We're so excited to celebrate with you!

We met for the first time after being introduced through a mutual friend. We were both looking for new housemates and the friend put us into contact with one another. After exchanging a couple facebook messages (and after Emily had a police officer friend run an outstanding warrant check on Jared), Jared and his friend, Chris, came by to see the house at 702 W Patterson Street. Jared liked the house, that Emily had frantically cleaned, and decided to move in about a month later.

After a few months of being housemates, cooking together, meeting each other's friends, and just being pals, Jared and Emily started realizing how much they enjoyed spending time together. Jared suggested that the next weekend they should go to the beach together, Emily agreed. This is the day that they both think of as their **official** first date. On the way to Ft Desoto beach they got hungry, but realized that there was only one small shopping center between them and the beach. They pulled into the shopping center to see that there happened to be a french restaurant. Emily had mentioned that she loved French food, which Jared remembered, so he insisted that they check it out. Emily was skeptical that it would be good, since it was a weird place to have a French restaurant, but they entered the restaurant to find the neatest, authentic French restaurant that they never would have expected to find in Florida! Let it be known: Jared was right! It was fantastic! They chatted with the sweet owner and ordered delicious food (Jared remembers that Emily ordered what he calls the "croque monster sandwich"). Afterwards, they spent a fantastic day at the beach and walked around Ft Desoto's historic sites. At the end of the day they both decided that they would like to go on another date sometime soon, and the rest is history!

We had a trip to Vegas/The Grand Canyon planned for Emily's 30th birthday. Emily was convinced that Jared was going to pop the question at the Grand Canyon during that trip. Jared picked up the ring a week before they were planned to leave, and he just couldn't wait to ask! Emily came home from helping her sister pack up her apartment in Ft Myers and ate a quick dinner with Jared, her dad, and step mom. During dinner her dad mentioned that they had picked up new collars for Winnie and Rosie (Emily and Jared's dogs). Emily noticed Rosie's, but didn't see a collar on Winnie. Emily asked if Winnie had taken her collar off in the yard (something her tiny head allows her to do often!), but Jared insisted that he set the collar down somewhere before putting it on her, but couldn't remember where. After dinner, Emily said she was going to hop in the shower but Jared (weirdly) insisted that we hop in the pool. Emily agreed and was asked to check and see if Winnie's collar was anywhere in her room. After changing, Emily started to head out to the pool when Jared (again, weirdly) told Emily that he found Winnie's collar! He insisted that Emily look at the new tags that he purchased for them before going outside. In true Emily fashion, she said "why did you buy them new tags? I just got them new tags a month ago!" When she bent down to look at Winnies tag, she saw the ring that was tied onto the collar. He hadn't bought the pups new tags, but he did get Emily a gorgeous ring. After some giggling, smiles, and hugging Jared asked Emily if she would marry him. She joyously replied "of course!"