I DO PART II

Erin and Jackson initially met on a dating website, they exchanged messages back and forth for a few days, and as the chat window was closing Jackson sent his phone number in hopes of keeping the connection going. Erin texted him back the next day, and they set up a first date. After the first date, Erin texted Jackson multiple times, but he was busy at work (it was the end of a fiscal year) and he forgot to text back. After Jackson got a text asking if he was still interested Erin and Jackson planned their second date, and the rest is history!

Eventually Erin invited Jackson to the studio she shared with her dog, Katherine. Jackson was warned that Katherine would probably growl at him for a while but if he just ignored her it would be ok. About 10 minutes into the date Katherine started making Jackson pet her, and then all the sudden they were best friends. When Erin told her friends about the date they all said "When's the wedding?" because they knew if Jackson could get Katherine's approval, then he was in it for the long haul!

Jackson played the long game for the proposal. After two years, some big life events and an impending move to Pittsburgh both Erin and Jackson knew that their engagement was just a matter of time, but Jackson wanted the proposal to be a surprise, so when Jackson took Erin to their first date spot before a Hugh Jackman concert, Erin was sure it was about to happen! but the night kept going and a proposal came... for a different couple, with the help of Mr. Jackman himself. Disappointed Erin and Jackson returned home, and the next morning got ready to go to get mimosas with a friend, next to a park near their apartment. Once they arrived Jackson lead Erin to the park, away from the restaurant, and Erin kept insisting that the mimosas were the other way. Undeterred, Jackson lead Erin to a picturesque spot, where a friend was waiting in the bushes, dressed in black, with a newspaper complete with the eyes cut out. Jackson popped the question and Erin said yes! Remember how I mentioned that long game? All their local friends were waiting at the restaurant where Erin and Jackson had their second date for an impromptu engagement party! And there were mimosas!

In May 2021, we were quickly approaching the two year anniversary of our engagement. With COVID looming over us, with our families, we decided to have a small COVID-conscious ceremony and reception with a small group of family. We got married at the First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor, in the chapel where Erin's parents got married in 1990! Although, it was not the wedding we had initially planned, we ended up having as close to a perfect day as you can get. However, we realized how much we missed celebrating with all of our loved ones... Which leads us to our I Do Part II!