Please visit our site for any attire or wedding related questions! If you need travel assistance, please contact our Travel Agent, Natasha at 484-919-8080 or natasha@madhatteradv.com. We can't wait to see you in paradise!
Jim & Jill
Please visit our site for any attire or wedding related questions! If you need travel assistance, please contact our Travel Agent, Natasha at 484-919-8080 or natasha@madhatteradv.com. We can't wait to see you in paradise!
Jim & Jill
Our Story
JIM & JILL'S LOVE STORY - A Florida Trip to Remember
Once upon a birthday bash in the tropical wonderland of South Beach, Jill threw a fabulous 40th fiesta surrounded by friends and a questionable beach house in Miami that, let's just say, had a "unique charm".
It looked much better in photos than in person!
(Not pictured: Holes in the cushions, cleaning ladies basking in the sun, blood stains on the stairs, rotting doors, ripped comforters, etc.)
Little did she know, amidst the quirky accommodations, the universe was conspiring to add a surprising chapter to her story.
Among her party crew was her good friend Scott, the “unintentional” mastermind behind this love story, and his buddy, Jim, also a resident of Minnesota, who bounced between MN and FL.
As fate would have it, Jim’s canceled business trip spared him time, setting the stage for a love story as wild as the Miami nightlife.
THE LONE FUTON VS. BOUGIE SLEEPING ACCOMODATIONS
Now, picture this: March 18th, 2018, the day Jill's birthday dinner was set to unfold with friends at a chic Mexican joint downtown Miami.
It was THE night she envisioned everyone together, and Scott casually mentioned that Jim would be making the 2.5 hour trek from Cape Coral to Miami and joining the birthday festivities.
The bedrooms were filled and the minor detail of where Jim would sleep unfolded into a hilarious series of mishaps, including...
A hard futon in the middle of the living room, a stark contrast to Jim’s rather particular and “bougie” sleeping requirements.
And contrary to what he was led to believe.
(The available futon is pictured below.)
THE INTRODUCTION: SLEEP-DEPRIVED, A WRONG TURN, AND A TITO'S SODA
Jim, worn out from dad duty all week, napped before heading out (and miraculously woke up), followed by a quick shopping spree for off-the-rack clothes, and to purchase a gift for the infamous birthday girl - a "pier pressure" drinking mug.
In a sleep-deprived stupor, Jim packed his bag and drove across alligator alley while Jill and her friends got ready and geared up for pre-dinner shenanigans.
As dinner's clock ticked closer to 7 pm, Jill, fueled by a mix of anticipation and worry, found herself wondering where on Earth Jim was.
Scott's assurances and a wrong turn into a sketchy neighborhood delayed Jim's grand entrance, leaving Jill no choice but to summon the group into Ubers while she and Scott waited.
Minutes later, Jim finally arrived through these doors at quarter to 7pm.
Picture this: Jill, opened the door armed with a Tito's soda to-go cup for Jim, determined to be punctual for her only birthday dinner celebration with her whole group, welcomed Jim with a quick introduction and directive to turn around because they were running late and Uber-bound.
Jim impressed with Jill’s charisma and unmatched beauty declared, “Yep, she’s mine.”
Little did Jim know, this whirlwind evening would mark the beginning of a love story that could never be scripted.
But wait, the story doesn't end there!
MARGARITAS, A MARIACHI BAND, AND MIAMI MAYHEM
At the Mexican restaurant, amidst laughs and margaritas, Jim strategically took the seat next to Jill.
Jim, with his charming “Beboisms,” held his audience captive, and Jill couldn’t help but be utterly smitten.
As they anticipated the arrival of the mariachi band, their excitement turned to surprise when a “non-live” virtual mariachi band appeared on a drop-down movie screen as pictured below.
Little did they know, this turned out to be foreshadowing--something they’d later laugh about as they unintentionally arranged a mariachi band for their wedding day, only to remember it’s absence at the restaurant the first night they met.
Now, a mere glimpse into the rest of the Miami escapade includes:
Jim and Jill's first (blurry) photo together.
Their 2nd photo together with the whole group outside the restaurant.
Other events that transpired that evening included...
A shoe purchase from a friendly homeless man.
A strip club rendezvous with friends in which Jim and Jill were situated in the back mesmerized with one another and oblivious to their surroundings.
Then finally back to the subpar Airbnb at 2am.
And lets not forget, the quirky twist to Jim's sleeping arrangements...
He was now assigned to a snug twin bed tucked away in the pantry, adorned with hanging beads as the "door".
Definitely an upgrade from a futon in the middle of the living room, wouldn’t you agree?!
(The bedroom/pantry pictured below, but the beads have since been replaced with curtains.)
The next day brought even more laughs and shenanigans, including:
Jim extending his stay.
Jill waking up to surprise pool floaties for her 40th birthday.
A surprise bongo performance by Brian.
Mai Tai's prior to a speedboat thrill ride in Miami.
And “Captain Bebo” seizing the helm as the speedboat tour driver (pictured below).
That evening included mixed up reservations at Ceviche 105.
However, with Jim's determination and persistence, there was no backing down and leaving the restaurant was NOT an option per Jim.
So, the staff was paid off and the group unexpectedly closed down the restaurant.
Ceviche 105 was never the same again.
And neither were Jim and Jill.
Through it all, Jim and Jill's connection grew stronger and stronger with each new mishap, proving that love grows in the midst of quirky adventures.
But wait, the story still doesn't end there.
EXTENDING THE ADVENTURE - SPONTANEOUS DECISIONS AND A 9-DAY "FIRST" DATE
The next day (March 20th, 2018) was Jill’s supposed departure back to the frozen tundra.
However, Jim persuaded Jill to extend her trip to celebrate his 50th on the other coast.
A spontaneous decision led to a road trip to Cape Coral, filled with Tony Robbins discussions, hand-in-hand, and the magic of hearing "Meant to Be" by Florida Georgia Line affirming “their song,” and their bond.
Jim and Jill kept discovering that they had so much in common:
Grew up just 10-minutes apart, attended rival high schools, were present at the same events, and had over a hundred similar friends.
Yet never crossed paths in MN. Until they ironically met in FL.
Their first date stretched into a 9-day Floridian escapade, involving...
Continued birthday celebrations.
Jill meeting Jim’s FL friends and entire family.
Jim extending Jill's flight once again.
And Jill's mom expressing concern over the indefinite extension of her daughter's stay.
Little did she know that her daughter had become smitten for a Minnesota man in Miami - who would soon become her future son-in-law!
A SURPRISE MAUI PROPOSAL AND A PANDEMIC PAUSE
Now, jump ahead to October 2019—a 7-day Tony Robbins Relationship Seminar in Maui that culminated in Jim and Jill writing and reading their vows to each other, followed by a surprise proposal outside near the beach at 3am on the last day.
Luckily, a camera was handed off to a stranger, and Scott, a newfound friend, became the only person they knew to witness this unforgettable moment.
(What a coincidence that his name is Scott, too!)
Wedding plans were made in 2020 and postponed due to the pandemic, but after graduations and life achievements for Jill and Jim's teenage daughter Jamie, the day of their dreams is finally here.
In the midst of coincidences and serendipity, Scott's non-intentional "set up" brought Jim and Jill together, and for that, they are forever grateful.
So, here’s to Scott, the unsung hero of this love story that started with a quirky Miami birthday bash and led to a lifetime of laughter, adventure, and the undeniable truth—they were truly "meant to be."
As Jim and Jill embark on this next chapter, surrounded by those they love dearly, and a mariachi band they finally get to see live in Mexico, they are ready to declare to the world their love for each other.
Thanks, Scott, for the unexpected introduction that set the stage for their happily ever after.