Engagement Story Brian and Trisston have the same disability (Cerebral Palsy) but CP affects us differently. Brian walks with a large gape and he has speech impediment. We have never allowed our disabilities to serve as a barrier to living life to its fullest. We met in June 2006 at the Youth Leadership Forum at Troy University in Troy, AL. We were both speaking as members of the Independent Living Panel. Because Brian and Trisston lived in different cities (he in Auburn and she in Birmingham), we only get to see each other on the weekend. We worked on our presentation for the banquet then. We were so excited about having the opportunity to share with others about the abilities of people with disabilities. Also, this was a big deal to us as it was going to be the first time that we actually would speak together. As we prepared, many ideas came to mind as to how and what to present. After all, either one of us, being accomplished speakers, could have taken up the allotted amount of time by ourselves. After much brain-storming, we constructed on outline and divided up the topic each of us was to speak on. Brian designed the “B & T” brochures to be handed out to everyone at the banquet. For our finale’, we created a PowerPoint Presentation and slide show which showcased highlights of our lives (from childhood until now) set to the song "Somewhere Out There" by Linda Rohnstadt and James Ingram. Unknown to be me, this presentation would lead right into the surprise of a lifetime. On March 13, 2007, the evening of the banquet, we took the stage. Everything was going as planned. We each spoke using the word A-B-L-E as an acronym telling stories from our own lives and sharing words of insight and encouragement. And our PowerPoint presentation/slide show was a big hit! Trisston admitted that each time she saw the presentation/slideshow, she got a little teary eyed. So you can imagine how happy she was that she made it through on stage without crying. As the lights came back up and the audience applauded, Trisston was starting to make preparations to go off stage. That is until Brian said, “There’s one more thing.” Trisston, not having a clue what he was up to, quickly looked at her notes and thought, “No there’s not!”. When she looked up, Brian had gotten down on one knee in front of nearly 500 people and was asking Trisston to marry him. Of course, Trisston said "Yes!!”, we embraced, and the crowd erupted in celebration. There was not a dry eye in the house. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wright of Prattville, Alabama. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Tatum and the late Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Wright, all of Prattville, Alabama. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burrows of Sacramento, California. He is the grandson of Mrs. Helen Burrows and the late Mr. Robert Burrows of Sheffield, Alabama and Mrs. Mary Moore and the late Mr. James E. Moore, Jr. of Bessemer, Alabama. The bride was given in marriage by her parents. She wore a designer gown in ivory with pearl embellishments and a scalloped veil with pearl accents. She carried a bouquet of blue hydrangeas surrounded with white calla lilies, white roses, baby’s breath and white hydrangeas. Within the bouquet was an antique white linen handkerchief adored with Irish lace and ribbon accents. Attending the bride as matron of honor was Dr. Debi Wright Nowakowski, sister of the bride, of Hoover, Alabama. The bridesmaid was Rae Ann Bowles Pearce of Hope Mills, North Carolina with Lena Sarah Clark, niece of the groom, of State College, Pennsylvania as the junior bridesmaid. Hannah Elizabeth Clark, niece of the groom, of State College, Pennsylvania served as a flower girl. After a honeymoon trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the couple will reside in Hoover, Alabama. To view more photos of our wedding, click here.
Trisston thinks those who know her would agree that it is very difficult to surprise her. In fact, Trisston's family and friends gave up a long time ago. That is until March 2007, her boyfriend at the time, Brian and Trisston were asked to speak at the Auburn University Transition Leadership Conference in Opelika, AL. We were to be THE banquet speakers. Honored by the request, we graciously accepted and made plans to attend.
WOW!!!! Talk about a surprise! She had no idea that he was going to ask her to marry him that night. Nor did she know that he had gone to her parents the week before and asked them for her hand in marriage. Nor did she know that he had purchased a ring. Suffice it to say, she was totally surprised! 
Brian and Trisston would like to extend a heart-felt appreciation to our family and friends for all of your words of encouragement, support, love, and prayers. Also, we would like to thank those of you who were at the banquet for being a part of our special evening. It is truly one that we will never forget!!
To see more photos of our engagement, click here.
Wedding Story
Wright~Burrows
Trisston Lea Wright and Brian David Burrows were married on May 24, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. in the Aldridge Gardens of Hoover, Alabama with Rev. Joe Wyatt officiating. 
Serving the groom as best man was Richard Burrows, father of the groom, of Sacramento, California. The groomsman was Matthew Haynes of Moody, Alabama and ushers included Woodrow Mathis, cousin of the groom, of Hoover, Alabama, James E. Moore, III, uncle of the groom, of Bessemer, Alabama, Dr. Rodney Nowakowski, brother-in-law of the bride, of Hoover, Alabama, and Robert Roe of Sacramento, California.
