1st We officially started dating on the 1st of November, 2018. Blake had been trying to win me over for a few weeks before that but I was being stubborn.. Even ghosted him for a little while but fate put him back in my path. True to form, he asked me in the cheesiest, most adorable way ever. He was getting ready for a Halloween party and was trying to decide what to go as. A few choices in, he told me, “I know what I want to be for Halloween.” When I asked what, he replied, “Your boyfriend.” My scared, damaged, frozen heart melted and I couldnt stop smiling. I said yes the next day. 2nd Blake proposed to me on the 2nd of January, 2020. We knew for awhile that we wanted to get married- it was just a matter of time. The universe kept throwing out little signs here and there. Our families and friends were asking. There may have been a little poking on my part.... Blake was definitely feeling the heat, but he did it on his time in his own way and I couldnt be more grateful. We were surrounded by family for a late Christmas/ early birthday celebration. Everyone had finished opening their presents and we were cleaning up. Then someone made me turn around and Blake was on one knee with a beautiful ring. I’ll be honest- I don’t remember much of what he said. I was in so much shock that it felt like tunnel vision. I could only cry and nod and hug him as tight as I possibly could. We were immediately enveloped in loving hugs and congratulations. His grandfather was tearing up on Skype. His nieces were asking if they could be in the wedding. My family already knew because he had snuck out while I was sleeping in to ask my mother for her blessing. It was exactly as it should have been. ❤️ 3rd We hope you will all join us in celebrating the next stepping stone in our lives together. We will be saying, “I do,” on the 3rd of December, 2020 surrounded by family, friends, and beautiful scenery.
Fun fact: Blake and I had actually been aquainted before our eyes met at the hospital I work at. About a decade ago, we ran in circles that grazed each other. Blake went to Heritage High School when it was still new. So, in order to participate in JROTC, he and his brother would drive to my high school for 4th block and after school practice every day. I was on the Colorguard at LFO and every day he would run past me while I was at Marching Band practice. Apparently, he always thought I was pretty but was too shy to say anything. I guess you could call it a gut feeling now. But in high school, though I had never spoken to the infamous identical twin brothers who drove their blue convertable to one block a day, they haunted me a bit. A mutual friend of mine pointed them out one afternoon as we were getting in our cars and said, “There go the McBrides.” I got in the habit of watching them drive away after school. This one is the kicker... a girl who participated in both of our extra curricular activities invited us to her sweet sixteen party. I was a little shy and coming out of my shell at the time, too... so Heather yelled, “Jennifer! Dance with McBride!” and threw us together. So, as teenagers do, we awkwardly swayed back and forth without speaking for a full song before retreating to our safe groups. I tease him about it now... If only one of us had had the courage to say something back then, we probably would already be married. 😜