Bridal Buzz

photography courtesy of Joseph Mark Photography

Falling in love can often feel kid-like with all the butterflies, blushing, and in Ashley Smith’s case, trying to snag a seat next to the cute boy in class. Ashley and Sebastien Chain had every class together their first year at the University of Houston Law Center, but their hesitation to talk to each other kept them from getting to know each other until a mutual friend hosted a Halloween party they both attended. The two spent the entire night talking, and they knew it was the start to a lifelong friendship. But during a three-month backpacking trip through Europe, they fell in love.

After four years of dating, Sebastien, who knew of Ashley’s love for the city of Washington D.C., planned to take his girlfriend on a surprise autumn trip (Ashley’s favorite season) to the nation’s capitol. One day during the vacation, the couple rented a car and drove through the breathtaking mountains of Virginia. Sebastien had packed a picnic lunch, and they took in the beautiful views from a cliff as they ate. In Ashley’s eyes, the trip could not have been more perfect – until Sebastien popped the question that evening as they sat fireside watching the snow fall.

Ashley studied Communications at Texas A&M University, and Sebastien attended the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a degree in Economics. They both graduated from the University of Houston Law Center, and Sebastien continued on to Georgetown University Law Center in D.C. where he received an LLC in Taxation. The pair will wed on July 7 in the sculpture garden at the Dallas Museum of Art.