Creekwood Gardens

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Our Wedding

It all began on Leap Day 2024, when fate decided to give us an extra day—and what better way to spend it than meeting each other at Great Raft Brewery? What started as a simple evening out quickly turned into something that felt like it was meant to be. We quickly realized that shared hobbies of travel, photography, camping, and sampling new foods and beverages was just the beginning. There was a unique chemistry that allowed conversation to flow so easily that time seemed to pass much more quickly than normal! From that day forward, every moment together just fit.

By the end of 2024, we were spending nearly all our free time together, from day trips to a hot air balloon festival to an evening at a corn maze with pumpkin picking at Dixie Maze Farms. In December of that year, we began our travel adventures by going to Conroe together for the first time to celebrate Chelsea’s niece (Bella’s) birthday and to experience the magic of Santa’s Wonderland. Just a few weeks later, we rang in the new year in Gatlinburg. It was raining all evening, stopping just a few minutes before the ball drop, fireworks, and drone show exactly at midnight! We later stayed a night in a beautiful cabin outside of Chattanooga that had the most spectacular view of the sunset. That trip really stirred the feeling in both our hearts that this was just the beginning of something special!

As the months rolled on, so did our adventures. We explored New Orleans with Josh’s family, spent time with Chelsea’s granny in New Braunfels, soaked up the sun in Pensacola for July 4th, explored the beauty of Tennessee (complete with a night at The Grand Ole Opry to celebrate their 100th year!), and floated lazily down the San Marcos River.

Eventually, our travels took us all the way to Washington for one of Chelsea’s work trips. Neither of us knew it yet, but this would become the most meaningful trip of all. While exploring the breathtaking Quinault Rainforest, at an overlook on a hike surrounded by towering western red cedar and Douglas fir trees, Josh leaned in and began speaking about how love grows—strong, steadfast, and resilient— much like the life of a tree. Then, he dropped to one knee and asked the question we’d both been dreaming about:“Will you marry me?”

While this timeline tries to cover the highlights of Chelsea and Joshua's journey from their first date to their engagement, they went on so many more adventures together. As such, there's an alarmingly large number of pictures not included in the above timeline that are worth sharing. Below is a gallery of their favorite memories they've made together.

Our Story

These are Chelsea and Joshua's favorite engagement photos taken by Chelsea's very talented cousin, Ru.

Engagement Photos

Wedding Party

For Women:Dresses - Midi, knee-length, or maxi dresses in fabrics like cotton, jersey, or other lightweight material. Footwear - Wedges, strappy sandals, or elegant flats are ideal, especially for outdoor venues where high heels might sink into the grass.For Men:Bottoms - Chinos or dress pants in lightweight cotton or linen. Jeans are generally not acceptable.Tops - Solid or printed button-down dress shirt or a knit polo.Jackets - Sport coat or blazer, which can be taken off once the reception starts.Suits - A full suit is acceptable, but not necessary.Footwear - Loafers, oxfords, or sleek leather dress shoes. Accessories - A tie is optional, but not required

Dress Code

Hotels

We recommend booking early as lodging in the area is limited. Many hotels in the Ruston area tend to book up this time of year months in advance.

Quality Inn Ruston

Holiday Inn Express Minden by IHG

Holiday Inn Express & Suites West Monroe by IHG

Days Inn by Wyndham Arcadia Louisiana

On Site Accommodations

Tent and RV camping are available on site. Please refer to the website for booking instructions. Cabins are reserved for immediate family.

Other Accommodations

There are also several Airbnb and Vrbo options in the area.

Travel

Things to Do

Registry

We don't need anything to start our life together, but if you feel inclined to give, we value experiences over items. After our wedding, we will be taking a honeymoon trip to Europe and will accept any help to fund our "wish list" of experiences such as a gondola ride in Venice, dinner in Athens, tours of Croatia, and drinks at the cliffside bars in Dubrovnik. Thanks in advance for your generosity in making this a trip to remember!

<a href="https://www.gaudesgethitched.com/us/chelsea-lopez-and-joshua-gaude-oct-2026/registry" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Click here to access the fund.</a>The fund is listed as an item on the wedding registry page. It is left open-ended because any amount is appreciated.

Chelsea & Joshua

Chelsea & Joshua

C&J

Wedding Day

Reception