We met in May of 2022 in Rome, Italy! We were on a summer-long study abroad program through Auburn. After meeting through mutual friends, we quickly became close during our many adventures in Rome! Some of these adventures included singing karaoke at Scholars, watching Top Gun: Maverick in theaters, swing dancing in Switzerland, and a spontaneous trip to Pisa. For the second half of the summer, our program was held in Madrid, Spain. The feelings began to grow, and the adventures continued. We went to horse races, surfed in Lisbon, began our ongoing bowling competition, ate frozen Reeces with milk every night, and had, what we now jokingly call, our unofficial first date in Seville. We spent everyday together, so by the end of that summer, we were best friends ... but that's all it was ... friends.

We left Europe not knowing that we both had feelings for each other, but Jacob took a leap of faith and asked Natalie on a date ... and the rest is history!

A year and a half later, Jacob proposed at Town Creek Park in Auburn. He brought the porch swing that typically hangs at Natalie's house to the park, and proposed in front of it. This porch swing is where we had our first kiss and said I love you for the first time, so it's very special to us! And we will be taking it with us wherever we go next!

Throughout our relationship, whenever one of us has an eyelash that falls out and we have to make a wish, our wish has always been that our relationship can glorify the Lord in all we do. Now that we are entering into this season of marriage, that statement is more prevalent than ever. Our prayer is that no matter what, our marriage can always give glory to the Lord. That when other people look at us, they don't see Jacob and Natalie; instead they see Christ and His love for the Church.

We ask you to join us in praying for our future marriage and family! Also, we invite you to ask for the intercession of the patron Saints we have chosen for our marriage: St. John Paul II and St. Augustine.

Thank you to all of our family and friends who have made this possible! The Lord has blessed us with the most amazing community, and we are forever grateful!

We look forward to seeing you on March 1, 2025!