Although this isn't the first photo Celeste and TJ have taken (we can thank Apple for lost photos) this date was the start of their journey together. As high school sweethearts, they loved hanging out with one another. TJ was a senior when Celeste was a freshman at Jefferson High School. Right after having a conversation with TJ for the first time, one of Celeste's friends remarked how cute he was and Celeste agreed. She then was contacted by him shortly after a friendly get-together and he asked her on a date. They grew close together and Celeste loved TJ's humor and infectious laugh. TJ loved Celeste's ambition and intelligence. They shared love for their sports and comedy. They were inseparable from that point.

Celeste went with TJ's Mom and Grandma to see him graduate from Boot Camp at Great Lakes near Chicago, Illinois. During his time in boot camp they sent letters non-stop to each other and still have them to this day. It was such an amazing experience and the time couldn't creep slower to the moment she could run with his family to find him when they set the sailors free on liberty.

Celeste called TJ endlessly as she missed him so much during his time in A-school at Great Lakes, Illinois where he was studying for his position in the Navy. He graduated top of his class that catapulted him in his naval career.

The couple went through many years as long distance. They knew that they had found their other half, so they put in the work of what would become a long-distance relationship. That included many heartbreaking goodbyes, overwhelmingly exciting hellos, and long phone calls in between. There are too many photos to post, so this will paint the picture just fine. After this time TJ went on his first deployment where he worked hard as an HT and visited the Mediterranean and Red Sea regions of the world.

TJ came back finally from a long deployment mid-summer 2017. TJ and Celeste spent time exploring the 757 area of Virginia where they fell in love with the area, as they had mostly stuck on base or PPV when she visited.

Celeste and TJ go to their first Navy Ball. Being youngsters and TJ being on the ship, USS Truxtun (DDG 103), a short time it was a unique experience compared to past Navy events.

Celeste came down for the summer of 2018 to live in Norfolk, Virginia where TJ was stationed. During this time Celeste and TJ made so many fond memories with his close friends from the Navy. Celeste grew close with TJ's best friends, Corey Strayer, Andrew Harrison, Alex Leblanc, Marcus Williams, and Dylan Persely. They spent their weekends at the beach, downtown Norfolk, and Celeste was constantly breaking her ankles from playing basketball with them. Celeste and TJ look back on these memories often with happiness.

Celeste and TJ's second Navy Ball in Virginia Beach. He currently lived in Chesapeake, Virginia and this photo was taken when he was a Second Class Petty Officer. Her mom helped her so much with the formal dresses she had every event, especially this one, as the dress was one fabric cut that wrapped many times around. This made the hem more difficult than other dress styles.

TJ went to Celeste's sorority formal with her for the first time. There were many more to come, as she loved Pi Beta Phi's special events which she met the best people and had a new outlook on being involved on campus during college.

TJ requested the help of Celeste's Mom's side of her family to trick her into thinking she's having family photos taken 8/18/20. She was completely surprised and even a little embarrassed how she didn't see it coming. He even set his phone to airplane mode so he wouldn't risk phone location, online activity, etc. while he was driving back to Michigan adding to his façade that he was underway on the ship at the time. With hindsight, she laughs at all the clues she missed. "Mom randomly wants to get a manicure? Why does my mom want me to get a dress and not a jumpsuit so bad? Why is my sister sprinting ahead of us and anxiously looking back since were just meeting with family?"

Celeste and TJ's third Navy Ball together in Virginia Beach was so fun! Celeste loved dressing up and TJ always loved the bit of the night where the youngest and oldest sailor are called up to stage to cut the cake (He was ALMOST the youngest his first year at the Navy Ball - how embarrassing for a teenager!)

TJ's last day of Naval Active Duty in Norfolk, Virginia was May 5th, 2020. He left for his last day not knowing how he might feel once it ended. Excited for what was to come? Remorse that part of his life was over? Nervous for school after serving time in the military? He continued in the military in reserves while in school and honorably discharged later with 7 total years of service as a Petty Officer First Class.

2020 was their first year going to college together at The University of Toledo! TJ as a Mechanical Engineering Technology student and Celeste as a Bioengineering student. We always joked around with one another about TJ being an underclassman and Celeste an upperclassman. Them both being on the engineering campus led to many lunches/dinners at Freshens. This was the year that Covid-19 was rampant in the United States and Celeste forgot to take her mask off before this picture. She also worked at Campbell's during this time.

Through the years 2020 and 2021 Celeste was an industrial engineering co-op for Campbell's Soup. While she worked there for some parts, TJ was in school or working at ASRaymond. You could say we "pulled ourselves up by our boot straps" during those hours and sometimes opposite shifts.

Whilst at school, TJ took part in Toledo's first football club. He played Pitt, Ohio State, and many more. This was the highlight of Celeste and TJ's Sunday evenings in the Fall of 2021. TOL!

TJ and Celeste went on vacation with friends (Lauren Partington, Aisha Salman, Ross Hartenburg, Anna Smith, and Renee Blair) to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida! It was such a much needed break from years of Covid-19 lockdown and school/work!

TJ and Celeste took positions together at the same company called ASRaymond in the Summer of 2022. ASRaymond provides engineered force and motion control solutions. Celeste worked as a Product Engineer Co-op and Thomas as a Process Engineer Co-op. In layman’s terms, Celeste worked on creating product drawings and verifying design through testing. TJ aimed to increase efficiency and sustainability in production and the processes. While there, the process engineering team had the opportunity for a photo shoot for the company rebranding.

And here we are! We're so excited to see you all and celebrate our union together July 22, 2023 in northern Michigan! The reason behind the wedding location a bit of a drive away, is because the significance of "Pure Michigan" does not compare anywhere we've been. I (Celeste) grew up snowmobiling through the potato fields and visiting northern Michigan's lakes with my parents. Along with that TJ loves learning about history (specifically Roman History) and fell in love. A bonus is having it at a castle with a vast history that makes it unique and beautiful.