Jared and Anna hold a combined record of 24 years in marching band. Little did they know that their shared love of marching band would lead them to the person they would marry! On the first day of band camp at MSU, the director always shares a cheesy statistic that many band students meet their future spouse on the first day of band, but just don't know it yet. They both thought that was the craziest assumption, but they are both evidence of "The Famous Maroon Band Dating Service". It all started Fall 2021, when Anna's friends (also in band) thought Jared would be the perfect match. They suggested to him that he should ask her out on a date sometime. Anna and Jared already knew each other somewhat just by being placed close together on the field, and through various band events. He agreed to try to ask her. Thus began the long journey of phone tag they both went through. Through multiple attempts from both parties, each suggestion either died out, or was ignored. We both thought we were "out of each other's league" and that an invite for a date had to be a joke! After several attempts from Jared, Anna finally decided to give him a chance. The first date consisted of fishing, Little Dooey, and a Christmas Parade! After the night was over, they both agreed they would love to do it again sometime and went separate ways. Jared left Starkville and headed to Water Valley to pursue a year long internship, and Anna headed back to school and to an internship of her own. The two didn't meet again until they agreed one night to meet halfway, at the rodeo in Tupelo! Following the rodeo, Anna really didn't think she would see Jared for a very long time. After all, he had an internship almost 2 hours away. She didn't know it yet, but her friends had already invited him to her surprise birthday party coming up a few weeks later! The night before, Jared showed up with flowers for her birthday and took her out to eat. They went to her birthday party and afterwards he asked if she would like to be his girlfriend! The answer was an immediate yes, and they have been inseparable since. Jared went on to come visit in Starkville almost every weekend of his internship. In 2024, Jared proposed at the very spot they met... on the 50 yard line of the Famous Maroon Band practice field. The best is yet to come! Hail State!!!