Some love stories start with a chance encounter. Ours started in our own backyard. Colby and I met when we were young. I was just 12, and he was 14 and my brother’s best friend, which meant he was around constantly. At the time, he was the cute older boy who hung around the house, making everyone laugh and probably eating all of our snacks. What he didn’t know was that I had the biggest crush on him. It started as that sweet, innocent kind of schoolgirl crush, but even back then, there was something special about the connection we shared. As the years went by, we grew up side by side. We were always in each other’s lives, always drawn to one another in a way that neither of us could really explain. Our friends and family saw it long before we did everyone knew that someday, somehow, it was going to happen. They just didn’t know when. Eventually, we realized what everyone else already knew: it was time. And once we finally decided to give our relationship a chance, everything just clicked. That moment finally came one summer afternoon at my grandfather’s place, The Pope Launch & Tavern, during my brother’s graduation party. Colby was sitting down, and I walked up to him and said, “What are we doing? Are we doing this or not?” That was it the start of us. From that day on, we were inseparable. Colby says he was first drawn to my personality (and maybe my blue eyes). He loved that I could make him laugh and that we just fit. For me, it was his adventurous outlook on life the way he saw the world and the way he cared for me. He made everything feel exciting, safe, and full of possibility all at once. From the very beginning, it felt like we’d known each other forever, and in a way, we had. Over the years, we’ve built a life full of laughter, adventure, and countless memories not just with each other, but with our two dogs, Ruby and Rusty. They’ve been by our side through every adventure, every road trip, every lazy Sunday morning, and every big milestone. They’re a huge part of our little family and bring so much joy to our everyday life. Our relationship was tested early on when Colby was injured in a serious motorcycle accident. It was a scary, uncertain time, but it showed us something profound that love isn’t just about the fun, easy moments. It’s also about standing by each other through the hard ones. We faced “for better or for worse” long before there were vows, and through that experience, we learned just how strong our love really was. We grew closer, stronger, and even more sure that we were meant to be together. From there, life just kept getting better. We’ve built a relationship full of laughter, adventure, and countless memories with our friends and families. If you know us, you know we love to have a good time. We’re always surrounded by people we care about, always on the go, always finding new ways to make every day feel like a celebration. That’s just who we are we live life big, loud, and full of joy. So when it came time to plan our wedding, we knew one night just wasn’t enough. We didn’t want a quick celebration that ended as soon as it began we wanted a full-blown experience. We wanted our closest family and friends together, not just for a few hours, but for an entire week of fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories. That’s how we landed on our destination wedding in Mexico. Sunshine, sand, and margaritas a perfect mix of romance and nonstop good vibes. We wanted this week to be more than a wedding; we wanted it to be a celebration of love, family, friendship, and everything that’s brought us here. We’re beyond excited to share this next chapter of our story with all of you to dance, laugh, and toast to forever surrounded by the people who have loved and supported us from the very beginning. We can’t wait to celebrate in paradise with everyone who helped make our love story what it is today. Because at the end of the day, our story has always been about love, laughter, and never wanting the party to end.