Our love story all began in a high school statistics class, where Jacob was a senior and Julia was a junior. That same evening, Jacob slid into Julia’s DMs on Instagram, asking for help with his "homework." Little did Julia know, Jacob already had all the answers—this was just part of his master plan to get to know her! From that one message asking for her phone number, their story unfolded.

They started texting daily, getting to know each other, and spending Friday nights together at football games. Then, sometime in October of 2015, they went on their first date to Village Tavern. Jacob made quite the impression, driving all the way to Churchland to pick Julia up before turning around to Winston-Salem (which hilariously meant passing his house again). One unforgettable moment? Jacob accidentally pulled his car straight into Julia's parents’ front yard—a clear sign he wasn’t used to the country! It’s still a running joke between them.

The end of that first date came with a big moment: meeting Julia’s parents. Jacob didn’t flinch, even when greeted by Jamie in a bathrobe and Ben shirtless on the couch. It was the perfect beginning to a story filled with humor, love, and a bit of chaos.

As their dates continued, Julia met Jacob’s mom, Tammy, for the first time on Halloween night. Tammy, ever the realist, gave her son some advice: “You can't afford her, Jacob!” It was all in good fun, but the joke about Julia’s love for the finer things has stuck around, just like Jacob making them the perfect match.

Five months later, on November 21, 2015, Jacob officially asked Julia to be his girlfriend. He had planned everything perfectly. During what seemed like an innocent moment preparing his children’s church lesson, he handed Julia a Christmas-themed worksheet to "proofread." The humor in it all is the reality of asking Julia to proofread anything. We all know grammar and spelling has never been her strong suit. As Julia read it, she realized the true message: “All I want for Christmas is you. Be my girlfriend?”

From there, the years were filled with love and adventure—high school proms, football games, vacations to Fripp Island, vacations to the infamous White Lake cabin, and countless other memories together. But then came the first big challenge: Jacob graduated high school and went off to college. A time they both dreaded - being apart. After Jacob was moved into his dorm room, Tammy drove home, dry eyes and Julia's filled with tears. Weekends with Jacob in college were filled with Jacob traveling home to Lexington every weekend going back to college at the last minute to maximize their time together. Every morning consisted of a lengthy phone call as Julia got ready for high school and as Jacob prepared for his 8:00 am class.

In 2016, Julia joined Jacob in Charlotte, enrolling at UNCC. Their lives together began in a cozy one-bedroom apartment that their parents graciously supported. That little apartment marked the beginning of their shared dreams. Over the years, they’ve faced life’s ups and downs together: emergency surgeries, broken bones (1 too many for Julia), buying a car, and even the nerve-wracking adventure of buying their first home. They laugh now about how they acted married long before they actually were—figuring out everything from budgeting to arguing how big the closet should be.

When Jacob accepted a new job in Lexington, they both knew it was time to come home—a move they never expected to make but one that felt just right.

Now, as they prepare for their biggest adventure yet—marriage—they are so grateful for the journey that brought them here. From high school sweethearts to lifelong partners, their story is a testament to the beauty of love, faith, and a little bit of fate.

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