Zach grew up in Barboursville, West Virginia, and Kaleigh in Irmo, South Carolina. From a young age, they both had a deep love for animals and dreamed of working with them when they grew up.

Their paths crossed on Instagram, where they connected over their shared passion for zoo photography. This led to their first in-person meeting at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, FL. After an enjoyable day at the zoo, Zach reached out to Kaleigh to see if she wanted to visit him at work. At the time, Kaleigh was attending school, and Zach was interning at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Though Kaleigh was out of town in October, upon her return, she eagerly accepted Zach’s invitation to the aquarium. Zach impressed her with a behind-the-scenes tour, giving her insight into his work with marine mammal rescue.

Their first official date was at Brio Italian Grille, a charming restaurant where they enjoyed each other's company.

When Zach’s internship ended, he returned to Marshall University in West Virginia to complete his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences. Despite the distance, they committed to a long-distance relationship while Kaleigh continued living in Florida.

The following summer, Zach joined the Navy’s Marine Mammal internship program, working with sea lions and dolphins in San Diego. Kaleigh joined him for the summer, creating wonderful memories exploring southern California and even visiting Disneyland.

After San Diego, they resumed their long-distance relationship while finishing their college degrees. In the fall of 2019, Kaleigh interned at White Oak Conservation Center near Jacksonville, Florida, working with her favorite animals, including okapi, rhinos, and cheetahs.

In the summer of 2020, Zach began working with sea turtle hatchling rehabilitation at Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota, Florida. Kaleigh joined him there, training dogs, and they finally left long-distance behind.

After the sea turtle hatching season ended, Kaleigh secured a position at the Columbus Zoo working with animal ambassadors. Both Kaleigh and Zach moved to Ohio, where Zach also found a job at the Columbus Zoo in the North America region.

After moving across the country for various jobs, they started settling down in Columbus, Ohio. Zach surprised Kaleigh with a proposal while hiking at Walnut Groves Metro Park, one of their favorite outdoor activities. It was a perfect and unexpected moment, marking the beginning of their engagement.

They chose their wedding date to commemorate the day they first met. Kaleigh and Zach are excited to celebrate this special day with their loved ones and hope you can join them in the festivities!