lacy was too full or didn’t feel like ice cream, but if he asked, she always accepted.

They decided to begin dating when they were both in Gainesville helping coach at the Florida Relays. Their first kiss happened in the apartment complex that is right next to their new neighborhood, in Gainesville — how things have come full circle.

BACKGROUND: Warren grew up in Tallahassee and attended Lawton Chiles High School. Lacy grew up in Sarasota and attended Cardinal Mooney High School.

INTERESTS: They enjoy beach volleyball and almost anything outdoors, visiting with family and friends and great food.

THE PROPOSAL: Oct. 25, 2011.
Warren planned an entire day of fun, which began with watching the sunrise over the water on Bald Point. The next adventure was to Level 8 Lounge at Hotel Duval where the couple enjoyed drinks, appetizers and the sunset. Dinner followed at Bella Bella, an Italian restaurant, and dessert was under the stars in an open field. They were lying on their backs and Lacy was trying to find the legs of Pegasus when Warren started his pre-proposal talk. He got up onto one knee and pulled out a box from his jacket pocket and popped the question, to which Lacy responded, “Absolutely!”

THE WEDDING: Dec. 29, 2012.
The ceremony took place at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, in Tallahassee, where Warren grew up attending.

THE RECEPTION: The reception took place at Shiloh Farm, a big open space with beautiful oak trees and an amazing barn. It was decorated with all sorts of odds and ends and hay scattered on the floor — the perfect place for a “boot scootin’” good time. Local band Crooked Shooz played and the Wiregrass Boys cooked tasty barbecue.

BRIDE-AND-GROOM’S FIRST DANCE: “Keeper of the Stars” by Tracy Byrd

HONEYMOON: Warren planned the entire thing and Lacy didn’t know where they were going until the end of the wedding day. They went up to Pine Mountain, Ga., to view the Christmas lights at Callaway Gardens. The next stop was Stone Mountain, Ga., for a snow tubing adventure at the base of Stone Mountain. Finally, they ended up on Cumberland Island, Ga., for three days. They had to get back to Tallahassee for the annual soccer game in honor of Warren’s birthday.

FUN FACTS: 2012 was a big year for both Warren and Lacy. After getting engaged in October 2011, they found out in February 2012 that Warren was accepted to veterinary school at University of Florida. Lacy, a professional pole vaulter, made the world championship team and went in March to Istanbul to compete. In June, Warren, Lacy’s parents and sister, Kristin, travelled to Eugene, Ore., to see Lacy make the USA Olympic team — which meant everyone bought tickets to London for August to watch the competition and see London (Lacy’s two sisters, Kristin and Brittany, her brother, Charles, parents and Warren all made the trip). Warren’s brother, Joseph, was studying abroad in London at the time, so he was also able to join in the fun.

Following the Olympics, Warren came back to Florida, moved his stuff to Gainesville and started school days later. Their wedding (Dec. 29) was a great way to end a wonderful year.