we're getting married

We’re both adventurous and life took us to Turkey, far from our homes in the Philippines and Texas. We'd seen each other in passing Fall 2015, and had the fortune to really meet in Spring 2016. Of course, that fortune was the indomitable will of our friend Stacy, setting us up on a blind date “happy hour.” Details are still a bit fuzzy on who said what and when to get us to meet, but regardless, nicely done Stacy, afferin sana. While getting to know each other, we traveled to our favorite place in Turkey – Cappadocia – and went through some of the most interesting times you could imagine. We lived through the attempted coup on 15 July 2016 – coincidentally Jerry’s one-year anniversary in Turkey and Stacy’s birthday – definitely an unforgettable night for everyone. But our time wasn't right yet, and we went our own ways in Fall 2016 while remaining friends. Jerry went on to another tour, and Kristine was off to London with the Carters in 2017. Fortune again brought us back together in Fall 2020 - it was one of the few silver linings of the Pandemic. Kristine was back in Ankara waiting to rejoin the Carters with borders closed around the world, and Jerry had just returned to Ankara for work. Both of us had grown in the years since, and were delighted to reconnect before we were set to part ways once more. Neither of us expected our time together would bloom into much more, and as time passed, we realized we hadn't just reunited with a great friend, but had also found our partner for life. So instead of going separate ways, we returned home in Spring 2021, met the family, and got engaged in California. We’ve been working on our life together in D.C. ever since, and we’re delighted to share this celebration of it with all of you, whether here in person or with our distant friends and family in spirit. Of course, there is so much more to our story, and we look forward sharing it with all of you, and to discover what is yet to come in our life together.