Maddie worked with Jake's sister at a veterinary clinic and became fast friends. When Jake moved to Colorado in 2018, Kate, her husband Josh, and the two of us went to the Bacon and Bourbon festival in August. The two of us had instant chemistry, but stayed just friends until 2022 when we decided to stop the "will they, won't they" game, and it's the best decision we've made!

Jake was at a conference in San Diego and unbeknownst to Maddie, had come home a day early to propose! Maddie and Kate (Jake's Sister) had planned a weekend in the mountains, and were going to meet after breakfast. We stopped at Crown Pointe (an island in the middle of Lake Dillon) on the way, and at the top of the hill was Jake, both sets of parents, and siblings! He got down on one knee, popped the question and the rest is history. Not to mention, Maddie is nosy and hard to surprise and she was completely caught off guard!

We both love animals, and also knew that we wanted the funds from our wedding to give back in some way. The Columbus Zoo's purpose is to make a positive impact on people, wildlife, and places, and their mission is to become one of the most impactful wildlife conservation institutions globally. Columbus Zoo is notorious for their efforts in global animal conservation, and creating the best environment possible for their resident animals. Their keepers and vet staff are world class, and we couldn't be happier to support such a wonderful organization! Please know that by attending the wedding, we are contributing to a greater cause - the conservation of animals all across the globe! You can watch the TV show "Secrets of the Zoo" on Animal Planet, Disney+, Hulu, or Prime Video if you'd like to get some insider info on the zoo before the wedding! We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you. See you in Columbus!