Our story begins on a lawn in Gainesville, Virginia... much like how our marriage will begin.

Rachel and Brad met at a concert at Jiffy Lube Live circa 2014. They met through mutual friends that day by chance, although their paths had surely crossed before.

Brad went to Madison HS while Rachel went to nearby Chantilly HS, in northern Va.

Both Brad and Rachel played basketball for their respective high schools and Rachel attended all of the Chantilly football games to which Brad still claims he scored twice his senior year while she was watching. He is still unsure how she didn't notice him then.

They crossed paths for the first time while Brad and a friend were strolling around Jiffy Lube Live's lawn area, socializing with all of the other local high school kids. Rachel and Brad are still unsure of the specific bands playing at that particular concert. Clearly, they were paying attention to each other, and not the concert.

Who made the first move? For the first and only time Rachel asked a boy for his number, she asked for Brad's digits before parting ways that day.

Fast forward to their college days where they had been on some successful dates where Rachel constantly lost her purse, wallet etc... foreshadowing what their future together would look like.

Rachel and Brad dated on a more casual basis during their college years as they went to universities 2 hours apart. Rachel at Mary Washington pursuing a degree in psychology, and Brad at Bridgewater College pursuing a degree in business.

The couple visited each other frequently over those four years and attended each others senior college gala's. Rachel often visiting Brad on her way to see a friend at Virginia Tech as Bridgewater was right off I-81.

A year after college, Brad and Rachel joined the same co-ed basketball league going to the championship that year. Rachel was hesitant to engage in Brad's attempts to court her, but eventually believed that Brad's intentions were long term.

The couple dated while they finished their respective masters degree's. Meanwhile Brad moved to St. Mary's, Md to chase his dream of becoming a collegiate basketball coach at St. Mary's College.

During this time, COVID hit and forced Brad to move home for a brief stint to save money. While he taught virtually, the couple grew closer to each others families spending many nights in the Francis/Timmer household's laughing, playing games, hosting dinners etc...

Brad was subsequently offered the Head Coaching job at Chopticon HS during the pandemic. He decided to buy a townhouse with the help of his mother and father in St. Mary's.

During the pandemic Rachel decided to move into Shirlington with two friends from college. She enjoyed a year of city-living and with her best pals. The couple did their best to visit each other during that time apart up and down from DC to St. Mary's.

A year later the couple decided the hour and a half drive to and from each others places was too much and moved in together. Rachel having completed her masters degree, took a job as a mental health therapist in St. Mary's.

Rachel and Brad both currently reside in St. Mary's and are flourishing in their current professional roles. Rachel as a supervisor in her current mental health facility and an assistant basketball coach while Brad has take the boys basketball program to new heights in their best season in over a decade.

Rachel and Brad enjoy spending time with family & friends, going to the beach, attending concerts, playing sports and being active together.

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