It all began freshman year at Stanton College Preparatory School (SCP), where destiny first brought Sydney and Jared together. Both of their moms insisted they attend SCP, unknowingly setting the stage for their story. While it wasn’t love at first sight, it was the start of something serendipitous. Sydney secretly liked Jared back in high school, but he had no idea. Life carried on, and Jared went about his days, oblivious to her feelings. Despite this, Sydney was certainly on his radar—he made a point of congratulating her after her marching band majorette tryouts. Little did she know, she always caught his eye. She’s hard to miss. High school came and went without any major moments between them, but thanks to mutual friends, their paths kept crossing. It wasn’t until many years later that fate decided to step in again. In 2013, Jared ran into Sydney’s mom, Ms. Ros, at church. During their conversation, he learned Sydney was now living in the DC area—where he just so happened to be visiting. Ms. Ros suggested Jared reach out, and he did. A Facebook message led to a phone number exchange, and soon after, Jared made the drive from Baltimore to DC to meet Sydney for dinner on H Street. That dinner marked the beginning of a new tradition. Jared made it a point to see Sydney every year when he visited the area, blending friendship and familiarity into something special. Fast forward to October 2021: Sydney was back in Jacksonville and reached out to Jared, finally! He had called her out for never reaching out to him when she was in town. They met at one of his favorite restaurants, Orsay, for what would become a pivotal night. They laughed, reminisced, and shared memories—some happy, some tearful. True to form, Jared, ever the Southern gentleman, offered Sydney a handkerchief. By the end of the night, their connection felt deeper than ever. That Christmas, Jared sent Sydney a thoughtful gift—a handkerchief, a playful nod to their night at Orsay. Sydney couldn’t help but wonder: Does he like me? When she asked, Jared politely said no. But his actions told a different story. Jared later wrote Sydney a heartfelt letter, sharing his thoughts. Overwhelmed, Sydney initially ignored it. Fate stepped in once more when Jared came to DC for business. They met up, and Jared tried to explain—but the conversation was cut short. Thanks Reshad! A few months later, Sydney returned to Jacksonville and texted Jared. This time, they spent almost every day together. On her last night in town, they returned to Orsay, picking up where they left off. As they said goodbye, Jared looked into her eyes and simply said, “We’ll talk.” And talk they did. Weekly calls turned into daily conversations, and before long, they were talking hourly. Their friendship blossomed into something undeniable. They overcame challenges together, exchanging letters, meeting up in new places, and making time for one another—no matter what. On December 11, 2022, after years of serendipitous meetings, heartfelt conversations, and deepening love, Jared and Sydney made it official. Since then, their love has grown stronger with each passing day. What started as a chance meeting has become the greatest love story of their lives, and now, they are ready to start their next chapter together as husband and wife.