Kathryn and Jonathan met the modern way - online - but their connection was anything but ordinary. Living 3.5 hours apart, they agreed to meet halfway at a Starbucks in the middle of nowhere. What was supposed to be a simple coffee date turned into a movie, a dinner, and the beginning of something that neither of them wanted to end. From the very beginning, something about them immediately clicked. Effortlessly. It was as if Jonathan and Kathryn had been dropped on opposite ends of the state, and somehow, still remembered how to find each other. Her calm met his spark. His wit met her wonder. And from that unlikely combination, something beautiful grew - something that felt like home and like they've known each other for years. From that day on, they were inseparable. Every weekend, one of them made the drive - sometimes meeting in the middle, sometimes making it all the way - just to spend a couple of days together. They built a relationship on road trip playlists, hotel stays, and late-night phone calls. Over time, they became each other's biggest support - through job changes, hard days, unexpected health journeys, and the loss of loved ones. Somehow, love and laughter were always nearby. Now after clocking hundreds of hours on the road and thousands of little moments that made them sure - they're getting married, and can't wait to celebrate with the people who mean the most.

Love and Happiness. Two things, I would argue, that are essential to a fulfilling life. Those are the same two things that I wasn't exactly sure I'd ever find in my life, and honestly, a part of me was somewhat resigned to that possibility. Then I met the love of my life. Kat is the most giving, caring, compassionate and empathetic person I've met in my life. She will drop everything to help someone she cares about. Kat has been there for me and my family in some of the hardest times of our lives to pick us up, console us and help us heal. She has such strength in her also. When her mom, Anne, passed suddenly in November 2023 I saw a woman carry the weight of a family. She was and is the rock that everyone leaned on to get through one of the most shocking and unfathomable losses someone can endure. She is patient and kind no matter what she might be going through at that particular moment. When I am feeling anxious, she is there to help me calm my nerves. No matter the high or the low, she is there to uplift or celebrate - a true partner who is invested in the you that you are. To be loved by Kat is to be loved wholly. She accepts you for who you are, flaws and all. Her hugs are comfort; her eyes- the most beautiful, deep green (and orange!) forest to get lost in. There is not one second on this Earth that I don't thank my lucky stars that I met this beautiful soul - I love her with every breath I take and every beat of my heart. To think about it even as I type this brings tears to my eyes. It's a love I never thought I would know, never thought I'd live to deserve or experience. I am a better man for knowing her, and a better person for being at her side. I cannot wait to experience the rest of this life together.

Before Jonathan, I had been through relationships that left me doubting myself. Ones that made me question what love was supposed to feel like. I thought maybe I was asking for too much. Then I met Jonathan. Jonathan lived 3.5 hours away and still managed to make me feel more loved, seen, and cared for than anyone who ever lived down the street. Even when he couldn't be there in person, he still found ways to be present and show up for me. During the week, he'd send me dinner, matcha lattes, or flowers through DoorDash, with no occasion other than reminding me I was loved. On the weekends, he'd drive down to see me, plan fun dates for us, and often would stay in my city a few extra nights just so we could have more time. He showed me that love isn't meant to hurt or confuse - it's meant to feel like safety, like laughter on a hard day, like someone who would drive 3.5 hours just be near you. From the very beginning, he listened, showed up, and never made me feel like I had to earn his care. I am so proud of the man he is - not just because he is smart, really funny, and loving, but because of the way he shows up in the world. He is the type of man who will debate movie plots like it's a sport, then spend an hour in Sephora with me, swatching lip colors on his hand. He listens when it matters most, and somehow always knows the exact right thing to say, or the perfect bad joke to make me laugh when I least expect it. He makes the people around him feel safe, seen, and cared for just by being himself. Watching him choose to live every day striving to be at least 1% better than he was the day before and seeing him grow into the man he is today... it makes me feel inspired and lucky. Not just to marry him... but to know him. Some people love the easy parts of you. He loves the whole picture - even the quieter, more protective parts of me. He didn't flinch when love took its time. He just stayed. Jonathan sees me. All of me. And he loves me, not in spite of it, but because of it. Being loved by Jonathan is like remembering who I was before the hurt - and becoming someone even stronger with him by my side.