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Bristol and Austin Tied the Knot

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Bristol Brandt Whiles is a native of Overland Park, Kansas, and graduated from Olathe East High School. She attended Baker University on a women’s golf and academic scholarship and received a degree in molecular bioscience. Bristol is a second year medical student at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.

Austin Whiles is a graduate of Olathe East High School; he attended Missouri Southern State University on a soccer scholarship and graduated with a major in biology and minor in chemistry. Currently, Austin serves as the vice president for LabSource, a toxicology lab.

“Austin and I were born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas, only a few blocks away from each other,” Bristol shares. “But it wasn’t until 2009 at an impromptu day party that we met right after I graduated high school while Austin was home for his college summer break. Austin just happened to be hanging out with his younger brother that day. I hesitated on going to the party and tried to convince my friends I had other things going on, but I ended up at Austin’s, where it all began. It really was fate; if I hadn’t gone to that party, I would never have met my Prince Charming.”

Bristol and Austin became engaged in Monterosso al Mar, Italy, during a graduation trip with her parents. “We hiked the Cinque Terre trails between the towns along the coast; the views were absolutely breathtaking, like nothing we had ever seen before. On the third day after a long morning hike, Austin and I decided to take a short hike up the hillside to a monument we had seen from the beach to enjoy a bottle of champagne. After following winding trails, we reached a point with a phenomenal view and stopped to soak up the scenery. Austin got down on one knee, professed his love to me, and asked me to be his wife. It was an absolutely perfect moment for us to enjoy. We thought that we were completely alone, but soon turned to find an Italian woman planting flowers in the garden area behind us. She was kind enough to snap a few pictures for us before returning to her gardening, never knowing what had happened a few minutes before between Austin and me!”

The blissful couple tied the knot on June 27, 2014. Bristol’s Maid of Honor was Christine Walker; bridesmaids were Jourdan Miller and Danielle Griggs. Austin’s brother Ryan Whiles served as Best Man and groomsmen were Charles Mounkes and Taylor Day. Zach Robertson and Patrick Howell served as ushers. Bristol and Austin planned an evening of easy elegance for their guests following the ceremony at Pilgrim Chapel. A party bus transported the bridal party and family from the ceremony to the Thompson Barn for the reception, which began with a cocktail hour prior to the seated dinner. “Austin and I greeted our guests during the cocktail hour and enjoyed saying hello to everyone individually. But we waited until guests were seated for dinner to make our grand entrance as husband and wife, funny dance moves included!

“The reception overall was completely perfect; our DJ rocked the house for us and the bartenders kept all our glasses full all night. The guests seemed to really enjoy our party favors–wine glasses and mason jars with our wedding information printed on them. I had many heartbroken friends calling the next day disappointed that they had forgotten to pick theirs up and take it home with them, but of course we had plenty of extras that we were able to give them!

“If we could do it all again, we wouldn’t change a thing,” Bristol and Austin agree. “It was honestly a perfect day that we will always remember.” HLM