Read about our journey...

Bethany and Jesse met at work when Bethany popped into the Golf Shop and requested that the TV be placed on the WEST VIRGINIA game. Jesse followed her comment with "you mean the Texas game?" Bethany immediately said, "welp we're not going to be friends." Shortly after, Jesse made his way to Bethany's desk to ask her if she wanted to join his March Madness bracket. For those that know Bethany, they know she is competitive to a fault, knows her stuff, and doesn't back down. For those that know Jesse, they know he thought this was an easy additional $50 in the pot and the chance to get Bethany's "email"...or cell phone number. As March Madness started, Bethany and Jesse, along with Jesse's brother Zach and friends, started hanging out more. Bethany's bracket also kept winning games and landing her in third place overall. And that's where Jesse knew he was in trouble. From there it's been history in the making, oh and Bethany beating Jesse in his own March Madness brackets and fantasy football leagues :).

After hanging out and spending a lot of time together over four months, Bethany and Jesse realized that they were falling for one another as more than friends. However, they also weren't "official." So, on June 5, 2018, Bethany and Jesse headed out to dinner in downtown Rehoboth Beach. While at dinner, Jesse asked, "So are we gonna do this or what?" Bethany followed with the response, "I mean yea, I thought we already were."

From numerous hikes, West Virginia University, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Milwaukee Bucks and 76ers games, to visiting new cities, finding local dive bars, meeting each others close families and friends, tasting every wing possible, enjoying comfy evenings at home, buying a house to call home, hitting many hikes, starting a garden, and more, Bethany and Jesse have continued to explore life together to the fullest. Jesse was paired in a golf tournament based on Bethany's request, with now, their good friend Andrew Parsell. Bethany knew this golfing relationship would be great, and once she met Andrew's wife Alexis, we all knew that we'd be lifelong friends. In 2022 Alexis and Andrew got engaged and Bethany and Jesse found out they'd be headed to Florence, Italy to celebrate the Parsell's big day in 2023! When friends and family would ask Bethany, "do you think Jesse may propose in Italy?" Bethany would respond "well we've been together for 5 years so there's always the possibility, but no clue." Bethany and Jesse never looked at rings and when Jesse asked Bethany want she wanted she gave him great specifics.... unique, elegant and timeless. LOL

Bethany and Jesse took off to Italy on May 7, 2023 and landed in Italy on the morning of May 8, 2023! They spent their first day in Florence by rubbing the nose and putting a coin in the mouth of the Fontana del Porcellino (bronze pig) for good luck, enjoying a spritz (or a few), eating the best sandwich from All'Antico Vinaio, buying a beautiful ring on Ponte Vecchio (which later gave Bethany's sister a heart attack because Bethany texted her saying "I just got the most beautiful ring"), and having their first pasta dinner with Italian wine. On May 9, Bethany and Jesse headed out around town in Florence and met up with friends. Around 3pm, Jesse said to Bethany, let's head to the hotel bar where Andrew and Alexis are staying some friends are there. They were enjoying some time hanging out with friends at the bar when Jesse said he needed to use the restroom and Andrew offered his hotel room bathroom. Almost 5 minutes later, all of their friends left the hotel bar to get ready for the evening and so Bethany was stuck at the hotel bar by herself....for an hour. As everyone knows, Bethany could talk to a wall so she and the bartenders started chatting about life in the US, Seacrets and more. Bethany sent Jesse a text saying "Did you fall in the toilet?" and shortly after Jesse came to the hotel bar panicked because he realized how long she was there by herself. Jesse wanted to take Bethany up to the butterfly terrace to show her how beautiful it was and with plenty of reluctancy, she followed. When they got to the top, Andrew happened to be outside of the elevator door and kept talking about this terrace. He said you have to get a photo out there, it's gorgeous. So they walked outside to the most beautiful view and Andrew insisted on taking their photo. While Bethany prepped for their photo, she turned around to Jesse on one knee. Bethany blacked out with emotions and came back to it when Jesse said those same, famous words again, "So you want to do this or what?" Words weren't flowing through Bethany until Jesse said "so is that a yes" and all she could do was rapidly shake her head up and down. Andrew ended up getting the entire proposal on video. They FaceTimed their parents, friends and family and enjoyed some champagne together. The entire week they basked in now not only celebrating their two friends but also celebrating their engagement. Bethany and Jesse are now so excited to celebrate this next chapter of love with their family and friends!