we request the pleasure of your company to celebrate our marriage

there are some moments in life when you just know a bigger force was bringing you to a certain place and a certain moment. we technically met at a rocco's tacos... but those of you who know us best know I (laura) do not count that and to me we truly met at jack's 21st birthday party. let's back up though- after Rocco's tacos birthday party I unfortunately did not remember meeting jack but for him it was love at first sight ( not sure he would say this but let's just go with that) He thought what are the odds I ever see this girl again? So we went our separate ways. A week later one of my best friends to this day roommate at the time an angel human Rachel ( who is photographing our wedding so say hi to her eeeep truly full circle) took and posted a picture of me and her together at a girls night. This photo was reposted by a mutual friend and seen by none other than Jack. He recognized and followed me on Instagram. I saw this and of course stalked his account I remember thinking, "who is this incredibly good looking guy and why did he follow me?" We had a lot of mutual friends so I followed back, but keep in mind I still had no recollection of having actually met him before. We were now connected in the cyber world but still at different colleges in different cities living completely different lives. A week after this Instagram connection we had not messaged or spoken but I was out and about in Delray Beach which I had never in my 3 years of living in South Florida ever been to, and who happens to also be there? Once again you guessed it Jack! He recognized my friend group from the birthday party at Rocco's and crossed a crowded room to ask, "Where is your blonde friend?" I sadly was stuck in the longest line for the girls bathroom ever, so we did not cross paths that night. I felt bad hearing that I missed meeting him for the first time ( At least I thought it was the first time) so I bravely messaged him on Instagram a few days later (yes technically I slid into Jack's dm's first but look at him can you really blame me?) We started chatting and found that we had a lot in common immediately. The 21st birthday party happened to be just another week later. Jack's best friends convinced him to invite me although he was unsure he went with his gut, and my best friends convinced me to go with my gut. It was out of character for Jack to invite a random girl to his birthday party and it was out of character for me an introvert to go to a birthday party full of strangers alone. I was so nervous but I remember telling my mom and my best friend ( and maid of honor so say hi to her too also full circle) Maggie "You won't believe what I'm about to do. I am Ubering 30 minutes to this boy from Instagram's 21st birthday party who I have never even met, but I have this crazy gut feeling I've never had in my life that I have to do this." That gut feeling could not have been more right, after just that one night we became inseparable. Fast forward through almost 5 years of growing up, growing together, and working on ourselves so we can be the best partners to each other in life. On an empty beach in Charleston last May during a gloomy sunset in the most special intimate moment Jack asked me to spend the rest of my life inseparable from him, the most immediate yes I have ever said. We are excited to be celebrating this beautiful moment with so many of the exact same people who were at that birthday party almost exactly 5 years ago to the day! We would not be here doing this without the love, support, and examples all of you have been to us, so thank you from the bottom of both our hearts.