Just like in those cliché romantic comedies we all love, it was a summer night at the beach the first time I laid eyes on Darcy. Seriously—she was there with her friends, I was there with mine, and there were walks on the beach. It was all very serendipitous.

But unlike those rom-coms, the timing just wasn’t quite right. Darcy was looking forward to her senior year of high school, and as for me, I was preparing for my first day at The Citadel. So, we went our separate ways.

Like anything that’s meant to be, however, the right time did come, and we thank God for that. Fast-forward to three years later, and we are both starting as interns in the same office in Washington, D.C. When we saw each other again on that first day of work, Darcy—always the professional—offered a handshake, and I clumsily went for a hug. While we kept it strictly professional during the internship, it wasn’t long after the summer ended before we started dating.

And the rest, as they say in those romantic comedies I keep bringing up, is history. Darcy and I have been through a lot together—long distance, finishing college in the midst of a pandemic, and starting our careers in Washington. We’ve learned to lean on each other and sacrifice for one another, even when it’s not convenient. We’ve learned to really soak in the good times too. From picnics at the Jefferson Memorial, to live music in whatever city or town we find ourselves in that weekend—it’s been fun, and it will continue to be.

It is the joy of my life to be marrying my best friend, and I can’t thank you enough for celebrating with us as we start our life together.

-- Cody

Registry