Ella spent most of her college time independently. She met Jacob through her old roommate, who used to bring him over to help with homework. Ella would observe Jacob, and the two would crack jokes, but nothing more than that. After Ella's first year of college, she decided that what was best for her would be to move back home and work. She spent a year away from Clarksville, TN, and told herself she would never return. Turns out she was wrong! After an unexpected reconnection with a few college friends, Ella attended a fraternity party in the heart of Clarksville. That is when Jacob noticed her. He approached her and asked if she was the girl who always kept her room clean and made her bed in her old dorm room. Ella was shocked, to say the least, that a guy could remember such details. It caught her attention, but not enough to pursue him. Little did she know, Jacob had other plans in mind. After exchanging contact information at the party, Jacob reached out to Ella a couple of weeks later. He asked her to attend his fraternity formal with him in Gatlinburg, TN. This meant Ella would be in a ginormous cabin with multiple other couples she didn't know, and someone she knew very little about. The first answer she gave Jacob was no. Knowing Ella, you can probably see her hesitation in saying yes. Jacob never gave up, though. He asked her a second time, and her second response was, "I'll think about it." She gave it some thought for almost two months, then finally, one of her best friends informed her she was attending the formal with Jacob's best man, Hunter Ellis. She told Ella, "If I go, you have to go," so Ella finally gave Jacob the answer he was hoping for. When preparing for the trip to Gatlinburg, Ella told me she was going as a friend, nothing more than that. But what a blessing it was that God had other plans. Over their extended first date in Gatlinburg, TN, Ella and Jacob fell in love. Jacob showed Ella the love she always wanted and knew she deserved. Ella kept her walls up, but Jacob broke them down so gracefully and beautifully. Ella came back from Gatlinburg head over heels for Jacob, and since then, their love has never wavered. I am confident their love will last a lifetime! On behalf of Ella and Jacob, we are honored to have you join their special day to watch the two of them become one. With love, Angie Whinnery Mother of the Bride