Our story began in August of 2016 (Jake's freshman year and Ashlyn's sophomore year) at Medical Lake High School in Spokane, Washington. We met in our JROTC class. After an awkward first few months of Jake not picking up on hints and Ashlyn growing more impatient, Jake finally asked out Ashlyn with a box of chocolates and roses on Valentine's Day 2017 when we shared both of our first kisses. While the military caused us to move apart in the summer of 2018, we never lost communication with each other. Everyone says, "Young love doesn't last" and that's what we thought too. Until January of 2024 when the conversation of getting back into a relationship started up. Both a little older and more mature with Jake's career in the Air Force in Charleston, SC taking off (pun intended) and Ashlyn a General Manager of a Domino's franchise in Houston, TX. One fatefully mission brought Jake down to Brownsville, TX in February of 2024 where we both decided that we should see each other again in person for the first time in 6 years. Ashlyn drove 10 hours round trip from Houston just to spend about 30 minutes with Jake while the jet refueled. We realized that spark never went away and Ashlyn decided to pack up and move to Charleston that same summer. Over a year later in Charleston, and we never would have guessed the people who shared that awkward first kiss in high school would be getting married in the most magical place on Earth!

Ashlyn is pursuing a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts at the Culinary Institute of Charleston with a projected graduation in the Winter of 2026.

Jake is continuing his career as an Instructor Loadmaster on the C-17A for the 437th Special Operations Squadron and 16th Airlift Squadron.