We initially met during the summer of 2019 through our mutual friend, Bradley, while both working at SportRock Climbing Center. After that summer, we went our separate ways back to school.

Over a year later, we had both taken a trip to the New River Gorge for Labor Day and happened to run into each other while out sport climbing at Summersville Lake. (Do you see the foreshadowing yet?😉) We caught up with one another and made plans to go bouldering the following month.

We spent the next few busy months of the semester apart, but constantly chatting over FaceTime. We were finally able to have our first real “date” just before the holidays, (thank you Duncan for third-wheeling🙏🏼) and were able to spend even more time together over the next few weeks. On January 13th, Melysa decided to make it official!

Our first 6 months together were a whirlwind. Jacob was back down at Virginia Tech and Melysa was still in Harrisonburg, but despite the distance, we spent nearly every weekend together making tons of memories. We spent our first Valentine’s Day together, and said “I love you” for the first time. In May of 2021 we embarked on a road trip across the country with our friends Maura & Duncan, and spent over a month together exploring the Western United States.

Upon returning from our road trip, Melysa began fostering 3 kittens. Fast forward 2 months… we adopted our first fur baby, Onyx, together! #fosterfail🐱

As the end of Jacob’s time in school was nearing, he began looking for jobs, and eventually landed himself at US Steel here in Birmingham, AL. We made the move down on June 15th, 2022. A little over a month after moving down, we decided to get Onyx a friend, and ended up with Jojo!

Our first year in Birmingham was so fulfilling. It was great to find our way around a new city, meet new friends, and take in all of the amazing Southern bouldering that carried us down here to begin with. Toward the end of our first year, our third fur baby appeared on our door step, and thus how we acquired Mugi!

In July of 2023, we toyed with the idea of buying a house and began going on tours. I’m sure you can see where this is going… (We’ll circle back around to this😆)

We decided to take a trip back to the New River Gorge for Labor Day last year. Jacob convinced Melysa they should spend a day at Summersville Lake, and popped the big question in the same spot we reconnected in, exactly 4 years later, surrounded by family and friends❤️

Since that weekend we have been so busy with wedding planning, traveling, working, and most recently… becoming homeowners!

The life we’ve built together has been nothing short of adventurous and thrilling. We are so excited to be spending the rest of our lives together and are even more excited to celebrate with you all so soon! Cheers🥂