it's happening

All gathering restrictions in Virginia have been lifted. That being said, Covid-19 is still a thing (Delta-varriant, we see you). If you are unvaccinated, we request that you wear a mask for the safety of our guests (honor system please!). And if you are vaccinated, we invite you to mask up if you wish. Weather-permitting, we are planning for our ceremony and reception to take place primarily outdoors.

Welcome to our wedding website! Here you will find details about the weekend of the wedding, learn more about our story, and see photos of us through the years of our relationship. We'll do our best to keep it updated with all you need to know before September of 2021. We're so glad you're here, and we can't wait to celebrate with you soon!

It was a Wesley Foundation tradition (at least at UVa) to have dinners all together on Thursday nights. After the first dinner of the 2014-2015 school year, Matt, at the start of his fourth year at UVa, was in what would later become his natural habitat: the kitchen cleaning dishes. Matt was the music director and was desperately in need of a piano player. Jacqui and Aaron (members of the Burksour Bunch) had just graduated and he was now in a little over his head - the thought of leading all of worship with just a ukulele was making him nervous. Alli, at the start of her first year at UVa and brand new to Wesley, had heard of Matt's need for a piano player and walked in to the kitchen. "Are you Matt?" Alli asked. Matt dropped the sponge. He could feel that certainly he was in the presence of musical genius. Matt knew who she was at once, having already heard of Alli and her musical talents from Wesley alumni who had been present when she played the flute at Wesley Memorial UMC in 2011(ish) and brought the house down. It helped that she also looks exactly like Jenny, her older sister and Wesley alum. Alli also already knew of Matt, in fact. It was common for Wesley students to write letters to incoming UVa first year students that are known Methodists, and Matt had written Alli's letter. Alli asked Jenny if she knew of this Matt guy, and Jenny described him as "the goofy blond kid who plays the ukulele." This was true. "Yes! Are you Alli?" Matt asked. She was. And she did play the piano.

Matt and Robert (also of the Burksour Bunch) hosted a Halloween party that fall. Matt found himself looking to Alli first to see if she was laughing at his jokes. Alli remembered hoping the seat next to Matt wasn't taken. (It wasn't). Later next spring, Alli and Matt happened to have a class together. At first, they didn't know. Alli spotted Matt walking out, and hollered after to say hello. Sometimes they'd save a seat for each other. But every day after they walked home together. They also "happened" to be on the exact same episode of Friends. At that point, it just made sense to watch together. The routine then became: go to class, go for a run (Alli was training for her first half marathon and needed a friend), watch Friends. There was never really a moment when they were all of a sudden dating. But April 9th was the first time they went out. They went to the Downtown Mall, played chess at Mudhouse, came home, and watched Wreck-It Ralph. Well, Matt did. Alli fell asleep. This was indeed a harbinger of movie-watching experiences to come.

The setting was Skyline Drive. The leaves were at peak fall. Dear reader, it was totally 100% planned that way. Alli woke up from a nap in the front seat of the car. Matt focused intently on the podcast, trying not to give away the surprise. The hike began. After a leisurely 10 minutes of hiking, Matt proposed.... an idea: Matt: "Sit by the waterfall for a minute?" Alli: "We've been hiking for 10 minutes... and we've been sitting in the car for 3 hours." Matt: "....." Matt sat. Eventually Alli joined. Matt pulled out the snacks, in case the ring would not be enough. Matt also pulled out a letter because he wanted whatever he said to be coherent. They had the whole waterfall to themselves. Matt got on one knee. Alli said "Yes!" And here we are. Friends, it's happening!