25 Years of Love…The Pictures & The Stories
Since our opening, love has blossomed at Kiepersol— from first dates to weddings and anniversaries. Over the past 25 years, we’ve been honored to witness countless engagements by our wedding tree, intimate vineyard weddings, and honeymoons spent in our Bed & Breakfast. Each weekend brings new celebrations: newlyweds, anniversaries, baby showers, and family milestones. So many of you have made Kiepersol the backdrop to your love stories. We’re grateful for the love and joy you’ve shared with us—25 years strong, and many more to come! These stories and pictures showcase just a few couples that grew together at Kiepersol.
Mr. & Mrs. Sandoval
Celebrating my birthday at Kiepersol every year has been the routine for the last couple of years. My now husband- knows how much I enjoy being at the winery. My birthday is November 29, shortly after the lighting of the vines. Which means the view is even more beautiful. My husband proposed on 11/28/2020.
Mr. & Mrs. Martin
I wanted to share this special photo with you! A couple nights before our wedding in November of 2014, our family was enjoying a night at the vineyard and Pierre came up to us and wanted to give us a blessing of love. It was such a special moment for us and we hold Kiepersol close to our hearts because of it. Pierre de Wet, owner of Kiepersol winery telling Derrick his advice. "Everyday tell her how beautiful she is & that you love her & you will have a long, happy marriage!"
Mr. & Mrs. Montgomery
On December 7, 2019, my now husband surprised me with our family and closest friends at the Distillery after proposing! We enjoyed seeing those we love and having great drinks to celebrate the wonderful occasion. It was so much fun! We also had Fizzy Vit as the drink for the toasts at our wedding in December 2021. We love Kiepersol and all the fond memories we have had there over the years!
Mr. & Mrs. Patterson
My daughter and I fell upon you guys 6 years ago when we looked for a stark house - we had just visited the zoo and some other local places for our first weekend in the area before I dropped her off at Pine Cove summer camp. We were in our shorts so you guys graciously let us eat at the bar and we fell in love with our filet, lobster bisque, house salad and molten cake. We’ve been coming back every year and know now to dress differently, lol! We just ate there last night as our annual trip but also to celebrate my mom’s 74th birthday. I have introduced my parents to you and this was their 3rd time. We all agree & feel you’re the best food and service around! I have photos each year we come as well as when my parents have joined us. We all LOVE you guys!!!!
Mr. & Mrs. Tarrant
Thank you for a wonderful night celebrating our 11 anniversary! It was a great night. Even more fun was seeing the hostess become engaged and the staff so thrilled.
Susu & Dado
We’ve been going to and spending special occasions at Kiepersol for almost 20 years. Anniversaries (Some big ones), birthdays, valentines, Mother’s Day’s, and more are all spent in the beautiful confines of our favorite place to go. Folks say, it’s great but why not try other places here in Tyler. Our thoughts are and always have been, when you can get the best food, the best setting (and most important) the friendliest and finest people on staff, why go anywhere else!!! And a big part of our love of Kiepersol can be found in this picture!!
Mr. & Mrs. Jackson
Our names are Shorty & Jennifer Jackson. We've lived in Rusk for 7years now & have frequented this venue/restaurant many times. This last year for our anniversary we took the charcuterie class & LOVED it!! Very interesting and informative as well as yummy! We've spent a couple other anniversaries with y'all in the past too. We have stayed in one of the guest houses and enjoyed the scenery of the vineyard. These pictures are from on a couple years ago. Thank you for the wonderful delicacies and amazing hospitality!! Oh and the wine isn't bad either Cheers to many more years!
Carrie & Dylan
Like many before us, our love story began at Kiepersol. My fiancé and I met while working in the tasting room, and though we didn’t pursue a relationship right away, we both looked forward to seeing each other at work. One day, Dylan told me he and his girlfriend had broken up, and I thought, "He's cute, but I'll give him some time." That same day, some girls came in and got his number, and I knew I had to act fast, lol. I sent him a funny video, and after chatting a bit, we went for drinks. We've been inseparable ever since. Dylan is my best friend. When my dad passed away from brain cancer in March 2024, Dylan was by my side through it all. Before he passed, my dad gave Dylan his blessing, even encouraging us to marry right away. We share the same dreams, and I can’t wait to marry him next fall—all thanks to Kiepersol and the chance we both took on new paths in life.
Jaimie & Alex
I actually didn't meet Alex at Kiepersol, but it will always be an integral part of our story. We both were servers at the restaurant in 2013, when Alex started working there, and had been dating for 4 years at that time. We got engaged in 2016 and got married at the tree in a small ceremony, then had our reception at the Party Barn. Alex and I spent some of our best years yet in the vineyard at Kiepersol.
Mr. & Mrs. David
My husband and I live in Washington state and he arranged with his aunt Debbie Labicki to propose while visiting your winery. Your staff and his family had it all set up and it was perfect. He dropped to his knee and proposed in November 2021. We’ve now been happily married for 2 years and enjoy our visitation as often as possible, always stopping by Kiepersol!
Kayla & Hayden
I started working at ke in the summer of 2008. A week later I noticed that there was a girl named Kayla Zemer on the schedule. I had actually known her cousin Jason since I was about 13. I was 21 and Kayla was 19 at the time. That summer we spent a lot of time together, which turned into us moving in together in Austin in 2012. We spent so much time at KE and it has meant so much to us through the years. We had both of our gender reveal parties there for both of our kids. We frequent the restaurant often now that we are living back in Tyler. We love still being able to walk in the kitchen and seeing Robby. Everyone at KE are like family to us. It will forever be one of our favorite places ever! We worked there before cameras were on phones 👵🏻 so I don’t have many photos that won’t take some major box digging. To add to the story, Kiepersol has always been very much a family story for me so of course it was meant to be that I met my soulmate there! I started working there with my best friend. My brother and cousin both worked there as valets at one point. Some of our good friends now worked there with us too. We’ve stayed in touch with a lot of our Kieper Crew and could not be more grateful for that time in our lives. ❤️
Rachel & JJ
Rachel and JJ’s story began in Whitehouse, Texas, where they both graduated from high school, and began dating in 2009. In 2013, Rachel and JJ both began working together during the evenings at The Restaurant at Kiepersol. In May of 2014, Rachel and JJ joined hands in matrimony at the Bushman’s Event Center surrounded by their friends, family, and coworkers. Both continued to work for Kiepersol for a few years before eventually moving on to new adventures. Since then, Rachel and JJ have welcomed their children Lila (4) and Jonah (1) into the world, and still visit Kiepersol on a regular basis.
Emily & Cebastian
Our love story started at Kiepersol in July 2018. I had just been hired to split my time between the Distillery tasting room and bartending at the Restaurant. My now husband had already been working there for eight years and was loved by everyone. At first, he was in a relationship, and I wasn’t looking to start anything either. We became friends through group outings with coworkers, and I quickly saw how incredible he was—kind, genuine, and loyal. After his relationship ended, our friends started pushing us together. He eventually asked me out, and our first date was like something out of an old romance. Two years later, he proposed by hiding a ring inside a book, perfectly matching my love of reading. We were married in Kiepersol’s vineyard, surrounded by family and friends, making it all the more special.
Velmay & Chris
I was working at KE Cellars, the tasting room of our cozy winery in the French Quarter, surrounded by the rich aroma of grapes, laughter, and music. Each day brought new faces, but one customer stood out from the rest. He walked in on a sunny afternoon, curiosity sparkling in his eyes and a bright smile lighting up his face as he scanned the menu. Day after day, he returned, claiming he was on a quest to learn how to drink wine. But I soon realized it was me he was really coming to see. He’d lean on the counter, asking about flavors, but his gaze was always drawn to me. One fateful day, while I was behind the counter welcoming guests with a smile, a flutter of nervousness danced in my stomach since I wasn’t used to working at the tasting bar, I handled the cash register. My cross necklace glimmered softly in the light as I poured a delicate rosé. Suddenly, he reached across the counter, his fingers brushing the surface of the concrete bar as he pointed to my necklace. “What a pretty necklace,” he said, his voice warm and inviting. Startled, I chuckled and raised an eyebrow. “Whoa, buddy, that’s a little close for comfort!” I teased, my heart racing at the unexpected intimacy. He laughed, clearly enjoying my playful banter. “I just wanted to know the story behind it.” It turned out he was deeply rooted in his faith and curious about mine. My cheeks flushed, and in that moment, something shifted between us. The lighthearted teasing evolved into something deeper as we began sharing stories about our lives, hopes, and dreams. As the days turned into weeks, he became a familiar face that brightened my workdays. With each visit, I learned more about his character and his love for Jesus, family, and work. I found myself looking forward to his visits, counting the days until he’d walk through the door again. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow in the tasting room, he lingered after closing time. Soft music played in the background, and a comfortable silence wrapped around us. He took a deep breath, his gaze steady. “I know I started this as a wine quest, but what I found was so much more. I’ve fallen for you.” My heart raced, and a rush of emotions surged within me. “I was hoping you’d say that,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. From that moment on, we were inseparable. We transformed the cellar into our own little love story, creating memories among the barrels and bottles. What began as a simple compliment blossomed into a lifelong partnership filled with laughter, adventures, and endless love. Remembering the day it all began, the day a simple customer became my husband, my partner, my forever, My Mr. Perfect.
