Taylor Fikes and Shannon Webb were married in Tupelo on April 15, 2023.

The happy couple met in Starkville in the fall of 2020 while attending Mississippi State University. The bride, Taylor, shared, “We met on Halloween, and Shannon already knew my little brother; they are buddies. Shannon was fun and flirty, and he already knew everyone at MSU. I asked him, ‘How have I never met you when you know everyone in Starkville?!'”

“I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend at the time,” Taylor continued. “But Shannon pursued me in the most loving and kind way. It might sound silly, but I remember thinking that this man is pursuing me the way Christ pursues the church, and now, here we are married, and our marriage is centered on Christ.”

As Taylor recounted the two’s first date, she did admit that Shannon’s kitchen skills were a major plus.

“My brother Garmon said, ‘Well, Taylor, he’s a great guy, but if nothing else, let him cook for you before you go on your first date.’ This is a high compliment from my brother, who is a major foodie. Shannon is an amazing cook, and he did cook for me on our first date!”

Taylor introduced Shannon to her parents at her graduation from Mississippi State. She took a position with Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo as the associate children’s minister. Shannon graduated a year later and accepted a job offer in Memphis before coming back to join Taylor in Tupelo.

“Shannon works hard, and we did long distance for a while,” Taylor said. “It was a challenge, but he knew that I loved my job in Tupelo so much that he eventually found a job and moved here.”

Taylor is a Tupelo native, and Shannon is from Brandon. Shannon proposed on November 11, 2022, and it was a family affair.

“Shannon picked me up, and we were headed to eat dinner. Suddenly, I got a phone call from my dad, who said he needed help with something at my grandma’s house and said he needed Shannon’s help too. I had a feeling something was about to happen.”

Taylor’s childhood home is next to her grandmother’s house in Tupelo. “I had the sweetest childhood there,” she said. Her late grandfather loved his pecan orchard, and it was there where Shannon proposed to Taylor.

“He had set up his grandmother’s dining room table set and used my grandmother’s quilt. There were beautiful lights strung and picture frames with photos of us all around. He had ordered a nice dinner from Harvey’s, also set on the table. I had to stop and take it all in, and then, he proposed.”

Taylor and Shannon sat together and ate their meal, and he shared with her the story of how he went about setting up the proposal. “After dinner, we went to my parent’s house next door, and our family, friends, and colleagues were there to celebrate with us. It was a perfect evening.”

The couple picked April 15, 2023, for their wedding date and knew they wanted to marry at Harrisburg Baptist Church.

Taylor’s colleague and dear friend, Ashley Seals, who also has her own event-planning business, put on the wedding for the couple.

“I knew she did this, and I see how she works every day. I knew no one could do it better than Ashley,” Taylor said.

The Webb wedding was simple and elegant and had an overall theme of love and family. “Our colors were white and light blue, with greenery. We had three arches on our wedding day that Angie Wise Floral designed and decorated beautifully. We also included my family’s heirloom kneeler, and I noticed that the same design of the arch was also the same design on the wood of the kneeler…that was a special find.”

With a string quartet and piano, the couple was married by Pastor Rob Armstrong and blessed while sitting on the family kneeler by their dear friend, Bill Collins.

The reception was held at the church’s fellowship hall. The ceremony took place in the morning, and the reception was followed by a delectable brunch spread catered by Hey Mama What’s for Supper.

“We had a coffee bar, biscuits, fruit, breakfast casseroles, sausage balls, and a fabulous cheesecake table,” Taylor said, adding that Shannon’s favorite dessert is cheesecake. “One of my favorite parts of our wedding day is after the reception, we had an intimate family gathering at my grandmother’s barn, at the pecan orchard, where Shannon proposed. This is where we shared our first dance, and this is where my parents had their wedding reception.”

A wedding full of elegance, personal touches, family history, and intention was just what the bride and groom wanted.

“I want a marriage like my parents,” Taylor said. “They are in love with each other and the Lord. I’m so thankful for Shannon and the examples he has had in his life too. He grew up watching a dad that loves his mom.”

“Some of my favorite things about Taylor are the beautiful smile that beams back at me, the way she serves in the church and teaches kiddos about the Lord, and how humble and thoughtful she is at all times,” Shannon said.

Taylor shared, “I have the fullest confidence that Shannon loves me. He’s my constant safe place where I find honesty, encouragement, and loads of laughter!”

The newlyweds drove off in a cherry red Corvette — the same Corvette the groom and his father had worked on for many years — as family members and friends blew bubbles. Taylor and Shannon Webb are now embarking upon a new chapter of their lives as husband and wife.