Kelly Chaves & Joseph Richard

Our Story

Kelly and Joe both admit that they're very lucky that they actually met at all. Kelly, a US citizen and history Ph.D. student at the University of New Brunswick, had tired of the dating scene in Fredericton and had just decided to move back to Oklahoma and find "someone special" there, when a mutual friend suggested that she start talking to Joe. For his part, Joe had recently returned to the province from six years of schooling in Nova Scotia and had just recently moved to Fredericton to take up a guitar teaching position at a music studio. He was certain he wanted to find "a nice girl", but didn't know where to look. Talking with each other on MSN before they met in person, Kelly remembers that, "all he talked about was how much he loved dogs and how he really wanted one of his own. I thought it was cute." But, she really liked how Joe listened to her and took an interest in the things she liked. So, when he asked her out, she agreed.

Their first date was on Valentine's Day. Joe spent the entire morning drawing her a Valentine's Day card. After the initial thrill of meeting each other, their first date went horribly. Joe was really nervous and didn't say much and Kelly was really nervous and said far too much. At the end of their date, they both admitted later, they were sure the other person would never talk to them again.

But the very next day, Joe did talk to Kelly! They went on several more dates after that before deciding that they were meant for each other. They have been together for 14 months and have never been happier.

After they get married, the couple plans to move to Oklahoma City, where Kelly will finish her Ph.D. and Joe will start his Master's degree in Music. They both know that the next few years will be busy, but they can't wait to share the rest of their lives with each other.

Our Wedding

Our wedding will be held August 7th, at 2:00 pm, at Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kelly's grandparents were founding members of the church in the 1950s. It is also the same church where her parents got married and she is happy that she and Joe will be able to get married there as well.

Our Reception

Our reception will be held in Canada before our wedding on June 25th at 6:30 pm at the Knights of Columbus hall in Miramichi, New Brunswick. We wanted to have it then so that all our Canadian friends and Joe's Canadian family could help us celebrate our new life together.

A Special Message From Us

Kelly and Joe would like to thank all of their friends and family who have supported them over the years. Joe would like to extend a special thank you to his parents, Julie and Bernie Richard, for their love and support. Kelly thanks her parents, Carl and Kay Chaves, for all that they have done for her.