We've always liked doing things a little different: when we got engaged, we knew we wanted to start our family right away. We figured we could get away with an elopement in 2023 and had a very romantic zoom with the Boulder County clerk and recorder and signed the papers. However, we didn't want to skip the party with our family and friends- hence the celebration with you all May 25th, 2024! Baby boy Declan Thomas McNamara was born October 11th, 2023 so lots to celebrate!

He was back in town for a short period of time She happened to be out with her partner in crime His guys said, “Let’s have a drink and go dance!” He said "Fine, I’ll give Mpls nightlife a chance" The bar was twinkling, the night air was young Two gals perused the pickings, looking for fun They came upon a table of raucous guys Perfect, she thought, something nice for the eyes He couldn’t stop staring; she couldn’t stop smiling Were Minnesota guys always this beguiling? The night swelled on, and one conversation turned into another The other side of the table was talking, in one ear and out the other With complete confidence, he was cool & collected He saw in her eyes just what he expected: She was captivated and he knew he could win her No frills, to the point, “Let me take you to dinner” She smiled, knowing it was she who had won “Show me you can dance then maybe it's done” They cut a rug, shimmied and shaked They twirled, boogied, and breaked As the bar came to a close, she'd gotten her answer: He’s still saved in her phone as “Patrick Great Dancer”

After meeting out and about in Minneapolis, Patrick and Shannon decided to see where this romance would go. She couldn’t stop thinking about his steely blue eyes. He loved the color of her red hair. The next time he saw her, she was covered in fake blood eating her own face off performing in the Twin Cities Horror Festival. Then they moved on to more normal date nights and started to fall in love. 8 1/2 years later; grad school, job promotions, a cat, a dog, a pandemic, a cross-country move, outdoor adventures, making each other laugh until it hurts, inspiring and teaching each other, traveling, fishing, hiking, cooking and eating endless meals, building a life and a family together, they decided to elope and then celebrate with you all!