Like any good love story— ours starts in the Teacher Work Room of Cypress Ridge Elementary School— but not like you may think: Growing up with a single mom who just happens to be your best friend— handing off her daughter’s phone number wasn’t an uncommon occurrence for Stacy, Mother of the Bride. But for Mercy, Mother of the Groom— to strike up a conversation in regards to her children’s love life was far more uncommon. One day, Stacy was in the Teacher Work Room saying “I just wish I could find my daughter a nice, 22-23 year old man, is that so hard to ask?” To which Mercy answered “I have one of those!” They began to exchange photos and Mercy said “His name is Jacob and he has a full ride scholarship to UCF and is going to be an engineer at Lockheed Martin!” That’s all Stacy had to hear to know it was a match made in heaven— she proceeded to run to her office, write down her daughter, Kayla’s information— practically everything but her Social Security Number— and ran back to Mercy saying “Give this to your son and have him reach out to her!” A few weeks later Kayla just happen to be helping Stacy in her office at Cypress Ridge, when her mom introduced her to a third grade teacher named Mercy Hernandez— “Kayla, this is going to be your future Mother-in-Law!” Thinking nothing of it— After all, this was a normal occurrence— she laughed embarrassed and introduced herself. Later that day, Kayla received a text from an unknown number stating “I’m Jacob, I got your number from my mom who works with your mom. I’m going to assume you had nothing to do with this, but I thought I’d reach out and say hello.”— and the rest was history! Now, nearly five years, a home, two dogs and one cat later— we’re so excited to finally be saying “I do!”

For our first date, Jacob surprised Kayla, planning the whole date himself without Kayla knowing a thing. They rode the Orlando Eye and had dinner. Nearly four years later, Jacob recreated their first date— this time, after playing two of Kayla's favorite songs in a private capsule, "Yours" by Russell Dickerson and "This Is It" by Scotty McCreery— at the top, overlooking the Orlando skyline, Jacob got down on one knee and asked the question Kayla had been waiting, not so patiently, to hear. Kayla was completely surprised— so surprised, she asked "Are you serious?!" as though she thought it were some kind of twisted joke! A moment we truly will never forget!