Joanne and Jacob met on a Georgia Tech Study Abroad program in Metz, France, during the summer of 2017. Their first trip together was to Paris, and while they barely knew each other at the time, Jacob knew he had to change that. That summer, they shared three out of four classes together. Combining such difficult classes was probably a mistake, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as they spent countless hours studying and doing homework side by side. On the weekends, when they weren’t buried in problem sets, Joanne and Jacob traveled with friends, exploring cities across Switzerland, Germany, and France. Since those days in Europe, travel has become an integral part of their story. As two Sagittariuses, they share an endless curiosity for the world, a love of movement and exploration, and an infectious enthusiasm for life and the people in it. Whether they’re exploring a new country or discovering a new coffee shop, Joanne and Jacob approach life with openness, humor, and a genuine love of exploring the world together. They are deeply grateful to everyone who has traveled from near and far to celebrate this day with them—it means the world that you’re here to share in their greatest adventure yet.

After that unforgettable summer, their love story continued back at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Though they didn’t share any more classes, they quickly became woven into each other’s lives and friend groups. Jacob graduated in December 2018, followed by Joanne in December 2019, and together they began their careers in Atlanta. In 2022, Joanne decided to venture beyond Atlanta and move to New York City. Jacob followed in August 2023, and the two began building a life together—first in Williamsburg, then in Greenpoint. While they loved exploring the city with friends, their favorite moments were often the quiet ones: walking along the water at sunset, lingering over half-off sushi, and making quick bodega runs late at night. Jacob knew from the very beginning that Joanne was the person he wanted to marry. One evening, he managed to lure her to the rooftop of their first apartment together with a story about helping rescue a baby falcon that had gotten stuck—something that wouldn’t have been the first time Joanne stepped in to help. What followed was a rare surprise. Jacob was waiting for her in the rain with an umbrella, and together they walked to the edge of the rooftop where they had spent countless evenings watching the sunset and sharing meals. They say its good luck when it rains - a time for new beginnings! In that familiar place, with the city around them and the rain coming down, Jacob asked Joanne to spend her life with him—and she said yes! After two remarkable years in New York, long distance returned—this time with even more miles between them. Jacob moved back to Atlanta, and Joanne headed to Berkeley, California to pursue her MBA. While navigating three time zones hasn’t been easy, they’ve found meaning in continuing to choose each other, planning their wedding, and looking forward to the life they’re building together.

Exploring the world together and building meaningful connections with friends and family have always been at the heart of Joanne and Jacob’s relationship—and they hope you’ve felt that over the years. Bringing people together is something they deeply love, and they are incredibly excited to gather everyone they care about to celebrate this moment. It means so much to share a day where their cultures and traditions come together, marking the beginning of a lifetime of doing just that. They are profoundly grateful and honored to have friends and family traveling from all over the world—from Peru, India, and across Europe, to New York, Washington, California, Texas, Colorado, and many places in between. They are especially grateful to be gathering in Atlanta—a city that has been home in so many ways over the past eight years. It’s where Joanne and Jacob spent much of their time together, a place they’ve always returned to, where both of their families are rooted, and a city they hope to call home again one day. Being able to celebrate here, surrounded by the people and places that have shaped their story, means more than words can capture. And maybe someday, while driving down the highway, they’ll point to the King and Queen buildings and tell their children, that’s where mom and dad got married. Thank you for being here, for sharing in this moment with them, and for being part of the journey that brought them here. They can’t wait to celebrate, laugh, and begin this next chapter with all of you by their side—so come ready to dance the night away, because that’s exactly how Joanne and Jacob do life together, and they wouldn’t have it any other way!! See you all soon!!