*Edited 7/5/20 CEREMONY: www.johnandchristina.live John and Christina will be married on July 18, 2020 at City Church on the east side of Madison. We will be livestreaming our ceremony and encourage you to invite friends over who are also interested in "attending," take a picture of your group, and post it on either of our Facebook pages or to Instagram with the hashtag #JAndCAreMeantToBe. RECEPTION In light of the recent spikes in COVID cases in Dane County and the new regulations that limit outdoor gatherings to 25 people, we are sadly canceling our "Reception in Shifts" plan. Thank you so much for your flexibility!

We first met at an open gym at Blackhawk in January 2019. John noticed that Christina was pretty and competitive. Christina noticed that John was good at spikeball. Then no contact for 9 months... One Tuesday morning during "teacher talks" at Abundant Life, Pastor Nic Gibson of High Point Church invited Christina over for a Packer game. Christina was confused. Nic does not invite Christina over for Packer games. "There's a guy I want you to meet." "Ahhh, I see." (This was not the first time Nic had "a guy I want you to meet.") Christina couldn't make the game day. "Why doesn't he just ask me on a date?" John called that very day to ask her out. They would have one hour between the end of Christina's work day and John needing to leave town for the weekend. "How about Barriques on Old Sauk?" Their first date was brief but effective. John was smitten. Christina was impressed. They've been going on dates ever since. (Thanks, Nic.)

John took Christina on a walk in the Arboretum where there were three letters with three yellow roses nailed to three trees along the path. Each letter recounted a significant moment from their relationship and was received with teary eyes and a beaming smile. The fourth stop was under an arbor John had built and decorated (with help from friends) with a fourth letter, a proposal, and a rosegold ring handpicked by John. Talk about dreamy! Talk about romantic! Christina said yes. After a brief photoshoot (it was 28-degrees out) during which John and Christina were insanely smiley, they spent the afternoon together and then headed to Christina's parents' house for "dinner with the Sekutowskis." A few minutes into the evening, Alice opened the basement door and out walked some of Christina's friends, and some of John's friends, and more of Christina's friends and more of John's, and then even more friends...from Michigan, from Kentucky, from Missouri! Thirty people filed out of that basement and filled the Flaherty home with noise and cheer. It was a perfect party. There were over-sized balloons, meatball appetizers, more people than chairs, and a schedule. (Christina loves schedules.) There was a storytime and a game time, and Christina and John were free to be as chatty and competitive and center-of-attention as they wanted. Just what they love. All in all, it was a great day. In fact, Christina recalls the day as the best of her life so far. That makes John very happy.