We're getting married!

Our story began in 2010 at the Life Skills Conference at the Masonic Conference Center – Patton Campus in Elizabethtown. Though we attended different school districts, we were both among the few students chosen to participate in this incredible conference, which focused on leadership, respect, and personal responsibility. From challenging workshops on conflict resolution and social media to adrenaline-pumping activities like the ropes course, it was a week designed to push boundaries and foster growth. Though we didn't realize it at the time, our paths were crossing for a reason. We stayed in touch briefly after the conference, but life got busy, and we went our separate ways. It wasn’t until November 2018 that fate stepped in. I was feeling a little bold and out of character, slid into Tory’s DMs—something that I had never done before. In between serving customers at my hometown café, I sent a simple heart-eye emoji to my all-time crush, not really expecting anything to come of it. To my surprise, Tory replied, and from that moment on, the sparks flew. About a year of dating passed, and in March 2020, we took a huge leap together. We packed our bags, left behind everything familiar, and moved to San Diego, California to start a fresh adventure in a new city. From a chance meeting at a leadership conference to a bold message across social media, we know that sometimes, the most unexpected moments lead to the greatest love stories. When we first met..