Celebrate Our Love

It was the summer of 2020. Brandon and Leanne were in the midst of the Covid pandemic. Both felt ready to find a serious relationship and turned to Hinge, the dating app, to help. It didn't take long for their paths to cross and polite conversation to begin. As the talks got longer, they were somewhat puzzled how they even got matched. The dating range was 30 miles and yet they lived nearly 60 miles apart. Brandon was living in Sarasota, but driving to the VA Hospital in St. Petersburg for work. Leanne resided in St. Petersburg and working in Pinellas Park. This added some logistics issues, but both were eager to meet. On September 2nd, 2020 the two met in downtown St. Pete to grab a drink and meet in person. They agreed to meet at the Pier. As Leanne is walking towards the Pier, running a little late per usual, Brandon calls her and says he thinks he walked too far. She asked him, what do you see? His reply, dolphins! After a few follow up questions she realized it was the statue at the sun dial and not the porpoises in the water. As they both changed direction to find one another the realization was that they had walked right past each other initially. They headed to an Irish bar where Leanne ordered a whiskey drink and Brandon was impressed. The two talked for hours, 4 to be exact, and eventually grabbed some dinner. They each ordered a duck quesadilla that was on special and bonded over expanding food palates and trying new things. They closed down the restaurant and it was approaching midnight. Leanne was leaving early in the morning for a Labor day Weekend trip with her friends and Brandon had an hour ride home so they said their goodbyes and promised to message one another when they got home. It was the perfect first date. As weeks went on they met up every Friday night, alternating between Sarasota/Bradenton and St. Pete to meet up. By their 1 year anniversary there were already living together and making the move to Wisconsin. Shortly after their second year anniversary they were engaged (Dec. 2022) and by August 2023 they eloped. Both Brandon and Leanne look back at their timeline in astonishment because so much has happened in the past 4 years and they wouldn't want it any other way. The BIG day is coming near and they can't wait to celebrate this milestone with all the loved ones who have witnessed their relationship. Thank you for being a part of their story.