It all started on the Fourth of July, 2016. Connor, wearing cut-off jean shorts and an American flag bandana, climbed into the back seat of a friend’s car and met Zoe—who was sporting a Red Sox hat (a surprise for a loyal Rays fan). Connor asked Zoe to draw a flag on his cheek, and while the artwork was questionable, something special began that day. After a few hangouts and one memorable movie night watching Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, their connection grew. Life took them in different directions—Connor joined the Coast Guard, and they lost touch for a while. But when he returned, the first person he called was Zoe. Though time had changed them, their bond picked up right where it left off. In 2019, after years of friendship, endless phone calls, and a few bold declarations of love (some with the help of liquid courage), they finally made it official—with a first kiss in a Hooters parking lot, of all places.Since then, they’ve built a life filled with laughter, late-night talks, and deep love. They’ve supported each other through heartbreak, celebrated milestones, rescued a pup, and in November 2023, welcomed their greatest joy: their daughter, Ryleigh. Almost seven years later, they’re ready to say “I do,” surrounded by the people they love most. This is just the beginning of forever.