One Sunday, on a scorching summer afternoon in Madison, Wisconsin, Jake and Sarah were in the right place at the right time. It was August 8, 2021 and the city was coming back to life as pandemic era restrictions were beginning to relax. He was playing in his weekly Sunday volleyball league and she was catching up with a few friends over drinks and casually watching from the sideline. By the time the volleyball match ended, Jake and Sarah had already exchanged a few curious glances across the court and shared some polite small talk in between games. As the day went on, the crowd dwindled, but Jake and Sarah settled in as more intentional glances and conversation ensued. Coincidently, Jake brought up his favorite Thai Restaurant just as Sarah was working up the nerve to suggest getting some 'Ha Long Bay' too - so cute - so they placed a takeout order, walked to a nearby park, and stopped to eat their 'five-star-spicy' dinners together at an unexpected blues music festival happening a few blocks down the road. And just like that, what started as an average, run-of-the-mill Summer Sunday transitioned into something much more palpable as they grew comfortable with each other and shared about themselves, their families, and deeper reflections. It was the beginning of something special, and whether it was fate, luck, or a higher power that led them to cross paths, that was the day that everything changed for Jake and Sarah.

After navigating the milestones of their evolving relationship— their first date, falling in love, semi-awkward introductions to friends and family, traveling, and eventually leaving Wisconsin to move to North Carolina – they gained a deeper understanding of each other and themselves as frequent talks about sharing a future together developed into more concrete plans. With yet another inter-state move around the corner (this time to Tampa, FL for Jake's new job), Jake and Sarah were vacationing in Madison over Labor Day weekend when the long-anticipated moment had finally come - 5:57 PM September 2nd, 2024. As they overlooked the sparkling waters of Lake Mendota, Jake nervously bent the knee and proposed to Sarah, who managed to say yes in between her freely flowing gleeful tears. What’s more, a few of Sarah’s dearest friends who were involved in the planning, some who travelled from several states over, were waiting around the corner to surprise her and join in on a celebratory sunset boat ride (captained by local legend, Tom Harvey, and sponsored by friends, Ryan and Tracy). Other friends and family members shared their support from afar via wine and chocolates delivered to their hotel room (thank you Virginia!) and pre-recorded heartfelt messages. Thanks in large part to the help from their amazing community, 9/2/2024 became a beautiful memory that left Jake and Sarah fortified and hopeful as they started the next chapter of their lives together.

Shortly after their engagement and a rocky transition to Tampa in the middle of a record-breaking hurricane season, the less romantic realities of life began to set in. Very quickly, Jake and Sarah's bandwidth for planning their wedding weekend was swept away as Sarah jumped into preparing to enter a demanding RN program and applying for scholarships, and Jake worked long hours in his new research leadership role at the Tampa Veterans Hospital. Before long, 2024 was abruptly coming to a close and they realized that with Sarah’s studies starting in March, and Jake’s ongoing work commitments, planning and hosting their "dream wedding" may take years. But along with this realization came holiday gifts of family wisdom and gentle reassuring nudges about the practical benefits of getting married sooner than later. So, with 6 weeks on the clock, no shortage of doubts, and the full support of their families, they picked a date and began crafting their plan for a meaningful yet practical ceremony. While their wedding day might not look perfect, they aimed to make it an authentic reflection of what they both knew mattered most - love, laughter, and the support of their dearest friends and family.