Our love story began at Publix, where we worked together for a whole year without saying much to each other. Fate stepped in one day when he asked me to cover a shift for him. I agreed, but later realized I couldn’t. He got my number from our coworker, Alyssa, to sort it out — and that simple text turned into a conversation that never really ended.

As we got to know each other, I left for my freshman year at Tennessee Tech, but distance didn’t slow us down. We spent weekends together and officially started dating on November 5, 2021. Over the next year, we made unforgettable memories, like camping with friends and visiting Helen, Georgia in the winter. Wanting to be closer, I transferred to Maryville College, and soon after, he did too. We were back to working at the same store, but this time, as a couple.

By spring of 2024, I embarked on a 5-month study abroad in Izmir, Turkey. After reuniting, we visited Munich, Germany, where he proposed at the beautiful Nymphenburg Palace. In true "me" fashion, I didn’t wait for him to put the ring on — I took it from the box and did it myself! From there, we set off on a whirlwind adventure, visiting Turkey, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the Dominican Republic, before returning to the U.S. for more summer fun, including a boat trip to Alabama and a family reunion in Arkansas.

One of our favorite stories to tell is about the time we made a "marriage pact" during a slow shift at Publix. While sweeping the floor, we both joked that if we weren’t married by 30, we’d marry each other. Fast forward just three years later, and here we are — getting married at 22 and 23.

We love camping, hiking, traveling, and playing games (though every Mario Party match is a battle of wills). He got me hooked on the entire MCU, and together, we laugh at jokes that are far from appropriate but perfectly "us." We can’t wait to keep building a life full of love, adventure, and maybe just a little healthy competition. ❤️

G&J

Wedding Day