The story of Robert and Abby begins with an incredible first date... But before we get to that we should begin with the story of Robert and the story of Abby.

Robert Lawrence Jacobs was born on July 9, 1988 in Richland, WA to Bob and Mary Jacobs. Growing up in Richland, Robert was surrounded by a large, festive family that included grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended relatives, along with his loving parents and brother. From kindergarten through 8thgrade, Robert attended Christ the King school and then off to Richland High School for the next four years. Family, faith, academics, and sports were paramount aspects of Robert’s youth and this foundation led him to accept an academic scholarship to Gonzaga University. The four years of college in Spokane were spent mostly in the library studying tirelessly, but also making lifelong friendships and taking rigorous notes in Jack & Dan’s for Robert’s future career in the hospitality industry. Following Gonzaga, a year-long MBA program at Loyola Marymount University in LA allowed Robert to further pursue his business studies. A return to Spokane for seven years practicing as a CPA at Moss Adams was next on the agenda. This was followed by a return to Richland where Robert began his career in private business, hospitality, and real estate development.

Abigail Catherine Cybula was born on August 6, 1996 in Syracuse, New York to Dan and Michelle Cybula. At an early age, Abby’s family moved from upstate New York to Salem, OR before relocating to the Skagit Valley in NW Washington State. Growing up on a farm in Skagit, Abby was drawn to equestrian sports and excelled in horseback riding. Transferring to the Bellingham School District for high school, Abby attended Sehome HS where she achieved impressive academic marks and helped lead her team to many state championships in Cross Country. Looking for some sunnier skies, Abby headed south to San Luis Obispo for four years of college at Cal Poly. While at Cal Poly, Abby joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority where she forged extremely close, lifelong friendships with her sorority sisters. Gonzaga University Law School was next on Abby’s journey, and after completing three years of rigorous studies, she graduated and passed the bar exam. Abby remained in Spokane and began her legal career as a patent attorney for Lee & Hayes.

Back to that first date...

Robert was visiting Spokane on a work trip when he met Abby and the two shared a couple of Old Fashioneds at Wooden City in downtown Spokane. From there, the two blossoming love birds walked over to Wild Sage restaurant where they shared a delightful dinner and exchanged stories as they got to know each other personally. Towards the conclusion of dinner, Robert and Abby noticed a young couple walk in and join an older couple for dinner right before closing time in the far corner of the restaurant. Never missing an opportunity to develop a fun story, Robert and Abby began speculating on the backstory of these four strangers. After conjuring up the most logical story (two elderly college professors joining their son for dinner and meeting his new girlfriend for the first time), Robert and Abby decided to send a round of drinks to the table. After attempting to send the drinks over to the table, the waitress pulled Robert and Abby aside and proceeded to inform them this dinner party of four was actually in Spokane filming a move, with the two senior members being the movie directors and the junior couple being blockbuster actress Zooey Deschanel and her co-star Casey Affleck. Unfortunately, the Hollywood crew was not consuming alcohol during the filming schedule, and a bewildered Robert and Abby shuffled out of the restaurant. The evening continued with stops at several other Spokane landmarks including Jack & Dan’s, Star Bar, and the Davenport Peacock Room. Throughout the evening it was apparent there was real chemistry between Robert and Abby, with free-flowing conversation touching on a wide range of topics.

Over the next year Robert and Abby fostered a loving relationship and ultimately Abby and Rigby (world’s greatest dog) left her home in the South Perry district of Spokane and joined Robert in Richland. A few months later the young couple sold Robert’s condo and began remodeling a home in Richland. While the remodel project took significantly longer than anyone could have imagined, Robert and Abby kept themselves busy by expanding their business portfolio, switching law firms, and getting engaged! Yes – engaged! On a surreal trip to the Crazy Woman Mountains in Montana, Robert and Abby visited Izzy (Maid of Honor) at Sweet Grass Ranch where Izzy spent the summer distinguishing herself as Montana’s #1 wrangler. Robert and Izzy had been plotting the proposal logistics for weeks, and ultimately decided on a 27-mile horseback ride to an alpine lake at just over 9,000 feet elevation. Robert is convinced this was Izzy’s final test to see if he was worthy to marry her sister. The ride went off without a hitch and Abby was simultaneously stunned, overwhelmed, and elated – the proposal was truly special in a memorable setting courtesy of Izzy and the horses Judith and Tequila!

From this spectacular week in the mountains of Montana, Robert and Abby returned home to Richland and began planning this wedding that will be an opportunity to celebrate their deep love and admiration of each other. Cheers to a lifetime of love and happiness with family and close friends along for this incredible journey!