In 2020, when the world felt like it was standing still, fate was quietly setting something beautiful in motion. When COVID turned life upside down, Cassidy had to leave the University of South Carolina and move back to Virginia from South Carolina, where she’d been finishing her degree. What was supposed to be an exciting season of big post-grad plans and cross-country moves suddenly became Zoom calls and uncertainty. But sometimes the detours end up being the destination. After spending a few months at her home in Franklin County, Cassidy’s best friend Cassidy Peters—for simplicity's sake, lets call her CP—opened her home in Roanoke and welcomed Cassidy in while she started her career remotely. CP also welcomed her into a large, lively, incredibly fun friend group… which just so happened to include Chase. Chase was living in Roanoke too, starting his career at UPS and enjoying life with his tight-knit circle of friends. The group spent countless days together—supporting their friend's band, becoming regulars at their favorite bar, and soaking up sunshine out on the lake. It was the kind of season filled with laughter, music, and just enough chaos to make the best memories. Then came Pirate Days on the lake. The band was playing at this beloved local event, and Cassidy was there with CP and Sarah, soaking it all in. She hadn’t officially met Chase yet—but that day, she got her first glimpse of the man who would one day become her husband. CP spotted him and waved him over for a quick hello. It was brief. Casual. Just a simple introduction. From there, their paths kept crossing. What started as quick hellos turned into conversations. Conversations turned into inside jokes. And before long, a real friendship began to form. Chase was goofy, fun-loving, hilarious, and completely free-spirited—all qualities Cassidy couldn’t help but gravitate toward. They bonded over live music, Hazy IPAs, their shared love of being around people, and their extremely extroverted personalities. Nights out, concerts, casual hangouts—they quickly became each other’s default person. If something fun was happening, you could bet Cassidy and Chase were side by side. After a year or two, it was undeniable: they weren’t just friends. They were best friends. Still, neither wanted to risk the friendship they valued so deeply. That is… until St. Patrick’s Day 2022. Somewhere between the laughter and the green outfits, they had the conversation—the one where they finally admitted their feelings might be something more. It was honest. A little scary. Full of “what ifs.” But after some thoughtful deliberation (and probably a little courage), they decided to take the leap. And it was the best decision they ever made. As of their wedding day, Cassidy and Chase will have known each other for seven years and have been together for five. What started as an unexpected detour during a global pandemic turned into a love story built on friendship, laughter, and choosing each other—again and again. They are so excited to celebrate this journey, this chapter, and this forever with all of you. Because sometimes, the plans that fall apart are the very ones that lead you exactly where you’re meant to be. 💛