We’re getting married!

We met in the summer of 2021 — and yes, believe it or not, it was through Facebook Dating and not another app you might be thinking of. We’re so lucky Chris didn’t let Connor’s bad texting skills stop him. He took the initiative and asked Connor out right away — no wasting time here! Our first date was at Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen, one of Chris’s all-time favorite spots. He figured even if the date ended up being a dud, at least he would get a good meal out of it, but honestly, we clicked immediately. Our order was exactly the same then as it is to this day: alligator cheesecake, Rita’s chicken, and hurricanes to wash it down. We talked for hours, and the conversation was effortless. We didn’t want the night to end, so we made our way to Tactical Brewing Co. to keep the fun going. At the time, Connor was in the middle of moving into a house in Winter Park with his good friend Thomas. Chris had just started the chaotic but fun adventure of owning a new puppy, Cyrus, who wasted no time chewing through all of Connor’s things. Connor knew Chris must be someone special because he was willing to stick through all the puppyhood madness! Connor has been an amazing step dad — and, let’s be honest, the favorite human — ever since. We quickly settled into a rhythm. Since Chris was new to the area, Connor was excited to introduce him to all his Orlando friends. He was thrilled to see how easily Chris fit in with everyone! Chris returned the favor and threw Connor in the deep end to meet his entire family about a month into dating. Seeing Connor blend so well with his family is when Chris knew Connor was someone special — and his family could see it too! We spent our early time together enjoying simple things like date nights at The Coop in Winter Park (we will never emotionally recover from its closing), walks with the dogs at night on the golf course, and always finding whatever parties or events were going on because, let’s face it, we can never sit still for long. After Thomas beat us to the marriage finish line, we moved in together. It was another huge step forward in our relationship, and further intertwining our lives together helped our relationship grow even stronger. From Alaska to Puerto Rico, Michigan to Paris and Rome, and a few cruises along the way (Chris is still trying to convince Connor this is the peak way to travel), we’ve been fortunate enough to travel the world together. During our trip to Paris, Chris was certain that Connor would propose, but let’s be honest — planning surprises isn’t exactly Connor’s forte. After we returned, Chris enlisted our friends Danielle and Sergio to convince Connor to join them for a new beer release at the same brewery where we had our first date. There, Chris gave Connor a lock for the gazebo near the brewery, explaining that it was because we hadn’t had the chance to leave a love lock on the bridge in Paris. As they locked it together, Chris told Connor that he wanted to bring him back to this spot — the place where they went when they didn’t want their first date to end — because now, he didn’t want their life together to end. We complement each other perfectly — Chris is the introvert that is always ready for a good time, and Connor is the extrovert who loves a good night at home. Our relationship is built on that perfect balance. And though sometimes we already feel like an old married couple, we’re so excited for this next phase of our lives. There’s so much more ahead. We can’t wait to continue growing together as we move into this next chapter as a married couple, and we are so honored to have all of you beside us.