Satterfields in bloom

Like their many adventures together, Deneen and Justin’s journey from friends to fiancés is anything but linear. Despite living in the same dorm as freshman at the University of Pittsburgh and even on the same floor as sophomores, the soon-to-be newlyweds seemed to orbit around each other for the remainder of college and over the next 10 years before their love story began. With the help of their wide circle of friends and their shared paths as engineers, a series of chance encounters would bring Deneen and Justin closer, beginning when they met after studying abroad with the same program in different South American countries. It was on this trip that Deneen met Justin's roommates who would ultimately introduce them during their sophomore year, creating a new friend group and starting their relationship, as friends. After many trips with the friend group over time, the couple went on their first trip alone in 2019 to a friend’s wedding in Pittsburgh. On this road trip from their home state of Maryland, Deneen agreed to share the drive, so she met Justin in Baltimore while he drove to Pittsburgh and back. In one of their few moments one-on-one, they began to share inside jokes, secrets, and laughter. Unsure of where these fun memories would carry them, the pair continued, as friends. Shortly after their trip, Justin came to DC for Deneen’s 29th birthday bar crawl. When Deneen saw Justin she ran into his arms to greet him. Jayde couldn’t help but notice the ease with which they caught up and how they appeared to be in their own little world that night. Witnessing their undeniable chemistry, Jayde devised a plan to invite Justin the next time Deneen visited her in Baltimore. Deneen agreed that she would play it cool. Anyone who knows Deneen knows that she is not great at playing it cool. When it was time to carry out their plan, Justin, confused by her behavior, asked why she was being strange. In that moment Deneen confessed that she indeed had a crush, and the couple ultimately shared their first kiss. Thus, their journey as more than friends began. Unsurprisingly, for a couple that loves to celebrate, their early milestones progressed through the holidays. By Thanksgiving they had gone on several dates, entered the New Year as an exclusive couple and were planning their next group trip for 2020. They commuted from Baltimore to DC several times a week, never expecting what would come next. While the world struggled with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing could not keep Deneen and Justin apart. It actually brought them together and they no longer needed to commute. As their love for each other grew, so did their support and communication with each other. This was necessary to ease the stress of moving in together, the many home repairs that followed, navigating loss while remembering and honoring the memory of loved ones, and creating a home to babysit the new members of their blending and growing family. Throughout the summer Deneen and Justin found themselves bonding over playing 2-player board games, going on long walks, discovering new television shows, celebrating milestones, experimenting with new arts and crafts projects while simply taking comfort in the quiet moments they shared together. Surrounded by the support, love, and friendship of their cherished community, the couple looks forward to a lifetime full of adventure together and celebrating this new chapter of their love story with each of you.