We're getting married!

In 2020, Jamie and Brody met amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Brody, a firefighter, and Jamie, an EMT, first locked eyes in the Emergency Department at Alexandria Hospital. Brody frequently brought patients to the hospital, seemingly more than usual if Jamie was working. After weeks of playing hard to get, Brody relented and let Jamie give him her number. Their first date was meant to be just ice cream, but it turned into an hours-long walk around Old Town Alexandria. From that day forward, they were inseparable. Their love continued to grow, only becoming stronger by the minute. Together they shared countless adventures—a birthday road trip during a gas crisis, a spontaneous trip to the beach to see a sunrise, a trip to Hawaii where everyone (parents included) thought they were getting engaged, their first family beach trips together, Christmas in Williamsburg spent playing the infamous card game Nuts, and quiet nights in, all adding to the story they were writing side by side. If you saw one, the other was not far behind. Finally, in September 2024, after months of planning, Brody proposed to Jamie where they had their first date: the Old Town Alexandria waterfront. Brody ever-so-sneakily convinced Jamie they were going to brunch with friends. He led her to the park they had walked through the first time they got ice cream together. All the while, their friend was hiding behind parked cars, camera in hand, waiting for the big moment. Finally, when Brody got Jamie right where he wanted her, a tourist was in the way and he had to improvise. In the meantime, Jamie had secretly spotted their friend but didn’t have the heart to say anything. Once the coast was clear, Brody led Jamie to the water’s edge, got on one knee, and asked her to marry him…with the ring box upside down. With tears in her eyes, she laughed, flipped the box over, and said, "Yes!!!". Jamie and Brody have a genuinely unique love. Whether they are out with friends, inside on a rainy Tuesday, or hours away on a chaotic family trip, they are simply happy to be in each other’s presence. Through it all, they have found joy in each other, their love growing stronger with each passing day. Just when they thought they might have some free time between work, school, wedding planning, summer trips, and friends’ weddings, they made an addition to their little family. She has four legs, two pointy ears, and her name is Nova. Jamie and Brody brought Miss Nova Shark into their home in March 2025, and they have grown to love her the same way they love each other: eternally—with laughter, frustration, and the occasional yelling. Jamie and Brody are beyond excited to spend their big day with all of you. Each one of you has made an impact in their lives, and they are honored to have you here to celebrate the next chapter in their love story!