Our Story It all began in 2016, two wide-eyed freshmen at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Fate had its way of weaving them together—Jarrod was wandering around building I in Hugine Suites, waiting for a friend, while Jaylen stood on the staircase, watching a friend walk to her room. Just like that, two paths crossed in the most unexpected, yet perfect, way. From that moment, they've been writing their love story one chapter at a time. They've cheered each other on during our collegiate careers, turned ordinary classes into fun adventures, and supported one another through the incredible journeys of joining our Divine Nine organizations. When the world stood still during the COVID pandemic, they stood strong—quarantining together, growing together. After graduating in Spring 2020, they packed up their dreams and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where their love continued to flourish. In July 2022, they achieved a milestone—purchasing their first home. In January 2024, their hearts grew even bigger as they welcomed their beautiful baby girl, Jrue, into the world. From teenagers finding their way to becoming hardworking parents, they've grown, loved, and built a life they cherish. None of this would be possible without the unwavering love, support, and prayers from our family and friends. They are beyond excited to celebrate this next beautiful chapter—their wedding—with each and every one of you.

Twelve-Thirteen has always been to them. Jarrod wore the number 13 on the football field, and Jaylen's favorite number has always been 12. For as long as they can remember, it was always “1213 this, 1213 that.” Even when they went on dates to the movies or games, they’d get seats 12 and 13—because it felt right. Then, when they moved to Atlanta, their first apartment number was 1312. One day, while daydreaming about our future, they decided to check the next time December 13th would fall on a Saturday. It was destiny when they saw that in 2025, it lined up perfectly, because 12 + 13 = 25. From that moment, they knew that December 13, 2025, would be THEIR day.