We've decided to hold a private marriage ceremony beforehand at the District of Columbia Courthouse. For this event, think reception and party to celebrate our marriage! The event is indoors and will have dinner, drinks, and dancing. We can't wait to spend time with those closest to us and celebrate.

The RSVP deadline has passed. If you need to make any changes, please let us know at your earliest convenience.

First and foremost, thank you for being in our lives. If you are here, you are truly special to us and we value you so much. Secondly, thank you for being firm supporters of our relationship–especially in a world where we are taught that love can only look a certain way. To that, we say: WE'RE GETTING MARRIED! As of August 3, 2024, we will be just shy of 11 years knowing each other. We met at Florida State University as graduate students in the Higher Education Masters Program (Eddie being a second-year, Ben being a first-year). While we started out as friends coming from very different walks of life, we found interest in our differences and built bonds in our similarities. Within a few weeks, butterflies would form and friendship would turn into a budding love. Eddie said "I love you" first...100% by accident...and left Ben speechless, with his mouth opened and eyes the size of golf balls, in the parking lot as he ran back to his apartment in a frenzy. But...it was true. We made it "official" on October 4th, 2013 and our relationship continued to grow–both learning what it was like to be loved fully, and loved in this way, for the first time in our lives... Both navigating and unpacking what we had learned growing up versus what was true to us. Florida State was a beautiful time in our relationship and left us with so many memories that will last a lifetime–Eddie got Ben a FSU painting for his birthday in 2023 that has a Westcott Brick reading "May our future be as happy as we were here..." Ben graduated from FSU, where Eddie had been working post-graduation for a year, and moved back to Athens to work at the University of Georgia, his alma mater. Five months later, Eddie joined Ben in Athens. We started building a life and career, living together for the first time in a beautiful townhome where Annabel was soon welcomed into the fold. Though deeply tumultuous & gut-wrenching, we entered a long distance relationship to allow both of us to follow the paths that were best for us at the time – Eddie pursuing a new work opportunity & Ben pursuing his doctoral degree. We both wanted what was best for each other, even if it wasn't in the same place. We hoped that when we came back together, we would be stronger than ever, even in the midst of the challenges distance presented. In that time, Ben was able to build a life that he loved in Athens - rediscovering a community he thought he knew inside and out, nurturing holistic wellness practices, and shaping his identity as a scholar and expert in his field. In the midst of unanticipated obstacles his new career move, Eddie gained several enriching professional experiences which, ironically, set him up to get back to exactly where he wanted to be again (which also had much promise for Ben's career): Washington, D.C. In July of 2021, we reunited after 3 years of being long distance! Ben had just finished his doctoral coursework and was able to score a DC fellowship while he wrapped up his dissertation, laying the groundwork for his current career path. Although it never felt like "our futures would be as happy as they were at FSU," we did it. And we did it together. Stronger than ever. We LOVE our life in the DMV–it has opened up so many doors for us personally and professionally as we continue to build our lives together. On December 1, 2024, Ben surprised Eddie with a very beautiful, intimate proposal at home with a fantastic evening planned to celebrate. It was perfectly–us. We cannot wait to see what adventures this new phase of our relationship will bring, even in this crazy, unpredictable, chaotic world. All we know is that we have each other... And that is all we need.