After 11 years together, we finally made it official and tied the knot! While we wish we could have had everyone with us, a big fancy wedding just isn’t our style. So we are so excited to get to celebrate with all of you what has been an event LONG OVERDUE! 





A little backstory for those who don’t know. 

Jesse and I first met in junior high after my family moved to the northshore. I was the new girl at a small town school and he was the quiet guy on the football field with those piercing blue eyes that instantly caught my attention. With some help from friends (because Jesse was VERY shy)- we eventually started dating. 
We spent our 8th grade and part of our freshman year together, and if you ask Jesse, he’ll tell you I broke his heart when I broke up with him. And I guess I kind of did. But I am a firm believer in everything happens for a reason. Jesse was always Mr. Right.. just not “right at that time”. 
Even so, Jesse and I stayed friends. And let me tell you, no one—absolutely no one—has ever been able to make me laugh the way he does. Years passed, and then, as if written in the stars, our paths crossed again. Funny how life has a way of putting the right people in your life at just the right time. Jesse and his roommates had a party at their apartment that I was invited to by one of his roommates. It felt like no time had passed at all. Jesse was still that bright, shining light, and he had me laughing nonstop the whole night. He also busted out his guitar and had me hooked! 
This time, though, life was different. I was going through a rough split from my ex and had a 5-year-old daughter, Danielle. I thought surely Jesse would run for the hills. But instead, he stayed. Not only did he love me, but he embraced Danielle with open arms. For the past 11 years, he’s been by our side, loving both of us every step of the way.
I couldn’t ask for a better friend, partner, lover, or co-parent and I’m so grateful we get to do life together! 



Jesse and I were together when he bought the ring. We wandered into a jewelry store one day, completely by chance, only to find out they were having a huge sale. I spotted a ring I absolutely loved, and without hesitation, Jesse bought it. But there was a catch—he wouldn’t let me have it just yet. He insisted on doing things the right way and wanted to properly propose. So, for the next few months, I had to sneak little peeks at the ring, slipping it on my finger for a few fleeting moments, all while keeping it a secret from everyone, including our families.
Jesse actually had a grand plan in mind. He was going to propose during our upcoming trip to see the solar eclipse, six months away. But with the holidays approaching, and knowing how eager I was to finally share the news with our families, he decided to improvise.
For the past few years, we’ve made it a tradition to go to Waffle House on Christmas Day. Our family celebrations usually happen on a different day to fit everyone’s schedules, so we’ve had Christmas Day all to ourselves. Instead of cooking for just the three of us, we’ve made Waffle House our go-to. This past Christmas was no different, except my sister, nephew, and niece were staying with us, so they joined in on our little tradition.
As we sat down to eat, Jesse decided to play some music on the jukebox, something he does almost every time we’re there. As we started digging into our food, one of “our songs” came on—My Love by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross. What I didn’t know was that Jesse hadn’t planned on proposing at Waffle House, so he didn’t even have the ring with him. But in classic Jesse style, he improvised again. He pulled a jalapeño slice from my hash browns, got down on one knee right there beside our booth, and asked me to marry him. Of course, I said YES! He slipped the jalapeño slice onto my finger…And then he ate it off! 
When we got home, Jesse pulled out the actual ring and proposed again, this time right there in our living room in front of the Christmas tree. It was such a sweet and special moment, and it truly made for the best Christmas ever!