Our story begins in the fall of 2018. We were both enrolled at Florida Gateway College, working toward our AA degrees, and ended up taking video game development courses to fill some electives. At the time, we had no idea the other even existed.

One of our biggest assignments was a group project to create a board game. Our group decided on a quirky spin-off of The Game of Life—only this time it was The Life of a Video Game Designer! (Don’t worry, I’ve included our poorly drawn game board for your entertainment… 😉).

That assignment is where Jeremy and I officially met. We wound up in the same group, and since we were both pretty shy, we mostly stuck to project talk. After all, it was a team full of socially awkward gamers—what more could anyone expect? Still, even then, I secretly had a little crush.

What a masterpiece... 😂

By our final semester at FGC in Spring 2019, Jeremy and I had begun texting regularly and forming a sweet friendship—the kind that so often blossoms into something more. On the very last day of the semester, he came to sit beside me at my computer. My heart raced with nerves I couldn’t quite explain.

After some light conversation and our goodbyes to classmates and professor, he offered to walk me to my car. 🥰 It felt like such a simple gesture, but so meaningful. Though he didn’t ask me out right then (his nerves got the best of him!), he did later that evening over text. 😂 And truthfully, I couldn’t have been happier.

At last, it was time for our very first date—and I was sweating bullets! I was so nervous that eating a full meal was out of the question, so I suggested we keep it simple with a coffee meet-up. Did I actually get coffee? Of course not. Instead, I ordered a green tea because I was so anxious I thought I might get sick!

However, I had nothing to worry about—Jeremy and I’s chemistry was undeniable from the very start. We were falling for each other fast. So fast, in fact, that he kissed me on our very first date! 🤭 From that moment on, it felt like we were unconditionally and irrevocably in love(iykyk).

PS: Yes, Starbucks spelled his name wrong that day, and yes, I still call him “Jemery” every now and then just to annoy him. 😉

Early in our relationship, Jeremy gave me a gift that ended up meaning so much more than either of us realized at the time. Inside was a sweet card, a little otter stuffed animal, and a pair of socks. The card read...

"Thank you Madison for always being there for me when I needed you. You mean the world to me, I love you, and you'll always be my Significant Otter

- Jeremy"

Over time, the otter theme kept popping up in small meaningful ways. What started as a cute surprise slowly grew into a special part of our story…🦦🤎

The day after my birthday, Jeremy had planned a very special date for me—I knew it was in celebration of my birthday, but I had no idea where we were going! (We were supposed to go on my actual birthday, but car troubles pushed the plans back a day.) I couldn’t shake the strong feeling that today might be the day he was going to ask me to marry him.

On the drive there, part of the surprise slipped out, and I learned we were heading to the Tampa Aquarium! I was beyond excited—I had always dreamed of going on a romantic aquarium date and live out my dreams from Josie in Josie and the Pussycats Movie

The otter exhibit was one of the very first things we came across, which felt extra special. 🦦 What I didn’t know at the time was that Jeremy had actually searched through so many aquariums in Florida to find one that had otters—he knows how symbolic they are to us.

Not long after we stopped to watch them, he asked me to marry him!!! 💍 I was so nervous because there were a few people around, but somehow no one even noticed what was happening! 😅 So there was no clapping or cheering, just this perfectly intimate little moment between us.

After the excitement, we got to walk through the rest of the aquarium as a newly engaged couple, taking it all in with big smiles and a few happy tears. 🐠✨ It felt so special to slow down and just enjoy the moment together.

Once we left, we grabbed some delicious lunch from a nearby food stall and then headed home. Later that evening, we popped a bottle of champagne and celebrated in the most “us” way—over dinner and video games. 🎮🥂

It was simple, sweet, and absolutely perfect. 🤍

This day will forever be one of our favorite memories, and now the real adventure begins—planning our wedding and building a life together. We’re so excited for this next chapter and can’t wait to celebrate with all of you when the big day arrives!