Once upon a time, Melissa and Jay found themselves working alongside each other at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. Their interest in each other was sparked when a mutual colleague pointed out they were both only children who probably had a lot in common. Several days later, on a bright Sunday afternoon, Melissa was on a lunchtime stroll through the neighborhood and saw Jay eating lunch by himself. She asked if she could join him. After lunch she kept walking, but this time with Jay at her side. Their new friendship quickly progressed to a relationship with lots of neighborhood walks, lunch dates, and even homemade snacks subtly left for each other in the break room refrigerator. Over time, their relationship blossomed into a romance, and the two discovered their similar interests, values, and dreams.

On a warm Alabama Autumn evening, Jay proposed to Melissa at Pulpit Rock on Cheaha Mountain in Talladega National Forest. She said yes! With Melissa's love of birdwatching and Jay's love of SCUBA diving, the two felt the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, Melissa's home state, would be the perfect venue to celebrate their marriage with their friends and family. Please join us for a dreamy night under the sea full of fun, food, family, friends, and fish!