Memorial Day Weekend 2018. Daytona Speedway. Country Music Festival. Jacob and I both planned separate weekends with our best friends and met Saturday night just as Chris Stapleton was about to hit the stage. It didn’t matter that he lived in Denver and I lived in Jacksonville, all I knew was this moment almost made me believe in love at first sight. We exchanged numbers, hung out the next couple days, and when the weekend came to a close both of us left with a promise that we would cross paths again.

After keeping in touch for the next two months, I bit the bullet and bought a flight to Denver for the weekend. The rest is history. We flew back and forth monthly, never cancelling a trip or missing a month. Each time he came to Florida we visited St. Augustine, which has become our favorite city for many reasons. We made a tradition of spending each New Year’s Eve there, our first year together there he told me he loved me.

Nearly a year later, I was offered a job in Denver and moved to Colorado in 2019. We have now spent over 4 years together in Denver, 5 years together in total and our lives have fit seamlessly together. In 2021 we added our Corgi, Benny to our little family; he gives us endless love, laughter and entertainment.

Finally, this past New Year’s Eve, we were in St. Augustine when Jacob asked me to marry him. We walked over to the Fort, he got down on one knee and said “Four years ago we were here and I had something very important to tell you. Today we are here and I have something very important to ask you.” Thinking about it today still gets me a little teary-eyed.

As Jacob and I met completely by chance and come from different parts of the country, we have chosen Missouri as our central wedding location. Blending his family from Illinois, mine from Florida and our friends from Colorado. We look forward to celebrating with you!

- Anna