We are excited to celebrate our marriage! We ask that everyone comes ready to eat, drink and celebrate!

It was August 2012 when we both started Florida Keys Community College. On the first day of orientation, there was a trolley bus that took us around the island. We happened to sit across from each other. Katie knew instantly she was interested in Dave. Dave just found Katie annoying and very talkative. We became friends and saw each other at social gatherings, but that was just about it.

In January when we came back from winter break something new was in the air. By April 1 Dave thought it would be a good time to ask Katie to be his girlfriend. That way he can say "April Fools!" But the joke was on him as it was 1 AM on April 2 already. Our first date was a beautiful boat ride. While snorkeling we held hands and Katie saw a pretty fish. Katie was all excited and pointed at the fish. Dave thought she was pointing at it for other reasons. Let's just say that fish became dinner. By July we felt comfortable enough to have our parents meet. Katie and her parents visited the Grady's place in Saluda, NC. Then Dave and his family visited Boone, NC to see the Forgham's new property. Everyone then went to Grandfather Mountain for a great day of adventure.

April: Our first anniversary. We went out to Mallory Square and enjoyed the sunset. We celebrated our first Easter together and learned that we do Easter baskets completely different! May: We graduated from Florida Keys Community College. June: Katie turned 21! August: Dave turned 21! We celebrated with a night out on a Casino Cruise!

Let the long distance relationship commence! Dave is living in Ft. Lauderdale working with the family business, Grady Marine. January: Katie started an internship at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. We did not see much of each other until Spring. April: We celebrated our 2nd year anniversary at SeaWorld. Dave surprised Katie to a Behind the Scenes Tour of the Wild Artic Exhibit. We were both very excited to meet a walrus, a harbor seal, and a beluga whale! In the summer, Katie moved back home to go back to school at Indian River State College. We saw each other on the weekends, either in Vero Beach or Ft. Lauderdale.

April: We went to Atlanta, GA for our 3rd year anniversary! We explored the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke and walked in a not so good neighborhood to Underground Atlanta. We survived and had a great time! August: Katie moved to Boca Raton to attend Florida Atlantic University. This change made our relationship so much easier. We now had a 20-minute commute to one another.

April: We celebrated our 4th anniversary in St. Augustine and ate at The Conch House Marina. We also enjoyed exploring Mayport Naval Air Station.

With us both living closer we had a much easier time seeing one another more often. April: We celebrated our 5th year anniversary at the Frost Museum of Science in Miami. We always make sure to do something different on our anniversary. September: We went to SeaWorld AGAIN but this time we did something neither of us have done. We meet a sea lion. December: Katie graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelors degree in biological sciences.

This is the year of travel! January: Katie moved to Atlanta, GA for an internship at Georgia Aquarium. Dave stayed in Ft. Lauderdale with Grady Marine. April: Dave flew to Atlanta for our 6th year anniversary. We spent the weekend at the Dillard House in north Georgia and a day at the Tallulah George where we survived the steps! May: Shortly after the internship in Atlanta, Katie landed a job at Chimp Haven in Keithville, LA. That meant Katie and Dave would have a much longer long distance relationship. In June Dave helped Katie pack up her things and move to Shreveport, LA.

January: Katie was offered a job at Brevard Zoo and instantly accepted! However, she had no way to get back home with all of her things quickly. Dave being who he is, helped Katie rent a U-Haul and load it up. He then drove that U-Haul all the way from Shreveport, LA, back to Vero Beach, FL by himself while Katie was left only with an air mattress and some clothes for the next two weeks. And if that wasn't enough work, Katie then signed them up to do their first 5-K run at SeaWorld! Dave got to the finish line first. But in Katie's defense, she stopped to see all the animals! April: For our 7th year anniversary we spent a weekend at Arbuckle, which is half-way between our houses. We played board games and watched movies! Just spent time relaxing and enjoying each other's company. The Covid pandemic had started so this was as different and exciting as we could get this year. December 6: Dave got down on one knee and asked Katie to MARRY HIM. She obviously said "YES!!!"

Started the year with Dave at Grady Marine and Katie as a full-time zookeeper. March: Katie said "Yes to the dress!" April: For our 8th year anniversary, we flew to Louisville, KY then drove up to Columbus, IN to spend time with Katie's family. When we came back, we rented our first apartment and moved in together! A few days later, Katie started her new job as a vet assistant at Banfield Pet Hospital. July: Dave's family threw us a surprise engagement party at the house on Lake Summit, NC. August: We went to the Humane Society and fell in love with a cat. We adopted her, and named her Annie! September: Katie switched jobs and started working at the South Florida Wildlife Center. Katie remains at Banfield Pet Hospital once a week to assist with surgeries. Looking forward to year 9 and getting married on our 9th year anniversary!