Hi we’re Stacy & Heidi! We got married at Chez Felicité on October 12th which was exactly one year from our first date. We live in Thibodaux, Louisiana and have a 2nd home in Gulfport, MS. Most of our free time is spent playing pickleball with our friends, cooking, listening and dancing to swamp pop music, experimenting with making and drinking the perfect skinny spicy margarita, time with family, and RV trips with Presley. We also enjoying ‘making house’ together…which is getting household chores done and cars washed. We also try to squeeze in some live music and/or a nice dinner out.

What is the first thing you remember about the other when you first met?

We first met on April 2023 in Biloxi, MS at our first pickleball tournament, as opponents. Stacy and her pickleball partner, Allyson only lost one game that day…to Heidi and her pickleball partner. Both team met again for gold/silver medal matches. Stacy and Allyson won gold and were out for blood lol.

First thing Stacy noticed about Heidi was “she’s blonde, as competitive as me and I don’t think I care for her too much”.

First thing Heidi didn’t notice about Stacy was she was wearing a gay rainbow visor. She missed that lol. We both assumed the other was straight.

How did the proposal go down?

Stacy planned to ask Heidi to marry her in April 2024, one year from the day we first met. After a magical and unforgettable night at an Eagles’ concert, Stacy popped the question. That was in February, which ended up being only four months after our official first date. ‘When you know, you KNOW!’

Fave Queer Movie/Show?

Movie “A Secret Love’ because it’s a beautiful true love story about two women who met in the 40s and were together 70+ years. We both are hopeless romantics at heart.

If you could go back & relive just one part of your wedding what would it be?

The entire night was amazing and we’d relive it daily if we could. The outpouring of love & support from our closest friends and family created a magical vibe that we treasure and still get teary eyed about when we reminisce. And let’s not forget the dancing and how much fun everyone had….everyone there made for one big happy family.

What are you favorite qualities in each other?

Heidi about Stacy - she makes me laugh every day, I love how open and big her heart is, I love how her brain works, I love that she loves God, I love that she’s an incredible dancer & she loves swamp pop like me, I love that she loves family and treats mine like her own.

Stacy about Heidi - she is an amazing human! I love her drive and passion for things important to her, I love that when life gets tough, she gets tougher, I love that she is strong, but also one of the softest and kindest humans I know, I love that she has faith, I love that she can dance & loves the same music as I do. Most of all, I love how she loves me….perfectly!

When you were a kid did you find yourself dreaming about a wedding?

At this stage of life, love & marriage look and feel very different than what you think of when you’re a child. This was not a first marriage for either of us and we both swore we’d never marry again….and then….well, we both found something so beautiful & so special, we wanted to commit to in the most profound way we could & here we are.

Was there a memory from your wedding that sticks out more than others?

When our grandson, Noah, was told to say “butt cheeks” to get him to smile for the family photo and he instead turned his butt to the camera and giggled “butt cheeks”.

The fun on the dance floor is also so memorable. Stacy’s Mom was a whole vibe of her own and then the crazy photographer with the rainbow boa was also legit!

What is one piece of advice that you would give to other LGBTQ+ couples planning their wedding?

Be thoughtful and intentional about who you invite to share in your special day. We both made really hard choices and chose not to invite people that were not 100% supportive. We chose to make our day about us and wanted to be surrounded by love and good energy. We have zero regrets on that!

If you could change one thing about your wedding what would it be?

Wouldn’t change a thing…..even the terrible blisters from dancing so much were worth it!

What would you say to your 15 year old self about where you are in life today?

Heidi - Believe that anything is possible, you get one life to live, do it your way.

Stacy - Never give up on finding love! Keep trying until you find THE ONE! Don’t settle!

Top 3 things that you feel make a marriage last?

1. Giving ourselves & each other grace for being imperfect humans.

2. Practicing gratitude every single day. One way we practice gratitude is by asking each other “what was your favorite part of today?’ right before we go to bed.

3. Friendship. It’s where the magic happens. For each other, be a sounding board, offer good advice, love unconditionally, don’t be judgmental, wipe tears, share laughs & even offer to kick someone’s ass on their behalf. Be BFF’s where it matters most, in your own home.

You two and your love inspires me. Can you talk about what it's like finding your person later in life? What are some perks? Challenges?

Perks: your older, more experienced, more emotionally mature and evolved self, approaches love and relationships much more differently than your younger self. The younger self gravitates towards chemistry, foremost, where as the older self looks for compatibility. The older self is more interested in emotional intelligence, friendship, common interests, hobbies. When you find someone you truly gel with… the person who shows up just like you need them to, the person who stands by you, the person who makes you laugh, the result is amazing chemistry….it’s created naturally! As you get older, you realize that love is not enough. You can love someone all day long, but a great relationship takes so much more than that.

Challenges: older in life you’re dealing with more complex family dynamics, such as aging parents. Navigating those things can be difficult, but also a great opportunity to fully support your partner.

Finding each other later in life, after all of the winding roads, makes us so grateful for each other and what we share.