Maddie and James have a long and beautiful history together that began at a time when adolescence snapped its fingers and the awkward stages of early adulthood began.
Junior High.
It was the first week of junior high at Mahar Regional where their two fates would align. Maddie, a skinny, brace-faced young girl had entered the halls of Mahar with book bag in hand. Seventh grade was a year of mixed feelings for her. On one hand, she was with her closest friends from elementary. The friends who came up with her through the small, intimate setting of the New Salem school system. And on the other hand, Mahar was a regional school that served several townships. School this year was bound to be full of fresh faces and new friendships. She knew little about her soon-to-be teachers, but knew even less of her soon-to-be classmates.
From the other side of the tracks, came a brash, blue-eyed, young boy that found himself in a similar manner. He was so nervous on his first day but was able to put on an outwardly brave face as he walked off of the bus and into the mass of mixed year students. The buildings were unfamiliar but he found some comfort in seeing his long time friends stirring in the crowd. They went off to class…
Then the lunch bell rang. RrinNG! The classrooms emptied and all the students filed into the halls. The lunch room was abuzz with the chatter and shuffle of the first day of school. Friends sat next to friends or saved seats for each other. The snack bar line was 30 people long. Remember that? James does. He remembers it like it was yesterday. He also remembers the first time he laid eyes on her...
She was gorgeous and she walked with purpose, as if she came from royalty. James stopped in his tracks and gazed across the lunch hall at her. He had never seen such an elegant creature. Her feminine features were accentuated by the perfect, dainty steps she took. He knew that their was something special about this one, something deeper than her beauty...
Maddie had no clue James even existed at this exact point in time. She was innocently, looking for her friends in the crowded lunch hall. As she took her seat and settled into her meal, she took a brief look up at her surroundings. She saw James looking her direction and politely smiled. He smiled back. She looked down at her tray shyly, and thought to herself 'Who is that? He's kinda cute in a chubby, nice, kind of way. But he needs braces' and she proceeded to eat her lunch.
Maddie didn't think about James for the rest of the day. She had more important things on her mind.
Funny thing is, she had no clue she would have James on her mind for the rest of her life...
James knew he had her attention after their brief encounter. He did everything by the book. When she looked, A) he smiled, B) he winked, C) he was wearing his nicest velour, collared shirt. From his perspective all the signs pointed to 'Yes' and he felt good. He thought about his chances of talking to her later on, and he got those butterflies in his stomach that took away his hunger. But, what did he know? He was only 13 at the time.
Now, remember... this was the very first day of Junior High. And the day started like every other 24 hour day. The alarm clock rang and the day began. Everything else was lost in the shuffle, like so many other days that kids spend being kids.
But this day was something more. The day may have had the makings of any normal day, but it wasn't. It was special. For the simple reason that this was the first time Maddie and James were conscious of each others existence in the universe. It was special. For the simple theory that maybe, just maybe... at that exact moment when they saw each other, the moons and planets aligned, the balance of the universe was in equilibrium, and Cupid drew back his bow. James and Maddie didn't know that they were meant for each other at the time. Needless to say... it was a special day
Maddie and James started off their relationship as acquaintances. Then they became friends. Then they became best friends...
They saved seats for each other at lunchtime, in the auditorium, in classes, at sports events...
They passed notes in class ( and never got caught) and studied for AP exams together...
They had sleepovers, made nachos and ate them while watching The OC together...
They went to dances with other people, but always made the effort to save a dance for each other...
They made each other laugh so hard they would cry...
They shared stories about life, while lying under moonlight, starlight, sunlight and sunset together...
They even shared their first real kiss within those high school walls. Band room, 4th period, senior year…
Beginning on that first day in Junior High, James and Maddie have shared an incredible friendship that has transformed into an unbelievable life together.
The pair dated long distance while in college. It's 160 miles from Amherst, MA to Manhattan, NY. The couple spent 4 years writing papers, studying for exams, and reading books, between their routine Skype calls and bus trips to see each other. Senior year of college brought them both to the tropics of Costa Rica. They swam at the beaches of Montezuma and Jaco, experienced bungee jump free-falling together, got sunburned while white water rafting (Pura Vida!), and drank plenty of Imperial beer!
After graduating from their respective Universities they followed their love of sunshine, palm trees, and white sand beaches to South West Florida for a new life together in Fort Myers. They spent plenty of weekends by the pool with friends and digging their toes into the white sand on Captiva and Sanibel Island. They traveled around the state to Tampa, South Beach, the Keys, Orlando, Sarasota, Daytona, and Fort Lauderdale. They watched some of their favorite musicians like Sir Elton John, Journey, Twenty One Pilots, Cake, Grouplove, Pat Benetar, Steve Miller Band, Jay-Z, and Justin Timberlake. But, the winds of change blew strong after 4 years in Florida and changed their fortunes by bringing them to the other side of the country.
After driving 3,200 miles through Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho…
They made it from South West, Florida to the Pacific Northwest and they settled into their new home, Seattle, Washington. They lived in a lively area called Capitol Hill, and worked in the Business district of downtown Seattle. They visited places like Pike Place Market, the Gum Wall, Space Needle, and Columbia Tower. They sailed the Puget Sound, fished for and ate the freshest seafood. They flew across the Pacific to Maui for hiking, swimming, and island adventures. They also made an addition to their family unit. His name is Joey, the 9 lb Yorkshire Terrier, and he arrived on their very first Christmas Eve night spent in Seattle together. As they fell more in love with each other and traveled all over the City, they began making many friends and connections, and saw more of their favorite musicians. Concerts like Zedd, Cherub, Hall and Oates, the Weeknd, St. Lucia, Ellie Goulding, Odesza, and Hozier. Seattle was a great experience and they spent 2 years in Washington State, but the trip didn't end there…
The next, and final stop (so far) is Austin, Texas. Music Capital of the World and a shiny blue sapphire in the middle of the ruby red State of Texas. Three weeks prior to their departure from Seattle to Austin, James would feel those same butterflies he felt on the first day he saw her, as he casually got down on one knee and surprised Maddie in their tiny, one bedroom apartment. He fumbled over his words and tears while he proposed to a very nauseated and hungover Maddie. She had been waiting for him to ask her since the beginning and she was overcome with emotion, but mustered out a teary eyed, and happy "Yes!" Three weeks later they flew down to Texas with clear eyes and full hearts.
Austin, Texas has been a great adventure for them and they are loving their new scenery. The city has many similar features of their previous home, Seattle. They are settling into their new space and enjoying the new activities that Austin has to offer. They have been eating some of the best BBQ in the world from famous joints such as Franklin's, House BBQ, Ironworks, Lamberts, and the Salt Lick. They have been going to see live music at famous places such as the Paramount, Zilker Park, and Stubbs. They have never been more in love than they are today. It is a miracle that they have eachother. Their lives have been a whirlwind, but fortunately they have had each other to hold on to.
Remember when these two first met? It's fun to see how far they have traveled in life. Living in different states, vacationing in different countries. These two have been through a lot together. But, they have always been there, together, for each other. Through the good, the bad, ups and downs. They have been each others biggest supporters. They still have a long way to go, and this is where their story begins…
We are excited to have you all together with us while we tie the knot. It has been a long time coming, and we are grateful to everyone who has watched us and our love grow…
-James