It all started in Summer of 2019 when James and Julianne were both invited to a local fundraiser by a mutual friend in West Palm Beach, FL. They spent the evening chatting away, curious and intrigued, and before the night was over, it was clear there was something special between them. They exchanged numbers, and from that day on, they talked every single day.

The next few months were a whirlwind of adventure—exploring new places and spending as much time together as possible. At first, the relationship was casual, since James was planning to move back to New Hampshire shortly from Florida. But after a few visits back and forth between Boston, Manchester, and Lebanon, James decided to return to Florida (with the knowledge it was a temporary assignment) to be with Julianne.

Once James returned, the honeymoon phase kicked into high gear, Friends and Family were introduced and the good times rolled. Everything was perfect, and then... good ol’ covid happened. But instead of pulling them apart, it brought them even closer. They spent weeks together, barely leaving each other’s side which was a bit early on but came naturally for these two. Friends joked that if they could survive being around each other constantly during a global pandemic, marriage was definitely in the cards. And they were right. They gave cohabitation a shot and quickly learned all the quirks of each other’s lifestyle.

Over the next year, they built a strong circle of friends and created countless sunny Florida memories. But James was adamant from the beginning—Florida wasn't where he saw himself long-term. So, they took a vacation to Western North Carolina, fell in love with the mountains and the culture, and decided to move to Charlotte, the closest big city for their corporate jobs, while keeping the mountains close by.

Before settling down, they took advantage of their flexibility and traveled abroad to Spain and Serbia. This was James’ first time out of the country, and he still loves to talk about it. They explored Madrid, Seville, Benamahoma, and Barcelona, followed by a visit to Julianne’s family in Čačak, Serbia. Charlotte was fun for a year—James proposed, they made great friends, and life was good. But it just didn’t feel like “home.” So, they decided to take a leap of faith and move to Asheville, but not before another round of adventures! They wandered through Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes and Denver, marveled at Arizona’s Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyons, hiked the Grand Canyon, took in the sights of Vegas, explored Valley of Fire State Park, hiked on the San Diego coast lines, and visited Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Reno, and a few mountain towns in North Carolina. One of their favorite memories is climbing to the top of Grandfather Mountain, only to get caught in a rainstorm and completely soaked on the way down. They embraced it with smiles and adventured on.

Now, it’s been just over a year since they settled in Asheville, and they can truly see themselves building a family here. It’s the perfect blend of North and South, with quiet retreats, plenty of nature, and a culture that celebrates freedom.

Five years in, and they’re more excited than ever to start their next chapter as newlyweds. They can’t wait to celebrate this special day with each other and all of their loved ones. And they hope you’ll join in on the celebration!

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