Jake and Ashley first knew of each other when everyone that was planning on going to Samford decided to do all these zoom meetings and add each other on all social media platforms to get to know people before starting freshman year! After starting in the fall, they were taking a few of the same classes, and hung out in groups of mutual friends.

At the beginning of sophomore year Jake was working at the campus bookstore when Ashley came in one day and they started talking and catching up. Jake mentioned he needed to borrow some earplugs because his roommate at the time snored very loudly. The next day Ashley returned to the bookstore with the earplugs and they chatted again. After this they continued to text one another until eventually Jake asked her to get dinner. They went to Panera, and then sat and talked outside for hours afterwards. After this they continued going on dates before officially becoming a couple on October 6th, 2021.

They continued dating for the rest of their time at Samford! They went to lots of Phi Mu events (their only excuse to dress up and take pictures), joined a Bible study, went on lots of trips, did long distance over multiple summers, supported each other through school, clinicals, and big life changes. And they wouldn't change any of it, because through the good and the difficult, they learned more and more what it would be like to spend the rest of their lives with each other!

Jake and Ashley graduated from Samford University in April 2024, and started post-grad life together! Adjusting to full time jobs and night shifts was hard, but it was a lot easier doing it together. Jake decided it was finally time to surprise Ashley with a proposal (since she is so hard to surprise), and on January 31st, 2025, he asked Ashley to marry him! She said yes, but she truthfully doesn’t remember it because it was all such a blur!

A&J

Wedding Day

4:00 PM

Ceremony

5:00 PM–9:00 PM

Reception