Scott and Ashley Alexander celebrated a portion of their first anniversary the same way they spent it on their wedding day – volunteering at the Noblesville Fireworks Festival.

“It will always be a day to celebrate. I’m glad we chose that day,” Ashley said.

The Alexanders, who dated for eight years, said they eloped first thing on July 4, 2013 because wedding planning and family expectations were becoming excessive.

“It was a spur of the moment wedding,” Scott said. “We couldn’t wait any more.”

“We didn’t have a big wedding,” Ashley said.

The Alexanders have volunteered at the festival for the past three years. The first two years they assisted youth at the inflatable slide and obstacle course. This year, the couple manned the three-in-a-row carnival game.

“It’s more hands-on,” Scott said. “It was a little bit more overwhelming.”

In addition to the free meal and raffle tickets like the other volunteers, the Alexanders received a giant cookie with “Happy anniversary” written in icing from volunteer coordinator Cindy Benedict.

The Alexanders said they attend so many of the community events that they wanted to take it a step farther and get involved.

“We volunteered for one of them to be a part of it,” Ashley said. “We have more fun volunteering than waiting in all the lines.”

In addition to the Fourth of July, the couple volunteers at their church and Noblesville Parks events.

“We enjoy doing stuff together, whatever it is,” Scott said. “We’re active and volunteering is just one of the things we do.”

“We go to every single one of the Thursday night summer concerts and (Noblesville) Street Dance,” Ashley said.

Scott said his favorite part of the festival is the fireworks show. Ashley said she loves the enjoyment kids have at the event.

“It’s so cool to see all the kids and how excited they were,” she said.

The Noblesville couple said they aren’t sure of their plans next year.

“We may start to make that our day,” Scott said.