Markie caught Matt’s eye in the business school, and soon enough, he was changing his major to sit next to her in class. It all started when he wrote her a cute note in a gum wrapper and snuck it into her glasses case. Then came endless study dates and finally their first real date - Rocky Horror Picture Show. On November 4, 2017, they made it official at a date party and took their first picture together - the one right above!

After graduating from undergrad in May 2018, Markie and Matt backpacked across Europe with their friends. In five short weeks, they visited Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Marseille, Interlaken, and Barcelona. Markie’s favorite memory was biking through the streets of Amsterdam to a picnic in the park and Matt’s favorite memory was exploring the Swiss Alps (which involved accidentally turning a 4 hour hike into a 14 hour hike).

The couple headed back to JMU to get their Master’s in Accounting and become Double Dukes! They made sure to frequent their favorite places during their last year in Harrisonburg - pizza from Benny’s, milkshakes from Kline’s, and of course, brunch from Billy Jacks. They also didn’t pass up on their only chance to do Mardi Gras in New Orleans (if you aren’t sure why it was their only chance, ask an accountant).

After school, Markie and Matt parted ways; Markie moved to Charlotte, her childhood hometown, and Matt stayed in NOVA with two new roommates - the parents of the bride (hi Mom and Dad!). After COVID shut the world down, Matt came to stay with Markie in Charlotte. He drove down in February 2020 with his work bag and two-weeks worth of clothes, completely unaware that those are the clothes he would be wearing until August (when his parents so kindly drove down with the rest of his stuff). Once the couple realized he was here to stay, they spent most of their time on DIY projects, working in the yard, playing Mario Kart, and enjoying the house that became their first home :)

As the world started to open up again, the couple was antsy to get out and explore. They took a trip to Colorado with some friends and visited Aunt Kelli out west in WA. In between their trips, they were finally able to explore their new city. They frequented breweries, took a few a hikes, and made some new pals. Peter, the groom's brother, moved into the spare bedroom and the duo became a trio.

Matt and Markie continued life together in Charlotte and ended their year with an engagement! Matt popped the question on Halloween, Markie's favorite holiday. He made it so special & so spooky - he put the ring in a pumpkin! That holiday season was filled with love as the couple shared the big news with their families.

Matt and Markie are still working and enjoying life in Charlotte with Hamilton and Squish. They love to host fire pits and game nights with their friends, order food from their favorite spots (Sal's Pizza for Matt, Rusan's sushi for Markie), and getting cozy on "mega couch" to watch their latest show. And although they got pretty lucky with their landlords (hi Mom and Dad!!), they just bought their first house 15 minutes down the road. I guess planning a wedding wasn't enough to do already!