By Toni Anderson / Photos by Candi Leonard Photography
Kelsey Hayes and Taylor Scott both grew up in Bear Creek and attended Chatham Central High School, graduating six years apart. In early 2015, a mutual friend introduced them as Kelsey prepared for nursing school and as Taylor began a new job as a firefighter with the Pittsboro Fire Department. They started dating a year later.
They developed a tradition of an annual couple’s getaway to Boone, and in 2018, Taylor planned to pop the question at the top of Grandfather Mountain. But when extreme winds forced him to change course, he instead suggested a hike to the scenic Wiseman’s View. There, he surprised Kelsey with the proposal.
The two were married on April 27, 2019, with both the ceremony and reception at Harvest House in Ramseur, North Carolina. Kelsey memorialized her granny, Joann Scott, by wearing Joann’s wedding ring during the day and honoring her with a memory table at the reception.
“It is sentimental to me because she was the center of our family,” Kelsey says.
Sherry Elmore and Marguerite Moore with Bee-utiful Events of Bear Creek served as the wedding planners, and Bartee’s Flowers of Bennett provided pink roses for the bouquets and boutonnieres. Kelsey’s parents, John and Brandi Hayes, were in attendance, as were Taylor’s, Scotty and Kathy Scott, with Scotty serving as best man. Kelsey’s sister, Brooke Hayes, served as maid of honor, and the wedding party was full of friends and family from Chatham, including Brittany Vick, Amy Phillips, Kendra Lineberry, Megan Mclaurin, Ashley Cox, Charlie Lemons, Aaron Brown.
