We're getting married!

Karen and Jean-Luc first crossed paths on December 9, 2021, with the intention of meeting at a rooftop bar in downtown Raleigh following Karen's attendance at the annual Jingle Bell Ball. Jean-Luc dressed the part and showed up in a full suit to sweep Karen off her feet, and the two quickly became inseparable. From their first full date at a Carolina Hurricanes game to day hikes around Falls Lake, the two fell in love over their shared passion for adventure, travel, and family. Soon, they could be found gallivanting all over the place; from braving icy conditions in the cold winter of Maine, skiing and wine tasting in Virginia with friends, to enjoying the mountains and beaches of their North Carolina home. It wasn't long until they adopted their first furbaby together, a Belgian Malinois mix named Laila, and not much longer until meeting each other’s families and going on family trips together. From whitewater rafting the Upper Pigeon River in Tennessee for the Fourth of July to celebrating milestone birthdays on St. Michaels Island in Maryland; Aunt Karen has become a favorite among Jean-Luc’s nieces, and Jean-Luc has been a welcome addition to her family’s game nights. Throughout their relationship, one thing has always remained constant: enjoying new experiences together. The two have checked off many firsts as a couple, including plenty of travel and concert bucket list items like seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers at Lollapalooza Music Festival in Chicago or soaking up the sun on the white sands of Playa Blanca in Guatemala, and adding to that list grows their love for spending quality time with each other. From the beginning to their journey thus far, the two have walked alongside each other, hand in hand, as they set out to take in all the good that life has to offer.