Tessa and Jack’s story began on September 16th, 2021, at a Houndmouth concert in Oxford, Mississippi. Tessa complimented Jack’s outfit that night—a brief exchange, but one that stayed with both of them. They didn’t talk again for a few months, but eventually, Jack reached out and asked Tessa to hang out. From their very first conversations, something felt different. Tessa immediately noticed that Jack wasn’t like the other guys she had met in college—he had a grounded, genuine energy that stood out. Jack, on the other hand, couldn’t stop thinking about how beautiful Tessa was, especially her “big bug eyes” (as he lovingly calls them). Just a few weeks in, they both had the same feeling: this was something real. If it didn’t work out, they both knew it would hurt. Their first date was at Saint Leo. Jack, believing Tessa was a fancy California girl, tried to impress her by ordering a bottle of wine. When the waiter poured a small tasting, Jack looked at the glass and asked, “Can you go ahead and fill it up?”—unaware he was supposed to taste it first. It didn’t take long for him to realize that Tessa actually preferred junk food in bed to fancy dinners, and that made him like her even more. From the start, everything between them felt natural and safe. There were no games, no confusion—just an easy, steady love. Jack proposed on Memorial Day weekend, completely surprising Tessa. The plan was disguised as a trip to Memphis for a friend’s baby shower. Tessa spent the first couple of days visiting her best friend, Olivia, in Oxford who had a whole story lined up about a dinner reservation in nearby Taylor, Mississippi. As they followed the GPS, it took them down dirt roads, and Tessa began to worry they were lost. Olivia, trying to keep the surprise intact, played into her fear and said she had a weird feeling about the directions. They kept going and Tessa even checked her maps only to see they were 30 minutes from the restaurant (she still didn’t put the pieces together). Then, they took a final turn—and there he was. Jack stood alone in a green pasture surrounded by flowers. As soon as Tessa saw him, she knew exactly what was happening. She and Olivia cried together before Tessa got out of the car, walked toward Jack, and said yes to the rest of her life with the man of her dreams. Moments later, Tessa’s mom and stepdad stepped out from hiding, having been in on the plan all along. In fact, nearly everyone knew—Jack had secretly looped in friends, family, and loved ones to make sure the moment was perfect. It had stormed all day, but the skies cleared just in time. Earlier that afternoon, Jack had even been out in the field in his work clothes, weed-eating the area so it would look just right. It was thoughtful, sweet, and entirely him. Tessa and Jack’s relationship is full of laughter, honesty, and love. It’s fun and easy—anchored by deep support and care (with just a little playful bickering, since Jack is still learning that women are always right). They are each other’s home.