WE TIED THE KNOT!

How We Met Anthony and I first met at a bonfire during my first year and his second year of medical school in Dothan, Alabama. What started the conversation? A shared love for Jimmy Buffett and the realization that we were both from Southwest Florida. We stayed friends—part of the same close-knit group—even as we all eventually moved from Dothan, some of us heading to Mobile, AL. Somewhere between group hangouts downtown, long conversations, and a lot of life changes, our friendship quietly grew into something more. The Proposal On August 29, 2025, Anthony proposed in Downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina at Cross Creek Park. By pure luck (or perfect planning), we had the entire park to ourselves! —everyone else was at the local Woodpeckers minor league game. It was peaceful and a quiet moment in the middle of a busy season of life…. and an easy “yes!” Fun fact (courtesy of Anthony’s math skills, something I severely lack): we’ve been apart for about 90% of our relationship—proof that distance never stood a chance. It has been tough because I can’t give my best friend a hug when one of us has a bad day, or even simple things like hanging out and watching TV have to happen through a screen or text message. Time was not on our side with Anthony’s continued residency (and soon to be an additional one year of fellowship) training, or my current position with the US Army 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade and an upcoming deployment abroad. The decision came to, “do we try and get married soon, or do we wait another two, three, or even more years?”. We agreed that we didn’t want to wait. The Wedding! We Do! We Did! We Eloped! We tied the knot on January 16, 2026, in Asheville, North Carolina at the Grand Bohemian Lodge, surrounded by our immediate families. It was intimate and unforgettable. It was a beautiful start to our forever together!