TownePlace Suites by Marriott Cincinnati Fairfield

Rehearsal/ Traveling Guest Dinner

Receptions Event Center Fairfield

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Wedding Ceremony 

Our Wedding

Dennis&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;met&nbsp;several&nbsp;years&nbsp;ago&nbsp;through&nbsp;his&nbsp;brother,&nbsp;Bishop&nbsp;Gary&nbsp;Shearer.&nbsp;Gary&nbsp;was&nbsp;ill,&nbsp;but&nbsp;whenever&nbsp;I&nbsp;visited,&nbsp;he&nbsp;would&nbsp;FaceTime&nbsp;Dennis&nbsp;or&nbsp;if&nbsp;Dennis&nbsp;happened&nbsp;to&nbsp;call,&nbsp;Gary&nbsp;always&nbsp;answered&nbsp;with&nbsp;excitement,&nbsp;saying,&nbsp;“Sister&nbsp;Liz&nbsp;is&nbsp;here!” As&nbsp;Gary’s&nbsp;illness&nbsp;progressed,&nbsp;Dennis&nbsp;began&nbsp;visiting&nbsp;Cincinnati&nbsp;more&nbsp;often&nbsp;from&nbsp;Richmond,&nbsp;KY.&nbsp;During&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;visits,&nbsp;Dennis&nbsp;walked&nbsp;into&nbsp;Gary’s&nbsp;room,&nbsp;and&nbsp;we&nbsp;finally&nbsp;met&nbsp;in&nbsp;person.&nbsp;He&nbsp;later&nbsp;told&nbsp;me&nbsp;that,&nbsp;in&nbsp;that&nbsp;moment,&nbsp;he&nbsp;thought&nbsp;to&nbsp;himself,&nbsp;“I&nbsp;just&nbsp;met&nbsp;my&nbsp;wife.” Shortly&nbsp;after&nbsp;Gary’s&nbsp;passing,&nbsp;Dennis&nbsp;reached&nbsp;out&nbsp;to&nbsp;check&nbsp;on&nbsp;me.&nbsp;Several&nbsp;months&nbsp;later,&nbsp;he&nbsp;contacted&nbsp;me&nbsp;again&nbsp;on&nbsp;Facebook.&nbsp;After&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;lengthy&nbsp;conversations&nbsp;about&nbsp;our&nbsp;dating&nbsp;experiences,&nbsp;both&nbsp;on&nbsp;and&nbsp;offline,&nbsp;which&nbsp;we&nbsp;joked&nbsp;were&nbsp;like&nbsp;a&nbsp;trip&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;zoo Dennis&nbsp;suggested&nbsp;we&nbsp;meet&nbsp;for&nbsp;lunch&nbsp;or&nbsp;dinner. At&nbsp;the&nbsp;time,&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;concluded&nbsp;I&nbsp;would&nbsp;remain&nbsp;single.&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;embracing&nbsp;it,&nbsp;so&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;planned&nbsp;several&nbsp;trips&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;year.&nbsp;I&nbsp;told&nbsp;Dennis&nbsp;I’d&nbsp;check&nbsp;my&nbsp;calendar,&nbsp;but&nbsp;I&nbsp;hoped&nbsp;we&nbsp;could&nbsp;meet&nbsp;within&nbsp;the&nbsp;month&nbsp;because&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;leaving&nbsp;town&nbsp;in&nbsp;just&nbsp;a&nbsp;couple&nbsp;of&nbsp;days. But&nbsp;then&nbsp;I&nbsp;paused&nbsp;and&nbsp;thought,&nbsp;Wait&nbsp;a&nbsp;minute this&nbsp;man&nbsp;is&nbsp;seeking&nbsp;to&nbsp;find—maybe&nbsp;a&nbsp;month&nbsp;is&nbsp;too&nbsp;long.&nbsp;I&nbsp;called&nbsp;him&nbsp;back&nbsp;and&nbsp;said,&nbsp;“If&nbsp;you&nbsp;can&nbsp;meet&nbsp;tomorrow,&nbsp;I&nbsp;can&nbsp;come.&nbsp;The&nbsp;rest&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;week&nbsp;is&nbsp;full.”&nbsp;He&nbsp;was&nbsp;so&nbsp;excited&nbsp;and&nbsp;immediately&nbsp;said&nbsp;yes.&nbsp;He&nbsp;later&nbsp;told&nbsp;me&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;disappointed&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;idea&nbsp;of&nbsp;waiting&nbsp;a&nbsp;month&nbsp;and&nbsp;thought&nbsp;he&nbsp;may&nbsp;have&nbsp;missed&nbsp;his&nbsp;chance. Our&nbsp;first&nbsp;date&nbsp;was&nbsp;March&nbsp;26,&nbsp;2025,&nbsp;and&nbsp;we’ve&nbsp;been&nbsp;inseparable&nbsp;ever&nbsp;since.&nbsp;This&nbsp;past&nbsp;year&nbsp;has&nbsp;been&nbsp;amazing,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;thank&nbsp;God&nbsp;for&nbsp;my&nbsp;Sweetie-&nbsp;Pie&nbsp;(I&nbsp;so&nbsp;fondle&nbsp;call&nbsp;him)&nbsp; We&nbsp;look&nbsp;forward&nbsp;to&nbsp;spending&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;lives&nbsp;together,&nbsp;living&nbsp;our&nbsp;best&nbsp;lives.

Our Love Story

Our Story

Photos

OUR WEDDING PARTY

Vanessa White

Angela Parrish        

Anita Wallingford

B. Dwan Lee

Diane Williama

Karen Daniel

Kelly Harvin

Diamond Stallings

Roniel Ballew

Greffrey Rice

Deaaron Ballew

Kenneth Crutcher

Steve Crutcher

Wedding Party

Pros Dish on What to Wear to a Wedding

40 Affordable Guest Dresses to Save Money

Affordable Suits? They're a Click Away

Dress Code

Q + A

Fairfield by Marriott Inn &amp; Suites Cincinnati North West Chester features accommodations in Rialto. Cincinnati is 16 mi from the hotel, while Florence is 25 mi from the property. The nearest airport is Cincinnati Municipal Airport, 15 mi from Fairfield by Marriott Inn &amp; Suites Cincinnati North West Chester.

Elizabeth & Dennis

Elizabeth & Dennis

Photos