We're Getting Married!

The two of us graduated from Wall High School some years ago, Leo in 2016 and Jenna in 2017. However we didn't formally meet till a mutual friend introduced us to each other at a party. From then we became close friends; while secretly trying to keep our romantic feelings for each other from surfacing. After some time and some confessions, we started dating almost a year after we met, November 22, 2019. Shortly after we brought home our first child, Grizzly (our fur-baby)! Two short years later, in 2022 we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Leona, into our loving family! We've had many amazing and unforgettable adventures so far and we can't wait to see where this next chapter in life will take us!

The day I planned to ask the most important question of my life started off like any other—except this time, every little detail mattered. From getting Jenna’s makeup done under the guise of a photoshoot to watching my vision come to life on the beach, every moment had a purpose...even when things didn’t go exactly according to plan. It all started with a plan. A perfect plan, in my mind, anyway. I had reached out to our friend, who does phenomenal makeup, and asked her if she could get Jenna ready—without giving away the surprise. The idea was to tell Jenna it was for our friend’s portfolio, so she wouldn’t get suspicious. When she left, I went straight to work my mind already racing through the logistics. I placed the order for the flowers, petals, candles—everything I’d need to turn a simple beach trip into a moment neither of us would ever forget. I watched the shipping order all day, making sure everything would arrive on time. It was a lot, and the stress of it all started to sink in as the day went by. When I got home, I was eagerly checking the front door…only to realize my flowers still hadn’t arrived. Panic set in. Minutes felt like hours. I paced the house for what felt like an eternity, debating whether I should just give in and go buy everything in person. But just as I was about to leave, I spotted the delivery driver coming up the walk. Relief washed over me in an instant…for the time being. I grabbed everything I needed and loaded up my car. Our dog Grizzly jumped in the back seat, eager to join me on this big day. The next stop was the beach. Spring Lake Beach—our go-to spot in the summer. I had some friends waiting there to help me set up the space. We arranged the roses and candles into a massive heart shape on the sand, but of course, something had to go wrong. I realized I’d forgotten my nice button-up shirt—the one I’d planned to wear for the proposal. Classic. I asked my friends to finish the setup while I rushed back home. As I drove back, I noticed a small crowd had started gathering along the boardwalk. Word was getting out, and I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. I quickly texted our friend doing the makeup, asking her to stall Jenna a little longer while I made my mad dash to grab the shirt. When I finally returned to the beach, the setup was almost complete, and everything looked perfect. The candles were arranged, the roses were scattered like something out of a dream, and a cozy blanket sat in the center. It was exactly how I’d imagined it—and better. At that point, I couldn’t wait for Jenna to arrive. I sent her the green light to head down to the beach, where she was told they’d be doing the photoshoot for the golden hour. The butterflies in my stomach kicked into overdrive as I waited for her to arrive. By now, there were almost 100 people on the boardwalk watching the whole thing unfold, and the tension in the air was palpable. And then, I got the text: “They’re here.” I turned to see Jenna walking toward me, her smile lighting up the whole beach. Our eyes met from across the sand, and I couldn’t help but grin. Grizzly, who was by my side through it all, happily bounded toward her, greeting his favorite human in the world. As she got closer, I pulled her into a hug and kissed her. Then we walked back to the setup, where I turned around, got down on one knee, and pulled out the ring. “Will you make me the happiest man ever and marry me?” Jenna was speechless, but her head nodded before she wrapped her arms around me in a warm embrace. I slipped the ring on her finger, and it fit perfectly. Suddenly, I heard the boardwalk erupt with cheers, claps, and whistles—not just from our friends but from the group of bystanders who had witnessed the entire moment. It was surreal. I stood up, kissed her again, and we sat on the blanket, taking it all in. The sun was setting, and we were surrounded by love, joy, and the unforgettable memories of a day I’ll never forget.