We're Getting Married!

In 2018, while living in the small beach town of Fort Myers, FL, an Account Executive and HR Associate (at the same company) showed up to Daruma Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Lounge for a mutual friends birthday (shoutout to Carsyn). Garrett & Melissa shared a mutual disappointment in Tinder and Bumble and love for travel...they talked for hours...even long after the check had been paid and their friends had departed. By the end of the evening, Melissa assured Garrett they'd be best friends...oh how little did they know. Two more times that month, they would randomly see each other. Once, an unexpected ride downtown where Melissa would tell the entire car that she regretted swiping left on Garrett not once but twice on Bumble. And again, during a fantastic night out at the bar - where Melissa would inhale an entire pizza by herself and then leave without saying goodbye. Before losing hope forever, Garrett used his sales prospecting skills to find her on Facebook. He sent a message...and waited...for 3 days. Melissa finally replied - "nobody slides into DM's on Facebook...message me on Instagram." For over an hour, he had to convince her that it wasn't weird for sales and HR to go on a date. While she didn't agree to the date...she did agree to purposely meet out for drinks with her two friends in town from college. BULLSEYE. It was at this point, Garrett wrote perhaps the cheesiest most memorable poem of all time "Roses are Red, Arizona has Cactuses, I can't believe I got you to go out with me using Gartner best practices." The night out was a total success...Melissa's friends were 100% positive that Melissa should give Garrett a chance (pro tip - always buy late night tacos for the group). One crockpot full of Melissa's homemade buffalo chicken dip, Oscar Meyer's approval of Garrett's entry into 'the pack', and a "formal" date back at Daruma later...they became inseparable. Sunsets and brunches w/Oscar on Sanibel Island and at The Cottage on FMB, boat days with friends, Bachelor/Bachelorette Monday nights on the couch, karaoke and Italian food at Mona Lisa's...Fort Myers had become more than just a beach town...it was the beginning of forever. They would move to Dallas together (Melissa surprisingly agreed sight unseen after 3 months of dating) where they would continue to flourish. BBQ and Tacos...walks with Oscar Meyer on the Katy Trail, and all the trips to the Farmers Market they could handle. Global Pandemic? Please. Nothing could separate these two...not even Covid itself. Trips to Lake Tahoe, Key West, Texas wine country, St. Croix, and weddings galore...Instagram filled with endless "mems." They moved right outside of DC to Arlington, VA and cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Old friends and new would come into their lives who they cherish so much. More trips to Arizona, Florida and Utah...new jobs, new adventures, and new challenges...but something was still not yet quite right. In September of 2021...the most epic trip of all. Europe. It was ambitious to say the least...11 days, 5 countries and a surprise for the ages on 9/6/21 in Interlaken, Switzerland. After much worry about the rainy weather, and Melissa's investigator skills, Garrett finally convinced Melissa to go out to Lake Neuhaus for a surprise sunset picnic. Upon arrival, the most romantic and beautiful post rainy sunset was seen amongst a teal lake surrounded by mountains, and majestic white swans everywhere - it was a real life fairytale DREAM!! Garrett popped THE question (will you accept this rose?), handed her a rose in her confusion, and then proposed marriage.. and Melissa said YES TO FOREVER! They went on to enjoy a special 6 course meal at the Swiss chalet and a Euro trip of a lifetime as newly engaged fiances! Now, here we are. Preparing for that exciting first step...Littleton, Colorado...a fairy tale wedding of majestic, mountainous red rock proportions...we can't wait to celebrate with you all on June 22, 2024!