Corsicana —
The newest chapter in a 22-year-old love story began this summer with an intimate wedding ceremony at Stephen F. Austin State University, just a few steps away from where the bride and groom first met as students in 1989.
Tim Brooks ‘92 of Corsicana and Kelli Dunlap ‘93 of Lewisville were married Friday, June 22, in the President’s Suite of the Baker Pattillo Student Center. The Rev. Allen Reed, pastor of First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, who also baptized Dunlap as a child, officiated the private ceremony.
“The fact that I am marrying the love of my life some 22 years later in the same place we first met, still amazes me,” said Brooks, who works as a probation officer in Navarro County. “SFA was responsible for getting both of us started on our career paths, and now the university is playing a part in us starting our life together. It’s really a dream come true.”
Brooks and Dunlap were first introduced by a mutual friend in the student center cafeteria when they were both students at SFA. They began a dating relationship and eventually got engaged. But after Brooks graduated in 1992, the couple grew apart and went their separate ways. Brooks married someone else and has a 15-year-old son, Jacob. Dunlap never married.
“I think I just never truly got over him,” she said. “He was the one who got away.”
About a year ago, Dunlap learned that Brooks was single again, and the pair reconnected on Facebook. Their college romance was soon rekindled.
“We decided it would be really cool to get married in the same place we met and fell in love all those years ago,” said Dunlap, who is now in the process of moving to Corsicana to begin her new life with Brooks.
Neither Brooks nor Dunlap had been back to SFA since graduating in the early 1990s. Both were surprised at how much things have changed and said walking around the campus brought back a flood of good memories from their college days. In celebration of their wedding, the SFA Alumni Association gave the couple a joint annual membership, and the pair said they intend to visit SFA more often once they settle into their new life together.
“Sometimes in life, you don’t get second chances,” said Brooks. “We feel truly blessed to have found each other again, and we will always be grateful to SFA for making our love story possible.”
Weddings
Related Photos
-
Brooks wedding.jpg
Discussion
Dunlap-Brooks Wedding
- Weddings
-
-
Reim–Sloan Wedding
Ashley Nicole Reim and Austin Paul Sloan were married on March 9, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church, Richardson. The ceremony was officiated by Pastor Rich Rindfuss and Dr. Gary Singleton.
-
Rhodes-Peters Wedding
Jennifer Rhodes of Rice and Bob Peters, also of Rice, were united in matrimony on Sept. 1, 2012 at Camp Forrest in Kerens. Tony Stephens performed the double ring ceremony.
-
Warrington-Day Wedding
Samantha Blair Warrington and David Thomas Day were united in marriage Saturday, May 5, 2012, at Armstrong Browning Library on the Baylor University Campus in Waco. Pastor Brian Dunks officiated the ceremony.
-
Deaton-Reynolds Wedding
Bette Deaton and Marlin Reynolds were united in matrimony on Oct. 20, 2012 at Lonestar Cowboy Church of Navarro County by Charky Marquis, pastor of Lonestar. The bride is the daughter of the late Carl and Bessie Deaton of Louisiana.
-
McCollum-Hogue Wedding
Krystal Renee McCollum and Jeffrey Allen Hogue were united in marriage Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 at the home of the bride’s parents with Rev. Tim Easley officiating.
-
Ainsworth-Narramore Wedding
Kelsey Lynn Ainsworth and Sean Andrew Narramore were united in marriage on July 21, 2012, in an evening ceremony at Camp Forrest in Kerens, with Judge Kirby Hill and Don Tyra officiating.
-
Moorhouse-Leach Wedding
Kelsey Ann Moorhouse and Alexander Franklin Leach were united in marriage Saturday, June 9, 2012 at Christ the King Cathedral in Lubbock with Rev. Bill Anton officiating.
The bride is the daughter of Steve and Theresa Moorhouse of Lubbock and the bridegroom is the son of Eric and Lisa Leach of Ransom Canyon. -
Warren-Fraim Wedding
Tez Warren of Kerens and Kendall Fraim of Athens were joined in matrimony March 10, 2012 at a private ceremony with immediate family at the groom’s home in Athens.
-
Bates-Hanzus Wedding
Emily Ann Bates and Daniel Keith Hanzus were united in marriage at 6:30 p.m. on May 12, 2012 in an outside ceremony at The Vista on Seward Hill in Austin, Texas. Officiating the ceremony were Kenneth Bates, cousin to the bride and the Honorable Phillip Zeigler with scripture reading by Matthew Price. A cocktail hour, dinner and dancing followed at the venue. On the eve of the wedding, a rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom's parents at Stubb's Barbeque; also in Austin.
-
Brown-Watson Wedding
Dalena LaNelle Brown and Morgan Wayne Watson were united in marriage in an intimate ceremony on March 12, 2012 at the romantic Inn at Craig Place in San Antonio.
- More Weddings Headlines
-
Raw: Train Derails After Overpass Collapse
Raw: Rescues From San Antonio Flooding
Raw: French Soldier Stabbed in Throat Near Paris
Mayor: Person Killed in San Antonio Flooding
Raw: Apple 1 Computer Sells for More Than $650k
Hagel Urges Cadets to End Scourge of Sex Assault
Raw: Gay Rights Activists March in Ukraine
Bus Fire Kills 16 Children, Teacher in Pakistan
Raw: Pakistan Election Results Protested
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
