In 2017, Chelsea had just opened her Colonial Life agency. In an effort to expand her professional network, she attended the Orlando Young Professionals (OYP) Whiskey Tasting. This event was hosted by the President of the OYP, a well-dressed Financial Advisor, Donovan Ryckis. While Chelsea does not remember meeting Donovan that evening, Donovan recalls a "charming blonde" taking over the room. Thankfully, their paths would cross again months later per the recommendation of Donovan's friend. They met for lunch at an overpriced downtown restaurant where they discussed partnering on Donovan's employee benefits clients. If you know Chelsea, you know she loves the opportunity to prove she deserves a seat at the table and thrives under pressure. During this lunch meeting, she was stumbling over her words, rambling, and overemphasizing her agency's capabilities. Nonetheless, Donovan agreed to give Chelsea access to his clients and unlike any other previous broker partner, refused any compensation splits. This was the first of many moments Donovan proved to be unlike anyone she had ever met. After working a couple of deals together, Donovan invited Chelsea over to his impeccable bachelor pad on the 20th floor of 55 West one afternoon to work and she never left. Seriously, she never left. After two weeks they were living together. After three months they merged their businesses to become a full-service employee benefits firm. At four months they took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Greece and when they got back they found their fur baby, Copious. Copious' name is a mantra they share; you can have as much of anything that you want in life- love, freedom, money, etc if you work for it and believe you deserve it. After one year, they closed the largest deal in their career and were finally able to hire their first employee (and take weekends off). Since their paths crossed 5 years ago, they have not stopped pushing boundaries and working together to build their dream life.

As you probably already know, Donovan and Chelsea enjoy the finer things in life- especially when it comes to food! Before the pandemic, they would have celebratory dinners with a local Chef named Chef Bruno. He would host intimate 5-course dinners with wine pairing that accommodated up to 8 guests. During the pandemic, these types of gatherings were few and far between. In September 2020, Chef Bruno announced he would host a pop-up dinner at "The Heavy" in Winter Park, Chelsea's favorite plant store. Donovan purchased tickets for their first big date out during the pandemic. When they arrived, the tables were spread out unlike ever before and the hostess seemed extra excited to greet them, but Chelsea attributed these oddities to COVID-19. They were sat at a beautifully decorated table in the middle of the plant store. The dinner was incredible, per the usual Chef Bruno experience. After the dessert, Donovan walked over to Chelsea's chair and got down on one knee. Chelsea thought he tripped trying to go to the bathroom and attempted to quickly lift him up to help him avoid embarrasment. He resisted her help and stayed down on one knee, reaching for the ring case in his pocket. To say Chelsea was surprised would be a complete understatement. She was shocked. And not the kind of cute shocked where you are surprised briefly than elated, rather she could not close her mouth and her eyes were bulging out of her head. She did not say a word, just reached for the ring and put it on. Don't worry, all of this was caught on camera by the hidden photographer Donovan coordinated. Eventually, Chelsea closed her mouth and found her words- saying YES, and the plant store turned pop-up restaurant erupted into cheers. The moment was so beautiful (the pictures showcasing the utter shock, not so much).