Hand-Pursel marry in Palmer

PALMER — Nick Hand and Abby Pursel were married in an outdoor wedding at the Hand household July 28, 2012, in Palmer.

Nick and Abby met at a small Bible study at Summit Church in Orlando, Fla. They began dating and were engaged within eight weeks. Nick proposed to Abby at a Phillies spring training baseball game, as that had always been Abby’s dream. The icebreaker that brought them together was the fact that they have the same birthday — Nov. 4, 1987.

Nick grew up in Palmer and graduated with the class of 2004 from Colony High School. He later became valedictorian of his graduating class from Full Sail University in Orlando, Fla., with a degree in digital arts and design. Now he works from his home in Orlando full-time as a web designer for a company in Anchorage.

Abby grew up in New Jersey and graduated with the class of 2006 from Ocean City High School. She then went on to get her bachelor’s degree in education from University of Central Florida. She is now in her second year of teaching third grade at Andover Elementary School in Orlando.

Nick and Abby were fortunate to have more than 15 of Abby’s family members join them from the Lower 48, and to have Nick’s family be able to host everyone and provide a beautiful setting for the wedding at Alaska’s Harvest Bed and Breakfast.