Most bad stories start at a bar... our good story started there. No one ever thinks they're going to find the person they are going to marry while out for a casual night of drinking, but there he was - in the right place at the right time. Adam and I immediately hit it off when we met at Lemon Bar, and spent the evening laughing and talking while getting to know each other. We ended our first date together at Top Golf where Adam really got to see how bad my golfing skills are... but decided I was worth a shot anyway! That first night set us up for a month of random dates, fun adventures and new experiences! December 9th, 2018 will always hold a special place in the story of our relationship- it was when Adam worked up the courage to ask me to officially be his girlfriend; while walking around Saint Augustine at the Night of Lights! It was the perfect beginning to a wonderful story we were starting to write. Our adventures continued from there... from Denver to New York; from Mexico to the Grand Caymans... exploring new places with Adam is never a dull time. And now we have a lifetime to make more memories that we will both cherish forever!
For years, I always knew the "how" for my engagement story, but it took me 28 years to find the "who". Never simple, my plan included a multi-leg scavenger hunt around town with highlights from our first stories together. But I needed help, so I called in a few of our married friends to act as checkpoint guides. Lauren and Chris Cherry greeted Ashley with a "car breakdown" outside of Veteran's Memorial Arena, where we shared a few of our first dates and our first kiss together at a Jacksonville Icemen hockey game (Ashley likes to sit right on the glass by the way). From there, it was a quick drive to Top Golf, where we ended our first date. Johnny and Meda Gibison met Ashley (and Lauren, the unplanned but hilarious tagalong), giving her the final clue to make her way to Lemon Bar, where we first met. There, Ashley was greeted by Kirsten and Stephen Hand with a Beaches Lemonade (her favorite drink) and directions to the beach, where I was anxiously waiting with the biggest four-word question I've ever said in my life. Of course, you all know her answer, and here we are today!