Local Love Story: Layne and Lauren Fielder

While many people fall in love with Destin because of the beautiful beaches, most locals will tell you that it’s the community of amazing people, like Layne and Lauren Fielder, that make it such a unique place to live. Lauren Fielder is a Destin native and one of those people who instantly makes you feel comfortable and welcomed as soon as you meet her. Her outgoing personality, sense of humor, and kind heart make her a friend to many and a pillar in our community. Her husband, Layne Fielder, also has deep roots on the Emerald Coast. He grew up in Niceville, where he is now a full-time practicing dermatologist after separating honorably as a Major in the U.S. Army. Even though they grew up in neighboring towns, their paths didn’t cross until they were both living in Texas and had a meet-cute like you’d see in a movie.

They met at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in 2012 when they were flying home for the holidays. They like to say it was “love at first flight” as their courtship started at the airline gate, then sitting together on the plane ride home, then when he showed up to her family’s Christmas party and affectionately became known as “the airport guy!”.  After the holidays ended, they talked long-distance and had their official first date the following Valentine’s Day in Austin, Texas. After two and a half years of dating, Layne proposed on April 10th, his birthday, saying “I want to give myself the best birthday present ever by making you my wife!” They got married six months later on Lauren’s birthday at Regatta Bay Country Club.

They’ve now planted their own roots in Destin and Lauren says, “I love this community and all the people in it for so many reasons. Watching my daughter grow up and attend the same schools I did, also where my mother taught for many years, is very special. It is especially poignant this year as she is in my mom’s old classroom at Destin Elementary School. Sophia’s favorite thing is to eat lunch in the Butterfly garden my mother created over 20 years ago. She keeps it up, even to this day, with fundraising and volunteer work so the kids have the space to enjoy. Soda takes great pride in all the work her Yaya does.”

Layne loves that he gets to care for the community he grew up in as a family dermatologist. He sees all walks of life, from newborns to great, great, grandparents. Whether it’s giving new parents a sigh of relief when their baby no longer suffers from eczema, seeing a teenager with newfound confidence as their acne has disappeared, realizing a patient is finally comfortable going on that date because their psoriasis is now cleared, or reassuring a patient that their skin cancer is actually not so terrible and easily treatable, he walks away from each work day with a sense of accomplishment and purpose. Our community is lucky to have such a kind, knowledgeable doctor!

Five things Layne and Lauren love about Destin:

  1. I love that no matter where you go in this town you are bound to run into someone you know.
  2. I love all the locally owned businesses that we enjoy eating at and going to like Frill Seekers if I’m looking for the perfect gift to give a friend and I’m a big fan of any restaurant owned by the Morgan family. Camille’s is our go-to date night spot, their scallop and shrimp dish is to die for.
  3. I love that my family is here and that our daughter gets the joy of growing up with her grandparents and her favorite Aunt Mal so close by.
  4. I love watching how our community always comes together to help each other out in times of need. 
  5. I love being able to go to Crab Island during the summer, grab my favorite boiled peanuts and enjoy watching Soda play in the water with her friends.

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