Although it feels like we've loved each other for forever, we do actually have a beginning...

We were both in the same friend group for over a year before ever meeting each other. Our friend group was a combination of multiple different friend groups that had merged together over the course of freshman and sophomore year of college, so the group chat name was eventually called "Literally Everyone." One night sophomore year of college, a couple people wanted to get wings at Primanti Bros., but most people didn't have cars. Tanner and our friend Josh (hey Josh) ended up being the only two to offer to drive, but almost 15 people showed up to go get wings. Josh had left once his car was filled, and Tanner then had everyone pile into his car (including me, hi mom) since it was only a couple miles away. Unfortunately, there was a police traffic checkpoint on the only road to get to the restaurant that night. The cop shined a flashlight in and immediately said, "how many people do you have in here?" to which Tanner said, "honestly sir, I have no idea." The cop made Tanner pull over and unload his clown car, and the rest is history!

Junior year rolled around and so did our 21st birthdays, only two weeks apart! We both turned 21 before most of our friends. We had started a new group chat, "Literally Everyone who's 21." It started with about 5 people, and we started hanging out more because of this group chat. A couple of months went by and we went on our first date (I didn't know it was *actually* a date) to his housing group's fall party at a corn maze. We played carnival games and invented the best dessert to date: a s'mores donut sandwich. A couple of weeks later, I was diagnosed with Lupus and left for home with his jacket.

More time went by and we were getting closer and closer, until eventually Tanner had totaled his car over Christmas break in late December of 2019. I was one of the first people he had told and we realized how much we cared about each other. Within 2 weeks of being back on campus, Tanner had asked, "Girlfriend?" and I could only laugh at him, so I told him I had to think about it. A week later, I asked him, "Boyfriend?" and we were official!

All while this was going on, whispers of Covid-19 started to emerge, and we began having more serious conversations. We both had life-changing events happen to us individually and another life-changing event was about change everything. Only a month after starting our relationship, we were sent home from school and began a long-distance relationship from March-August. We didn't see each other at all for over two months.

Senior year rolled around and we were getting settled into our relationship. I went to his baseball games and he came to my golf matches. In March of 2021, I received a job offer in D.C. and I decided to take it. After graduation, I moved to D.C. and Tanner later got a remote job and moved as well.

Tanner proposed in February of 2023 on the Lincoln Memorial (my favorite spot to watch the sunset). After two years of making life-long friendships in a new city and incredible memories, I decided to accept a job in Florida. We both made the move to the sunshine state and decided to also get married here while we begin our lives together.

We've had a lot of curveballs in our years together and can't wait to see what God has in store for us next! To say we are excited is a complete understatement. We chase adventure and this is the biggest adventure yet! We are so grateful to have each and every one of you as witness to the start of our lives becoming one!

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Courtyard by Marriott Stuart