These Childhood Sweethearts Tied the Knot in a Colorful, Industrial-Style Wedding in South Carolina

When Kiaya Demonbreun first met her future husband, Aaron Walters, in middle school, a mutual connection—and an unlikely snack—ultimately brought them together. While the two went to rival private schools, they were first introduced on common ground (in a gym lobby) by Aaron's cousin—who also happened to be a friend of Kiaya's. After sharing a bag of Skittles that day, the two have been nearly inseparable ever since.

Personal moments like this set the stage for other milestones in their relationship—markedly their engagement almost 15 years later on January 1, 2019. "There were no lights or decorations; it was just us on our porch," Kiaya explains. After ringing in the new year together with close family, Aaron took the moment to highlight his favorite memories of the last 12 months, expressing excitement for what was to come. "He mentioned how 2018 was the first year I got a Coca-Cola bottle with my name on it, which he had bought that past May. He patted my leg to head inside and I looked at the stars a little bit. When I turned around, he was on one knee, asking me if I would be his unique bottle forever," says Kiaya. "Naturally, I screamed and said yes. It was absolutely perfect and intimate. I loved every moment of it."

The duo knew from this point on that they wanted their wedding day to echo their story and the people who were a part of it—which informed their venue choice. Kiaya and Aaron quickly settled on Central Energy in Columbia, South Carolina, after seeing the outdoor ceremony space and finding a special connection to how they met. "It was even more of a sign that this had to be our venue when we found out the co-owner is [a] Heathwood alum—my alma mater," the bride adds. The duo enlisted Melanie Murphy with By Invitation Only... shortly thereafter, who brought the rest of the big-day details to life—and helped them keep their nuptials on track as the novel coronavirus pandemic swept the world.

Even in the midst of COVID-19, the duo found joy in the little things as their 150-guest event held on March 21, 2020, became one for 40 of their innermost group. But their story had always been full of plot twists, notes Kiaya. "Aaron has always told me that we're a rom-com in terms of our relationship," she shares. "We met in seventh grade through a wild series of events that would ultimately make us best friends for the rest of our lives."