It was by chance that Sara Saxner and Daniel Coughlin first met in January of this year. When Ms. Saxner and a friend were dancing to “Baby Got Back” at Dark Horse in the Virginia Highlands, they “actually backed into each other.”
However, from the moment Ms. Saxner proposed to her fiance in May 2020 through every detail of their nuptials, their decision making has been guided by intention rather than by chance.
Ms. Saxner, a 29-year-old Fort Lauderdale native, holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Florida State University and a master’s degree in public administration and policy from the university. A boutique development and design firm in Atlanta, Hex, has her as its COO. Additionally, Ms. Saxner owns and operates a company called Bridge & Arrow, which she describes as being “focused on using business, technology, and product for good.”
Mr. Coughlin, a 27-year-old Atlanta native, graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a diploma in economics. At Honeywell Connected Enterprises in Atlanta, where he is a director of product and technology, he is pursuing a Master of Science (MS) in data science.
The Pair is Currently Residing in the Atlanta, Georgia Area.
A few days after their chance encounter on the dance floor, the two got in touch and agreed to meet for drinks at Atlanta’s Six Feet Under Pub & Fish House, a popular rooftop bar. As soon as they saw him, they were in love.
In March 2020, Mr. Coughlin suggested. When he first got engaged, he had a very lavish engagement party planned, with relatives and friends travelling in from all over the country to attend. It was just a matter of time before the global pandemic forced him to change his plans many times in a matter of weeks,” Ms. Saxner added.
A romantic picnic was made up by Mr. Coughlin and his family instead, “complete with images mirroring our lives leading up to memories from the last few years together on farmhouse wooden screens he built,” Ms. Saxner recalled.
A photo session in and around Piedmont Park was followed by a picnic at home with food from their favourite local restaurant, Wrecking Bar Brewpub, and an Edison bulb chandelier created especially for the occasion by Mr. Coughlin. They loved every minute of it! Ms. Saxner recounted how she and her husband celebrated with a candlelit dinner, phone calls to loved ones, and a bottle of champagne.
Summerour Studio in Atlanta hosted their Jewish/Deist, Modern Mediterranean wedding on July 31, 2021. Mr. Coughlin said, “Sara was raised Jewish, and I was raised Catholic.”
An ordained minister from the Universal Life Church, Dominick Ard’is, officiated the ceremony. In-person attendance was 160, with another 40 tuning in via livestream.
The jewellery worn by Ms. Saxner and the broach put inside her bouquet were both thoughtfully placed. She explained that the brooch belonged to her late maternal grandparents. In the shot, there was a picture of them from Kentucky.” Clothes, jewellery, and furniture were used for the brooch.
Mr. Coughlin had created an Edison light chandelier for their engagement picnic, and it hung over the bridal party table.
The pianist from their reception band, Emerald Empire, performed the ceremony music, which was also personal. The groom, an enthusiastic golfer, went down the aisle to the theme music of the Masters Tournament. The bride exited to “Helpless” because she is a “Hamilton” fan.
According to Ms. Saxner, “everyone we spoke to praised how authentic and us our wedding was.”
