Our Story
Beginnings
Late 2024 | Fall 2022
Nicole and Matt met not long after both moved to Williamsburg in fall 2022. They met through mutual friends in the Catholic Young Adult group on Catholic Day at Busch Gardens. The rest of that day, Matt remembers Nicole being such an upbeat, sunny presence, not to mention a fearless leader of their little group from ride to ride. Nicole was entertained by Matt's small talk and listening to his archaeological adventures. After losing track of each other for a couple of years, Matt and Nicole reconnected in late 2024 after running into one another during perpetual adoration at their church. There she was again, Matt thought, that confident and cheery person he had traipsed around Busch Gardens with two years earlier. Nicole admired Matt's devotion to the faith and the happiness and joy he brought to everyday life. Not long after, when they saw each other at the reconciliation service, Matt decided to reach out to Nicole, and so their personal friendship began. Both traveled out of town for the holidays, though, (Matt to central Illinois and Nicole to the Austrian mountains), and so lost touch again for a bit.
New and Growing Love
Early 2025 to Spring 2026
In the new year, Matt and Nicole reconnected at their first informal date at Frothy Moon in Williamsburg, when Nicole invited Matt to a brewery event. Their first formal date was not long after: they went to Precarious Brewery, and they then went on a sunset walk through Colonial Williamsburg. Fast forward through a few more dates involving good bottles of wine, late-night conversations, and Harry Potter cosplaying, Nicole and Matt became official on Good Friday 2025. Since then, they have had many adventures. Their dates have included cosplaying as Princess Leia and Emperor Palpatine when they saw Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back set to a live symphony orchestra, going axe and knife throwing, and driving out to the boonies for a birthday party at a plantation house. It was on this last outing under the wide, star-studded sky that Matt first told Nicole he loved her. Many adventures took place since then, which took Nicole and Matt to the metropolis of Farmville, VA; Cape Cod, MA; Gatlinburg, TN; the Outer Banks, NC; San Francisco, CA; and Peoria, IL.
The Wedding Countdown Begins!
Spring 2026 to Wedding Day
Throughout all these wonderful adventures, Matt and Nicole found in each other kindred spirits as well as shared joy and aspirations rooted in a common faith. As Matt often put it in his conversations with Nicole, it was just so easy and natural being with her, as if they were meant to be by design. Nicole felt her relationship with Matt was so natural, fun, and full of love and adventure, that this was God calling them to each other. There was only one thing left for him to do, then. On Saturday, March 21, Matt proposed to Nicole on the grounds of the Maymont Mansion in Richmond. The crowds literally parted at just the right time for Matt to propose to Nicole at the sundial at the center of the Italian Gardens. The proposal and the rest of that perfect day that followed truly was the beginning of an exciting new chapter in Nicole and Matt’s life together, one that will lead them to a wonderful day of celebration of their love with all of you, the family and friends they hold dear.