Caleb & Stefanie met in Atlanta, Georgia in the heart of Midtown on a rainy Monday night, January 13, 2020 to be exact. It was Calebs first day of work with Georgia Pacific & he and his coworkers went to the local Irish pub to watch the national championship game. Stefanie and a group of her friends were also at RiRa watching the Clemson Tigers take on the LSU Tigers. Stefanie was bitter that she was not in New Orleans for the game and trying to make the best of her night out with friends. She already had her trip booked to New Orleans for the big game, as she does in advance every year (Roll Tide).... but it turned out to be a HUGE blessing that she wasn't in attendance. Auburn ended up defeating Alabama in the Iron Bowl that season so Stefanies team didn't make it to the College Football Playoff, but God had something better in store. Stefanie & Calebs groups were sitting right beside each other and Stefanie, doing what she does best, began talking to everyone around her. She came off a little strong at first as she was very energetic and drilling those around her on their football knowledge. Caleb on the other hand, was more reserved and he just set back and listened as Stefanie worked the room. Stefanie quickly learned that Caleb was from Pennsylvania and a Penn State fan, so they had plenty to discuss. During the conversation Stefanie also learned that Caleb and all of his friends were new to town and she offered to help show them around and get them acclimated with the city she had lived in for 7 years. Caleb, although the most shy of the group was the only one that asked for Stefanies number before they went their separate ways, and the rest is history.

A week later Stefanie and Caleb went on their first date to Park Tavern in Piedmont Park. After a great evening exploring Atlanta together, both were eager to see each other again. The week after that was their second date & since then they have been inseparable. Stefanie and Caleb claim that by date 3 and 4 they knew they had found the one. Stefanie was fearful with how quickly things were moving and wanted to take it slow, but those that know Stefanie, know there is nothing slow about her. About one month into their relationship Caleb got reassigned to move to Tacoma Washington, about the same time the global pandemic began to take over the United States (Seattle Washington being the epicenter). Stefanie and Caleb were heartbroken that they only had one more month together before being long distance and weren't sure how the relationship would survive the distance, this early on during the pandemic.

Lots of prayers and lots of tears were shed, but boy did God show up and their relationship survived and thrived. Stefanie and Caleb together took on living in 5 different states in the first year of their relationship; Georgia, Washington, Pennsylvania, Alabama and Maryland...All during Covid-19 (which they both ending up catching towards the end of the year). There were a couple of career changes and moves, that caused setbacks but God remained faithful as Stefanie and Caleb were striving to keep him at the center of their relationship.

Fast forward through A LOT of chaos and a ton of moves around the country, Stefanie and Caleb went to Mexico with their friends for the New Year to celebrate the ending of 2020. On the last night of the trip, January 2, 2021 a year after the couple met, Caleb popped the question. Caleb got down on one knee on the cliffs in Cancun Mexico at sunset, surrounded by friends, it was Stefanies easiest yes to date!

Stefanie and Caleb did the first few months of their engagement long distance. A week after the proposal Stefanies father was diagnosed with prostate cancer. At the time Caleb had just moved to Baltimore, Maryland to start his new job as a safety specialist with the Army at Aberdeen Proving Ground (where Stefanies father once worked as a Military Police). Stefanie was still working remote at the time and was skeptical about being away from family so she stayed in Alabama. Once Stefanies father had his surgery in late March and the results came back positive, Stefanie was more comfortable with leaving her family. The couple was eager to start their lives together and completely exhausted from the long distance, job changes and moving, so Stefanie came to Maryland full time in April, to continue her photography career while Caleb continued his work with the United States Army.

Stefanie and Caleb chose to have their wedding day 364 days after the proposal, January 1, 2022. The date is special to them because it is a symbol of a fresh start and new life together. Stefanies older sister Melanie and her family are stationed in Germany so the date would give a better chance of Stefanie getting her sister home for their big day (fingers crossed). Stefanie and Caleb are looking forward to celebrating their marriage with family and friends and ringing in the new year with their favorite people! The couple is so thankful to God, their families and their friends for the constant love and support and is looking forward to the rest of their lives together!