It all began at a camp party back in 2017—a night destined for history books, or at least our wedding website. We were the last two awake, and while others were dreaming about s'mores and mosquito bites, Jake was passionately explaining to Melissa what a McGriddle was. Was it love at first sight? Not exactly. After that night, Melissa and Jake didn’t speak again for two years. (Spoiler: Jake’s McGriddle monologue wasn’t exactly a conversation starter.) Fast forward to 2019, when Melissa decided to make the first move and asked Jake out. He said he was busy. Undeterred, she tried again. Still busy. Finally, on the third (and final!) attempt, Jake accepted—though he now admits he was just nervous the whole time. Their first date was at Piper Arms, where they bonded over Coors Light and a lot of chatter. By the time Stirling Fair rolled around that year, Melissa and Jake were officially dating. Life was good—until Melissa casually revealed to everyone but Jake that she was heading to New Zealand in January 2020 to complete her Bachelor of Education. Jake finally got the memo closer to her departure, and somehow, they decided to give long-distance a shot. For 10 months, Melissa and Jake navigated time zones, video calls, and probably a lot of late-night "I miss you" texts. When Melissa returned, they picked up right where they left off, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. Together, they’ve started their careers, bought their first home, adopted their sweet dog Ivy, and—oh yeah—got engaged. Now, Melissa and Jake are so excited to celebrate their next big milestone: getting married! They can’t wait to party with all their family and friends, surrounded by love, laughter, and maybe even a few McGriddles.