How We Met Our story officially began during junior year at Tulane University, amidst the vibrant celebrations of Mardi Gras 2020. Though we had been crossing paths at mutual friends' gatherings for years, it wasn't until this festive time that we truly connected. It wasn't love at first sight, but a memorable moment stands out: Russell, in his classically goofy fashion, asked me to guess how many saltine crackers he could fit in his mouth. This led to him accidentally spitting crumbs all over the table in front of me…and in my face. It was hilariously unforgettable. During Mardi Gras, Russell messaged me, asking if we could meet up for a parade. Instead of this, he joined my college friend group for the challenge of Tequila Sunrise. This simple message led us down the path of the longest first date I had ever been on. We stayed up all night with friends, creating hourly challenges to stay awake, having dance parties, and playing truth or dare. Our night culminated in jamming out to the Beatles and walking three miles to watch the sunrise at The Fly in Audubon Park. The Journey Our relationship faced challenges early on, as COVID-19 caused Russell to move back to Kentucky for a while. Despite the distance, we supported each other through it all, and upon his return, we shared countless moments full of laughter and joy. Over the years, we've loved traveling together, with memorable vacations to Europe, Gulf Shores Alabama, Kentucky, Colorado, and Virginia with family and friends. Last year, we welcomed an adorable puppy into our family, Andouille Audubon Stafford-Scaife, who has challenged us and brought more love and happiness than we could have ever expected. Throughout our time together, Russell has supported me in my pursuit of a doctorate in clinical psychology, and now I am ecstatic to return his kindness, and support Russell in his pursuit of a medical degree at LSU. The Future We are filled with excitement and anticipation, not only for our wedding day but for the years to come. We take pride in celebrating and taking vows to remain committed and loving supporters of one another for the rest of our lives. We are also blessed to have such a wonderful community of friends and family who will hold us accountable to remembering the beautiful journey we've shared and help us cultivate an equally beautiful future together. Our Gratitude We want to express our deepest gratitude to all our friends and family who have supported us before we knew each other and who have shaped us into the people we have become. Your love and encouragement have been instrumental in our journey. We also want to honor those who are no longer with us but who would have loved to witness our marriage and life together. We miss these special people dearly and hope that throughout our celebration, our community can take a moment to remember those we've lost, who showed us the kind of love we hope to bring forward in our relationship with each other. Thank you for being a part of our story. With love, Destiny & Russell