Amanda & Charles

Days to Go! January 25th, 2025

Bride & Groom

The Bride & Groom welcome you to their website! These are two passionate and faith-driven individuals, and they are excited to celebrate their love and commitment with God, family, and friends at their wedding on January 25th in Lubbock, Texas, marking the next chapter of their journey together.

Amanda Cathleen Duke

Song of Songs 3:4 I have found the one whom my soul loves

Amanda Cathleen Duke was born in the West Texan Hub City of Lubbock, Texas, and she attended McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. In 2015, she ventured on the 18-hour drive to a little town called Wilmore, Kentucky, and later graduated as a Masters of Divinity Seminarian from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2019. She is proud to be a West Texan, born and bred, but has continued to make a home for herself in the foothills of central Kentucky. She is the Human Resources Director for Culver’s Restaurants of Central Kentucky and is a co-vocational Youth Pastor for Generations Community Church of Nicholasville, Kentucky. She is so excited to be marrying the Love of her Life, and can’t wait for this next chapter that God has graciously set out for them & their dog, Sequoia!

Charles John “C.J.” Leopold

Song of Songs 3:11 ” on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart”

Charles John “C.J.” Leopold was born in Charleston, West Virginia, but has called Lexington, Kentucky (home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats! Go Cats!) home since he was 9 years old. CJ attended college at the prestigious Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and graduated with honors as a double Major in Economics and Environmental Studies. He has worked and lived abroad in Mexico and Costa Rica, and is passionate about sustainable practices in the tourism and food industries. He first became an Operating Partner in Sonic Restaurants before finding an ultimate home with Wisconsin-based Culver’s Restaurants. CJ became a General Manager for his long-time friend & co-worker, Weston Wilson in 2021, then purchased ownership in his first Culver’s Restaurant in May 2023. CJ and Amanda have plans to continue expanding their Culver’s Restaurant partnership and ownership, and are excited about any and all possibilities the LORD will lay before them! CJ is so excited to be marrying Amanda, and has waited a long time to feel ready and prepared to step into this wonderful new life with her. Praise God!

Our story

Amanda and CJ’s story began on June 28th, 2021, when they met as co-workers at Culver’s, quickly bonding over their shared faith and values, and after a heartfelt conversation at a Kroger picnic table, their relationship grew into a beautiful partnership. Through adventures to castles, apple orchards, aquariums, and life, they have become closer to God and each other as He unfolds a love story only He could write!

June 28, 2021

First time we met

CJ and Amanda met on the first day she interviewed with Culver’s Restaurants. They quickly struck up a friendship because of their similar work ethic and commitment to excellence, as well as their beliefs and relationships with God. Amanda noticed CJ quietly committing to drive an employee home after work every night, and recalled thinking, “this guy gets it and knows what he needs to be focused on for the Kingdom.” They later had conversations about homelife, church, restaurant practices, and management and soon realized there was a deeper connection. Uh Oh! They were co-workers, and this wasn’t exactly listed under best-practices in their employee handbook.

September 3, 2021

We felt in love

Amanda and CJ decided to meet at a Kroger Grocery Store picnic table to discuss a plan for what to do. Amanda, being the go-getter that she is, told CJ, “well, I’m interested in you and would like to be with you, so you need to tell Weston before we decide anything else.” The next morning, CJ was the opening manager for Culver’s and asked Weston (the owner, and later CJ’s business partner) to meet him at the store to discuss something important – and the rest was history! They are not bragging, but the handbook policy was soon updated to explicitly allow couples to date if they are on the same level of leadership, and the Culver’s Couple’s courtship began!

September 22, 2024

She said "Yes"

CJ had a field day trying to surprise Amanda. First, she’s stubborn, second she’s smart, and third, she’s impatient. He told her to be prepared, at any time, to get engaged – the outfit, the shoes, the hairstyle, whatever she wanted, she just needed to be ready. One September Sunday afternoon, a few weeks after their 3rd year anniversary, CJ drove by that little Kroger Picnic Table. Amanda casually commented, “look that’s where it all started.” CJ seized the opportunity, and parked the car. He told her to go look at the picnic table, because he thinks he carved his initials into it that night, and she eagerly got out of the car to prove him wrong (“no you didn’t, and you better not have!”) – but as she was looking down at the bench, CJ knelt down and said, “You’re right. This is where it all started. This is where you told me you want to be with me, and this is where I tell you I want to be with you forever. Amanda, will you marry me?” She said yes, of course!, and they celebrated that night at the Famous Kentucky Castle, which was where they had their first official date (after Weston changed the handbook, of course!).

January 25, 2025

We are getting married

Amanda and CJ have chosen to get married in her hometown, Lubbock Texas, close to her immediate and extended family. Their Wedding Date is January 25th, 2025! The time falls directly between the end-of-year holidays and the Lenten Season (which is a busy time for Culver’s!), so it is one of the only “slow seasons” in the restaurant industry, and makes it ideal for a restaurant owner, and his soon-to-be wife, to have time to celebrate! The couple also hope to schedule ways to celebrate with their Generations Community Church and their Kentucky family as well, and look forward to celebrating with all of their loved ones across all state lines!

The Texas Wedding (as they’ve come to call it!) will be held at 2pm at St. Matthew Methodist Church, and there will be cookies and favors in the Parlor following the Ceremony. If you would like to RSVP for the Wedding, feel free to submit your attendance below to let us know you’ll be celebrating with us! The address is 5320 50th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79414.

"The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree ripens its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away."

Song of Songs 2:12/13

Other Events

St. Luke’s Wedding Shower
Date: January 18th, 2025
Location: Parlor Room, St. Luke’s GMC

Hosted by Karen Karruth, Tina Thompson, Melissa Crawford, Monica Kennedy, Janet Copeland, Darlene Bentley, and Leslie Garrison (cherished members of the Parents-of-the-Bride’s Sunday School Group).
For any questions, please email: kkecarruth@gmail.com

Generations Community Church Legal Ceremony
Location: Generations Community Church
951 Main St. Nicholasville, Kentucky 40356

Friday December 27th, 2024 at 7pm
Due to some logistical roadblocks with a Texas Marriage License, we will be doing a quick legal ceremony here in Kentucky at our home church! Please feel free to come by and witness the quick ceremony with Max as officiant, and there will be some small appetizers to follow! Kids welcome!

Leopold Family & Friends Celebration
Details: TBD

RSVP Y'all

Please RSVP to one of the events below – the Texas Wedding, our Generations Church Family Event or the Leopold Family Event our Parents will host in Kentucky! We Love you!

Amanda & CJ Wedding Registry

Click Here to View The Couple's Wedding Registry: https://www.amazon.com/wedding/share/tohaveandtoleopold