Derek and Melissa met their sophomore year of college at Southeast Missouri State University. Unfortunately neither one of them really remembers the exact moment they met, they were just always acquainted with each other through mutual friends. Derek was in the same fraternity as Melissa’s friend from high school, and Melissa’s friends (future roomies and bridesmaids – shout out to Katie and Marchay) went to high school with Derek.

Though the exact way they met isn’t known (however there is a pretty believable story about Derek refusing to drive Melissa to taco bell one night when he was Sober Phone), there is one night that really started their relationship off. After spending a wonderful evening at Slingers (Nightclub and Lounge) with friends, Melissa found herself without a ride home. Looking around the room, the only person she recognized was Derek. Derek and his friends graciously agreed to give Melissa a ride to her dorm – conveniently located directly across the street.

That ride turned out to be more adventurous than one might think, but we don’t need to get into that here. The moral of the story is Derek and Melissa spent the rest of the night talking, laughing, and getting to know one another, and the rest as they say, is history.