A celebration of love & friendship
July 31, 2021
In 2011 at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Amelia saw a dashing young Purina Representative, Camden, giving a lecture to her first year veterinary class on the importance of low fat diets for patients with GI upset. She knew she had to meet him. In a slightly stalker way, Amelia quickly managed to convince Camden to rendezvous under very false pretenses of discussing an externship program to Germany. There, in the outdated 1970s hallways of the old Auburn Teaching Hospital, a spark was ignited. The rest, they say, is history. Over the next few years Camden and Amelia grew as young veterinarians - and as friends (and more!). As their veterinary schooling came to a close, their relationship strengthened into a lasting bond that has taken them on multiple cross country moves, through internships, residency programs and, finally, actual jobs. Their growth and change as a couple and as professionals have only brought them closer.
The Rockies hold a very special place in Camden and Amelia's hearts. In 2015 they moved to Colorado together, where all of their time off work was spent hiking in the mountains and drinking all the beers. Amelia even learned to ski at Arapahoe Basin (where the wedding is!). They cherish their memories in Colorado and jump at any chance to visit, which is why it was a no-brainer to make everyone go there for their wedding!
In 2017 Camden secured a coveted position as a veterinary cardiology resident at The University of Florida, located in Gainesville, aka, the armpit of Florida. Leaving Colorado was a huge bummer, but Camden's dreams more than justified heading down to the swamp for a few years. The couple quickly realized that Florida was not the state for them, but between the mullet hair styles and the copious mosquitoes, they came to truly appreciate their time spent in the Sunshine State's alternate universe. Although their farmer tans have faded, the Florida fashion will forever be imprinted on their lives, as will the lasting friendships they made.
In September 2019, on a small Philippine island, Camden and crew (Rachel, Paul, Kathryn, Tom and Ty) planned the ultimate surprise engagement for Amelia. Under the guise of celebrating Amelia's 30th birthday, Camden arranged a "special surprise" one evening. As he guided her, blind folded, down a long bamboo pier surrounded by the gentle lapping of the Sulu Sea, Amelia started to suspect that something important was about to transpire. With their friends anxiously watching from the shore, Camden got down on one knee and proposed as the sun set in exploding, technicolor perfection. The evening was filled with celebrations around a heart shaped fire with Asti rosé (...we have to take what we can get on remote Southeast Asian islands).
When Camden completed his cardiology residency at the University of Florida in March 2020, the couple set off for adventures to a new mountain range, the Smokies! They now reside in Charlotte, North Carolina, working at a private practice veterinary specialty hospital - yes, working at the SAME hospital. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has put a damper on their ability to fully explore their new state, they have taken the opportunity to break in their new home with as many succulents as humanly possible, imbibe in outdoor drinking, hike all the surrounding peaks and find a legit crab cake dealer.
Jul 30
2021
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Jul 31
2021
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Jul 31
2021
After enduring four long years of solo-child isolation, on August 31, 1989, Rachel Love Nuwer magnanimously bestowed the esteemed title of “little sister” upon Amelia Joy Nuwer. Thus began a lifetime of Nuwer Sister adventure, laughter and gallivanting around the world. Their early years were defined by cats, animals and nature. When not inhabiting the fantasy world of “mommy cat-baby cat,” the two could often be found in the presence of actual cats: catching feral cats, taming said feral cats and obsessively kissing, photographing and otherwise worshipping the now-tame formerly feral cats. As the sisters grew up, they added travel to their list of favorite things. Amelia joined Rachel abroad at the tender age of 14, where she used Rachel’s ID to gain entry into a rated-R movie (“Kill Bill II”) in London and to access a Eurotrash club in Milan. Later adventures included stalking giant coconut crabs by night in Zanzibar, marching in a Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro, getting lost trying to find a mountain in China and visiting a donkey slaughterhouse in Kenya.
At some point, Rachel started hearing about some guy described as having “a hot soccer bod,” whose love of animals supposedly rivaled Amelia’s. Intriguing. This mystery man was finally revealed to Rachel and her soon-to-be husband, Paul, at a Bourbon Street bar two nights before Rachel’s own wedding. Only two of the four people involved in this fated meeting actually remember what transpired (we bet you can’t guess which two), but whatever happened, Camden was a smash hit. Together, the couples have since shared countless karaoke mics, endured bouts of food poisoning, danced under a raunchy Thai full moon and watched “Tropic Thunder” at least 43 times. While Rachel and Paul failed to convince Amelia and Camden to move to Brooklyn, they still consider Charlotte to be a logistical victory. They’ve calculated that it will take a measly 100 annual trips to Charlotte to keep up their Executive Platinum status on AA—a frequent flyer friendship challenge that they look forward to crushing.
Dear Cam,
I am truly honored you have picked me to be your matron of honor. I cannot wait to celebrate your big day!
It is truly special when you find a person that makes you happy. Someone you can be your true self with and around other people. A partner that challenges you and makes you want to be a better person. You can experience both good times and bad times with them and they never leave your side. I look forward to celebrating many holidays and occasions with you and Amelia!
L’chaim!
Love your older wiser sister,
Leiah
Dear Amelia,
I am so happy to welcome you into the Rouben family. However, I feel that I have a responsibility to share the truth about my brother. Camden is not his real name. Shocking news for any bride to be. He has been called Cam, Cammy Devise, C-Rouby Tuesday, Frawg, Frig, Dr. Stuje, Stuje, Com, JP Karuz, Briz, Lil Broz, Beroo, and finally the Big Skeeze. These are aliases given to him by friends, family, and professional colleagues. His real name is Stig, Stig Michael Rouben. I don't think you should be upset with him. In fact, I think he might be learning about his real name when he reads this too. The name Stig means "path" in old Norse and the name Camden means "orange fruit." Did you know the name Amelia means "work?" All of this makes sense when you put the pieces of the puzzle together. The path to happiness takes work. Amelia and Camden (Stig), your names tell your story and are the reminder that all great relationships bare fruit when you work together. I love you and cannot wait for you to be a Rouben.
Sincerely,
Jared
Eileen and Amelia met in the fall of 2011 at Quixote's Bar in downtown Auburn, Alabama. They immediately bonded at a meet and greet night for the noob first year veterinary students. They both realized they were going to be great friends when they decided to escape from the vet school fraternity cult together. They spent many of nights studying at the school library and then partying at the local dive bar, Fat Daddy's. Amelia even trusted Eileen so much that Eileen convinced her to come to the bar with no pants on (photo documentation available upon request).
Eileen was born and raised in the Bluegrass State, coincidentally the same hometown as Camden, but their paths did not cross until veterinary school at Auburn. Eileen and Camden became fast friends when Amelia and Camden first met. Around the holidays, the trio can now be seen frequenting the pop up Christmas bars in Louisville, Kentucky. Amelia and Camden are so excited Eileen will be a part of their big day as one of their trusted officiants.
Camden and I have a friendship at first sight kind of story. I passed him in the hall during his first week of his cardiology residency at the University of Florida and he was wearing some typical wacky print button up shirt. I glanced at his shirt with an unimpressed look like, 'Who does this new guy think he is trying to pull off a wild print like that?!' I was surprised to find Camden looking back at me with a nearly identical expression on his face after he looked up from my also very wacky print button up shirt. We both stopped walking, looked down at our own shirts for a moment, then back at each other again with eyebrows raised, failing to suppress a smile and started laughing.
In that moment I think we both recognized that we were cut from the same strange cloth and made quick work becoming best friends. Better yet, we came to learn that we both chose significant others who were as weird as they were brilliant and beautiful, just like our wacky shirts.
Through many couples adventures together we have grown as friends, challenged and inspired one another, and made some hilarious memories. We are so fortunate to know and love Camden and Amelia, and cannot wait to celebrate their love together in Colorado!
xoxo
-A
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