The Woodlands at Five Gables

Rehearsal Dinner

Chattanooga Marriott Downtown

Post Toast

The Woodlands at Five Gables Farms

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Reception

Our Wedding

Our story began on a cold, snowy, Saturday in Green Bay, WI. Well actually, our story started earlier that fall when Madi decided to quit her job at the hospital in Knoxville and pursue travel nursing. She accepted a contract in Northern Wisconsin, which was the first of many steps God had in store to allow us to connect. Through 21st century technology Madi and I were able to connect and our first in person date was on a Saturday in December at the restaurant 1919 inside of Lambeau Field. Over a Wisconsin Old Fashioned, Fish Fry, and Spotted Cow, we talked for hours and even braved the cold for a walk around Lambeau. It was safe to say that the first date was successful, as the second date was less than 24 hours later. Through the next couple of months while Madi finished out her contract, we enjoyed as much time as we could together while we were in the same state. We went axe-throwing, watched a few Disney movies (Madi’s favorite), and had game nights. On a Saturday in January, I showed Madi around the city that shares a name with her, Madison, WI. Our Wisconsin adventures included trying out different breweries, braving the cold and even going to a Packer game together. If you ask Madi, this will be her first and last game in January in Lambeau as she still might be warming up. As the calendar turned into 2023, Madi’s contract was winding down and we would enter the long-distance phase of our relationship. In late winter, Madi’s contract was up, and it was time for head back to Knoxville for a few weeks before her next contract. I joined her on her 13-hour drive south, through a Wisconsin snowstorm. They always say that a long road trip is supposed to be the ultimate relationship test, but we crushed it in one day. This road trip and long weekend in Knoxville would cement that we were in this relationship for the long haul and truly had a special connection. I was able to meet a lot of Madi’s friends and family, explore Knoxville, and play some TopGolf. Who knew at that time that Knoxville would someday be the place we both call home and be looking to start a life together with. After that long weekend together, we had decided that we were going to dive headfirst into long distance. Salt Lake City, Utah was the next stop for Madi on her travel nurse journey. Luckily, the weekend before she flew out west, work brought me to Nashville for a meeting and we were able to explore another Tennessee city together before she left. Fortunately, we both love traveling because over the next 12 months we’d spend a lot of time in an airplane. Madi began at the University of Utah Hospital in February for the next 3 months. We continued to FaceTime every night, sent memes, funny videos, and songs we found to each other, which helped make the distance not seem so far. The post-pandemic world has allowed me to work remote for periods of time for my job. I took advantage and scheduled a three-week visit to Salt Lake in late-February and early-March. We always had a countdown of how many days it would be until we would see each other next. Those three weeks in Utah together were an extremely special time. We were the only people we truly knew in the entire city (and lived to tell about it). We spent time exploring coffee shops, breweries and took day trips to some pretty beautiful places. Sadly, I was in a walking boot, so we couldn’t partake in the famous snow activities Salt Lake City has to offer. Someone asked us what we learned about each other after spending that much time together. My answer was that Madi doesn’t exactly love the morning and Madi’s answer was that I would watch any random sporting event I could find on TV. Both are just as true today. Through the spring, we were creative in the trips we took to visit each other. We took a long-weekend trip to Phoenix, Arizona to connect with some friends and introduce Madi to my parents. We enjoyed the sunshine with some hikes, mini-golf and finding new restaurants. Later that spring Madi took a trip back to visit me in Wisconsin. Mother nature had another idea as she got stranded in Minneapolis due to an April snowstorm and I had to go pick her up. Every time that Madi visits Wisconsin the weather is either unseasonably cold or it snows. Some day we will get her to experience a nice day in Wisconsin. This particular trip to Wisconsin allowed Madi to meet my sister and some of my friends at a Final Four party down in Milwaukee. Our relationship continued to grow as we spent a lot of time talking about the future, our shared love for God, and our love to travel. As her contract in Salt Lake City drew to a close, Madi decided it was time to move back closer to friends and family, so she decided to stop traveling and move back to Knoxville. Our long-distance relationship continued to be one filled with travel. I took trips to Tennessee for weddings, graduations and holidays, while Madi took a few trips up to Wisconsin for a couple spring and summer weddings. In June, Madi accepted a job at an infusion clinic in Knoxville and was enjoying being back closer to friends and family. This got my gears going of looking to move down to Knoxville at some point. Throughout the summer and fall our travel adventures continued. We took a weekend to Asheville, NC and visited Biltmore. Madi took me to my first SEC football game with an unforgettable night at Neyland Stadium. We joined the Sexton family on a cruise in the fall, which was another fun adventure. All of these adventures were great, but what stood out to me the most was the “normal days” we were also able to have. When I’d come work for a week we’d make dinner together, go for walks, read on the couch together and go to church on Sundays. These experiences continued to fuel my desire to be in the same city as Madi full time. After an October full of three weddings, including my sisters in Milwaukee, that dream became a reality when I packed up my Green Bay apartment and headed south. Through flexibility of my job I was able to transition to be fully remote and signed a lease in Knoxville in November. At this point, I knew I wasn’t moving to Knoxville to see if things would work about between Madi and I, but that I was moving down to ask Madi to marry me down the road. I cannot emphasize enough the relief it was to be in the same city after months and months of living out of a suitcase anytime we’d be together. We enjoyed our first holidays together and let me tell you, I can get used to warmer falls and winters. Madi joined me back in Green Bay for my company Christmas party in early December and we were back a couple weeks later in Milwaukee for VZ Christmas. This is where I shared with my family that I had recently purchased a ring and planned to propose in the next couple of weeks. New Years Eve 2023. This will be a day that Madi and I remember for a long time. I could not have done this without some massive help from Madi’s friends Kylee and Andrea. Kylee had shared with Madi the plan for a double date, or what Madi thought was Kylee’s plans. We all had brunch at one of our new favorite spots and then went for a hike on a very nice December day in Knoxville. Looking back Madi was wondering why I drank the mimosa so fast at brunch… that was needed to calm the nerves. After brunch we headed to Ijams Nature Preserve for a walk along the river. After walking for awhile Kylee secretly handed me the ring box that was stowed away in her pocket and safe to say I surprised Madi greatly with dropping to a knee and asking to head into 2024 as my fiancé. We were then able to celebrate with friends and family at a brewery just down the road which was surprise #2 for Madi. We then were able to celebrate just the two of us by going out to dinner and ringing in the New Year as an engaged couple. 2024 has been so incredibly good to us as we’ve been able to continue our love for travel and spending time with friends and family. We recently purchased a house in Hardin Valley, a suburb of Knoxville and can’t wait to start our married life in a new home. Looking back on all of the doors that God opened to make us meeting is truly a miracle, and we are so incredibly blessed. We look forward to celebrating with you this November!

Our Story

Photos

Lydia Brock

Andrea Morgan 

Kylee Rochat 

Sara Dajani

Meredith Burns 

Preslie Peacock 

Autum Allen 

Cierra Kreiman 

Kyle Rebholz

Chris Beine 

Bill Jones 

Cal Meyers 

Grant Sexton 

Nathan Burns 

Jason Malkowski

Adam Strube 

Ezekiel Rochat 

Jackson Davis 

Nova McCoig

Wedding Party

Q + A

Any guests attending our wedding has the option to book a room at the Marriott in downtown Chattanooga through our hotel block. Guest should know that staying here is not required it is entirely your choice. However, guests who do book within the hotel block will receive the nightly stay at a discounted rate. We hope this helps and we look forward to celebrating with you!

Travel

Things to Do

Registry

Madison & Benjamin