Ryan and Maddy first met as neighbors in 2020 while Maddy was in grad school. We talked briefly, became Instagram and Facebook friends, and exchanged waves when we saw each other in the neighborhood. In the summer of ‘21, Maddy moved to grad school at Ohio University with no expectations of returning to Gainesville anytime soon.

After graduating from Ohio in the spring of ‘22, Maddy moved back to Gainesville to start her career with Gator Boosters. Maddy started working with Garrett Bell, one of Ryan‘s mom Lori‘s best friends. Garrett shared stories about their village of friends, upcoming trips and weddings, and Ryan McGriff. It seemed Ryan McGriff was always part of the story. At a Gator Boosters event, Ryan and Eddie Bell happened to be in Maddy’s tour group, and she talked their ears off all night. About a week later, she was invited to the famous Bell/Stubbs Fish Fry and finally got to meet all these people Garrett was talking about. Although Maddy and Ryan spoke briefly, he was busy cooking hotdogs and socializing. This was soon followed by run-ins at basketball games, baseball games, The Players, the golf course, and Publix.

After Memorial Day 2023, we finally set a date to get drinks at Cry Baby’s in downtown Gainesville. We talked for hours until the bar closed. A week later, we went on a long walk, followed by sitting on Ryan’s back deck talking until he made Maddy go home so he could go pick up his ritual Sunday pizza from Leonardo’s before it closed. Ryan and Maddy went back to back weeks to watch the Gators play in the College World Series, Ryan for the start and Maddy for the Championship. As soon as Maddy returned, Ryan invited her over for dinner and there was no looking back.

Our relationship developed seamlessly, filled with time spent with each other’s friends, meeting family, friends' weddings (all the parties and showers that come with them), road trips, another trip to the College World Series, an amazing week in the Bahamas, and quality time together.

On August 23, 2024, Ryan and Maddy were set for a relaxing weekend in St. Augustine with Ryan’s brother Kyle and sister-in-law Anastasia. The boys drove early from Gainesville to play a round of golf and Maddy and Anastasia drove later. Anastasia was tasked with keeping Maddy occupied and off her phone, especially off Find My Friends where she would notice all the people who stopped sharing their locations with her. On the way to what Maddy thought was drinks with Pam & Larry Harris then dinner reservations, Ryan asked if we could check out a piece of waterfront property nearby. We stopped at an empty lot with a beautiful dock overlooking Downtown St. Augustine. After walking down to the lower floating dock, Maddy admired the scenery while Ryan got down on one knee behind her. He had to tap her twice to get her to turn around. Ryan then asked, “Maddy, will you marry me?” and Maddy said “ARE YOU SERIOUS?! YES!!” A surprise party filled with some of their favorite people awaited them at Pam and Larry Harris’ house. Friends and family from near and far gathered to celebrate. The entire weekend was a huge party filled with smiles, laughter, drinks, and amazing food. It’s a weekend we’ll cherish forever.

We’re so excited to get married at Hammock Beach, just up the road from where we were engaged! We hope you can join us in celebrating the start of our marriage and the beginning of a lifetime of love, joy, and excitement.

Q + A

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