The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design

Wedding Day

Family Brunch

Spring

Our Wedding

Our Story so Far! 

Jonathan and I first met on Hinge (yep, the dating app) in 2020! He had just moved to D.C (tho really Arlington) and hadn’t realized how far Richmond VA was. It was about two hours away! So not only did we start our relationship in a global pandemic, we also began long distance. Chatting on the app very quickly led to our first FaceTime - which I may have catfished him for a moment as I was so excited I forgot to turn my camera on for a few minutes. Tho if you let Jonathan tell the story it was at least an hour before I realized. But even when he was talking to a blank screen we knew there was something special there.

Meeting during a global pandemic made going on dates a bit of a challenge - but we got creative! We masked up and went to museums, hung out outside, and had lots and lots of virtual dates. But soon - about a month in - we both knew that we were it for each other. We knew we were in love and that we were a family (can’t forget Olly!!)

We spent two years in a long-distance relationship, driving the four-hour round trip to see each other. Sometimes (because we were crazy) we made the trip for only an afternoon. Like the time I drove up after work just to cheer Jonathan up or when he surprised me at an art night I was hosting at the school I worked at. But that drive, and long distance in general, had gotten old very quickly. So, as his apprenticeship with the Pentagon was ending and I was itching to try my luck as a professional animator, we decided it was time to move to a new city and start our lives together!&nbsp;

We began searching for jobs all over, including overseas, and the deal was that the first one to get a job was where we were heading! Well lucky Seattle was it! I got my “big break” in the ad agency world. So we packed ourselves, Olly, and enough clothes to last a week into my small sedan and made the cross-country drive in 4 days. We made it to our TINY 400-square foot apartment (yes really) without a plan past getting there: we had one job between us, never lived together prior, and knew NO ONE. Soon Jonathan got his “big break” in the aerospace industry and we were happy exploring the Pacific Northwest, experiencing a world of new adventures. And eventually on a very rainy Christmas, we got engaged!

Before long, we realized Seattle just wasn’t the right fit for us—like a shoe that was a size too small. We started feeling the itch for another adventure, ready to move somewhere new. But instead of a big move, life threw us a different kind of adventure—one we never saw coming that changed our lives with a phone call. After a shoulder replacement surgery, I was diagnosed with cancer. Life got scary fast, but we refused to let it change us—to take away our lives or our sense of adventure. So, we buckled down and faced our new reality head-on, determined to kick cancer's ass! But one thing was clear: we weren’t going to take on this challenge without being married.

With just two weeks' notice, we told our families we were heading to the courthouse to make it official. We didn’t expect anyone to drop everything to come the week of New Year's, but to our surprise (and absolute gratitude), our families and a few close friends came out to support us.&nbsp;

So a week after my first round of chemo, thankfully I hadn’t lost my hair yet, we headed down to the courthouse. It was the most beautiful, chaotic, rainy day ever. We spent our first few days as a married couple surrounded by love, laughter, and some of our favorite people, exploring Seattle together and soaking it all in.

Being surrounded by that much love gave us the strength to push through 5 more rounds of chemo. But even cancer couldn't slow us down! We both rocked being bald, explored Vancouver, Canada, ventured all the way to Salt Lake City for a taco, soaked in the beauty of the Pacific Coast, and even made our way to California to see the Redwoods!

Once summer arrived, and I received my first clear scan and entered remission, we knew it was time for a new chapter. A fresh adventure was calling, and this time it was Jonathan's job leading us to Huntsville, Alabama. So we packed up the car again and hit the road! This time seeing the country properly and taking our sweet time. We got to celebrate Christmas in Denver with friends (shout out to Andy, Irina, Max and Maya) explore the Grand Canyon, see Zion National Park (sorta, there's a whole story there), and drive through Monument Valley (our absolute favorite).&nbsp;

Now, we're settling into our new life in Alabama and loving it so far! With Wedding 2.0 on the horizon, we can’t wait to celebrate our marriage with ALL of our family and friends. So here’s to a great 2025, and see you all soon!!&nbsp;

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

Here are some hotel choices for your convenience! Due to a smaller number of out-of-town guests, we haven’t set up a hotel room block, but there are plenty of great options nearby. In addition to hotels, there are also plenty of Airbnbs in the area if you’re looking for a more unique or home-like stay! The Jefferson Hotel📍 101 W Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23220⭐ Luxury, historic hotel with elegant accommodations🌐 <a href="http://www.jeffersonhotel.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Website</a>📞 (804) 649-4750 Quirk Hotel📍 201 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23220⭐ Boutique hotel with artistic design and a rooftop bar🌐 <a href="https://www.quirkhotels.com/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=business_listing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Website</a>📞 (804) 340-6040 Graduate Richmond📍 301 W Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23220⭐ Fun, vibrant hotel with a cool, collegiate-inspired atmosphere🌐 <a href="https://www.graduatehotels.com/richmond/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Website</a>📞 (804) 644-9871 Hilton Richmond Downtown📍 501 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219⭐ Modern hotel in a central location🌐 <a href="https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ricrdhh-hilton-richmond-downtown/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Website</a>📞 (804) 344-4300

Ava & Jonathan

Ava & Jonathan

Travel