Jon and I met while we were both beginning our Coast Guard careers, and from the start, there was something special about our connection. We quickly bonded over our shared Coast Guard experiences and life on the East Coast. Jon had just graduated AST A-School and was stationed in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, while I had just graduated boot camp and was stationed in New London, Connecticut. Not long after, we met in person for our first date at a tiny brunch spot called When Pigs Fly. What was supposed to be a simple brunch turned into an entire day together. Somehow, I made the completely rational decision to get in a car with a guy I had just met and drive an hour to Newport, Rhode Island. Looking back, it sounds a little crazy, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. I knew after that first date that he was different. We clicked instantly, and there was a comfort and familiarity between us that I can't really explain. It felt like my soul already knew his. The rest is history. We spent two years dating long-distance before taking a leap of faith and getting married at a justice of the peace the day before I left for OCS. Since then, life has brought plenty of challenges, but we've faced every one of them together with love, trust, and support. This July 11th marks five years since we said, "I do." While we've always considered that day our wedding anniversary, we wanted the chance to celebrate our marriage in a way that truly reflects us, surrounded by our closest friends and family in one of our favorite places on earth. We couldn't be more excited to finally share this special moment with the people we love most.