Like most great love stories, Brett and Sara’s starts with Uncle Tim. From across the room at Uncle Tim’s wedding, Sara spotted Brett and asked her Dad who he was. Having met him the week before, Jeff knew Brett as his dear friend Tim’s nephew and immediately hatched a scheme to introduce the two. He sidled away as they started talking and neither of them seemed to notice as they didn’t stop talking til Sara had to leave for work around 6 AM the next morning. Between the reception, after party and cab ride to Bretts family’s Airbnb, they learned Sara was a world class bartender, overly competitive volleyball player, unfamiliar with most movies and terrified of spiders. Brett was also a bartender (two whole months), had seen probably too many movies, loved making Sara laugh, and tragically was moving to Florida in 24 hours.

But a new job, unaccommodating schedules and 847 miles wouldn’t be enough to keep them apart. Brett stopped in Columbus on the move down to Florida with everything he owned in the back of a rented pickup truck. Their second date was coffee and bagels in Sara’s living room before Brett drove the rest of the way to Florida. As he was pulling out of her driveway, he was already planning how to get back, and never having to leave again.

Over 3 years they dated long distance, never going more than a month without seeing each other. Every spare moment was spent on FaceTime, scrolling through text messages from all hours of the day and streaming movies together from miles apart (they watched 100 in the first year. A list Sara maintains to this day). Every airport pickup was filled with eager anticipation and every airport drop off with tears.

Holidays were precious times to spend together, so their loved ones accommodated. Brett’s family became Sara’s and Sara’s Brett’s. Sara travelled for work opening restaurants around the country and Brett would tag along wherever and whenever he could, even if the only time they could spend together were the few minutes between Sara coming home and Brett falling asleep.

So when Sara got a day off during a restaurant opening in Las Vegas, Brett saw an opportunity. He surprised her with a helicopter ride from the Vegas strip to the Grand Canyon. When they landed, he followed her to edge of a cliff where Sara wanted a picture of the two of them. With a crippling fear of heights, he clung to her palm tightly with one hand and with the other, he held even tighter the engagement ring he was carrying.

Even now, making their home together in Columbus, every goodbye is still teary and every welcome home is euphoric. They became best friends despite years and miles apart. But from the moment they first laughed together at Jan & Tim’s wedding, it was never a question of “if” but “when”.

We’re so happy and honored for you to join us for the when (November 2nd) to celebrate two people eternally grateful to fate for bringing them together and to each and everyone of you for helping them stay that way.