Some of the greatest adventures begin over a roll of the dice. Charline and Zack first crossed paths at a mutual friend's Dungeons & Dragons table. A deep, steady friendship naturally formed over campaigns and shared stories, eventually evolving into a beautiful relationship. Early on, Zack was struck by Charline's incredible work ethic during her long shifts at Panda Express, paired with a deep empathy for her friends and chosen family. Charline, on the other hand, fell for Zack the afternoon she watched him play guitar to a room full of people joyously singing along to Wellerman, completely captivated by his ability to make everyone feel safe, welcome, and at home.
Their bond only strengthened through their shared love for the outdoors. On their first camping trip to Salt Springs in January 2022, they quickly proved what an incredible team they made—building fires from scratch and cooking dinner together in tinfoil. They wrapped up that trip at the Kennedy Space Center, where Charline shared childhood memories of watching shuttle launches from her balcony. A photo in front of the iconic NASA meatball quickly became a staple of their relationship.
When it came time to propose, Zack orchestrated a moment of cosmic proportions. During a road trip to Illinois for the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, they spent the night huddled in a freezing tent, roasting marshmallows, and attempting to sing Total Eclipse of the Heart with fellow campers. The next afternoon, they hiked up a small mountain to watch the sky. As totality hit, the birds went quiet, the frogs got loud, and a strange twilight washed over the earth. Stunned by the pure magic of the universe, Zack waited for the sun to peak back through. He dropped to one knee, completely bypassed his meticulously planned speech out of sheer emotion, opened a custom 3D-printed case containing a diamond ring, and asked simply, “Baby?”
As a photographer himself, Zack wanted a media studio with an exceptional eye for capturing real, raw emotion. When speaking with our team at Bow Tie Photo & Video, he loved that we spoke like regular people rather than salespeople, offering transparent, customizable options that aligned perfectly with their vision.
Purposeful Details at The Barn at Cottonwood
When touring potential venues, Charline and Zack noticed a common trend: most places offered little more than a "groom's closet" for preparation. The Barn at Cottonwood completely blew them away by providing an entire dedicated cabin for the guys' getting ready area. That intentional care and respect for both halves of the couple made choosing the venue an absolute breeze.
Instead of chasing a rigid, artificial theme, the couple focused on a relaxed, welcoming environment that let their personalities shine. Kaitlyn Brumfield at A Lavish Event stepped in to coordinate the day flawlessly, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
The wedding planning process itself served as a beautiful reflection of their partnership. Living by their own excellent advice to "continue to date and keep wedding talks sequestered to Wedding Wednesdays," they tackled the logistics equitably. For Zack, the morning was filled with anticipation as he got ready with his groomsmen, looking forward to the massive "crossover episode" of bringing all of their favorite communities together under one roof. For Charline, the excitement built toward the moment she could step away for quiet, sequestered pockets of alone time with her new husband.
Campfire Spirits, Local Eats, and a Golden Celebration
Following a beautiful ceremony, the celebration kicked into high gear. Guests treated themselves to a mouthwatering, hearty feast prepared by Davoli’s Catering, keeping everyone fueled up and ready to celebrate.
Charline looked absolutely breathtaking, with her timeless bridal style brought to life by hair stylist Brooke Alexis and makeup artist Madison Fountain. With the dinner complete, the couple bypassed traditional expectations to focus entirely on what mattered most: presence, connection, and pure fun. The reception space came alive as guests mingled, shared stories, and hit the dance floor to celebrate under their official wedding hashtags, #CharlineWinsTheZackpot and #SayingIDoOn222.
As the spectacular evening drew to a close, the newlyweds looked forward to returning home to their beloved dog, Blaze, before packing their backpacks for the ultimate honeymoon adventure. They are heading straight to Peru, where they plan to tackle the challenging four-day Inca Trail hike directly into Machu Picchu. It is the perfect, adventurous start to a lifetime of hiking trips, movie nights, and a marriage where the paperwork is officially sorted and "wife" is finally the title.
Charline and Zack, thank you for inviting us to capture the incredible, unscripted magic of your wedding day. Your love story is remarkably genuine, strong, and inspiring. We wish you a lifetime of endless stargazing, shared laughter, and beautiful growth ahead (and Zack, good luck ever winning custody of that Netflix remote!).
The Creative Team
Venue: The Barn at Cottonwood
Wedding Coordinator: A Lavish Event (Kaitlyn Brumfield) | @alavisheventllc
Catering: Davoli’s Catering | @davoliscatering
Hair Stylist: Brooke Alexis | @thebrookealexis
Makeup Artistry: Madison Fountain
Photography & Videography: Bow Tie Photo & Video | @bow_tie_photo