Tyler and I got set up at my sister’s best friend’s wedding- by her best friend’s mom! I had been texted about it a month earlier and sent a few pictures of this insanely handsome guy. So, when I arrived at the wedding I was on the lookout. I sat down, was looking around. All of the sudden, a lady (Tyler’s mom) walked up and said “Tyler!!” to the guy sitting directly in front of me. The dots connected and I spent the next hour or two excited and nervous to finally meet him. When I went up to congratulate the bride and groom, the bride told me, “I have been praying about you guys meeting all day!!” I said “on YOUR wedding day?!” We met, couldn’t stop talking and as cheesy as it sounds danced the night away. I asked my sister if we were hitting it off and her response was “are you even asking me that right now?” Afterwards, Tyler came to the casino with us. He gave me a little blackjack cash, I tripled his money. We joked that the night counted as half of our first date. I was completely head over heels smitten. The next day, Tyler called and asked if he could come pick me up and take me on a real date because he “couldn’t wait until Florida” to see me again. We went out to dinner, then to Dave and Buster’s. I won, earning me the nickname Champ and Tyler Runner Up. We talked on the phone pretty much every day from that day on and spent every second that we could while I was living in Florida together. I quickly realized that I had never met anyone as servant-hearted, hilarious, sweet, hard working, fun and thoughtful as Tyler Blackburn- and that I had fallen in love with him. Ever since, being by his side has been my most favorite place in the world. I am so overwhelmingly grateful for God’s heavy hand in our story and I could not be more excited to marry the love of my life surrounded by all of the people we love!!
The afternoon of December 29,2023 I left for a friend’s wedding not knowing by the end of the night I would meet my future wife. I sat at the ceremony unaware the bride, mother of the bride, my mother, and several others had planned to set me up with someone you all know as the beautiful bride-to-be Sydney Herzog. During the reception, the bride Dani Mahon called me to the sweetheart table and surprised me by telling me she had a cute girl she wanted to set me up with. Pointing to a group of girls headed towards the bathroom about 50 yards away, I had no idea which girl she was referring to. I sat there with the bride and soon, was introduced to her. She was stunning and I looked like a complete mess with a recently shaved head and a mustache. She was so sweet and I thought to myself, “You know what, I probably don’t have a chance here but we might as well have a fun night before she heads back to Florida and I never see her again.” We danced the night away, talking and joking and before we knew it the wedding was over. As I was planning on leaving my future sister-in-law Tay asked me if I wanted to join her, her husband, and Sydney at the casino for some post wedding fun. That night, I gave Syd $40 and she tripled it at the blackjack table which I like to tell people is the exact moment I think I fell in love with her! The rest of the night consisted of us talking about anything and everything about each other staying up far too late for our own good. The next day I was at home reminiscing about the night before thinking about how much fun I had wishing I could see this girl again before she left to go back home. Before I could think through what I was going to say, I called her and left a voicemail asking to take her out on a date that night. She finally responded and we went to Dave and Busters where she loves to point out she earned the nickname “Champ” and decided to call me “Runner Up”. (For the record, I beat Syd in most competitive things so those nicknames aren’t accurate). After that night, she went home and before too long we were texting or talking on the phone every single day becoming great friends. What stood out to me most was how in love with God she was. I was in a bad place mentally and spiritually when I met Syd and she helped me pull myself out of that dark place with just her words. Over the next half a year I was able to visit her, she was able to visit me, and when I found out she would be moving back to Arizona I couldn’t wait any longer. On a work trip to Atlanta with my family, Syd came to meet me to spend some time together. I had a whole plan to take her out to a nice dinner the next night to officially ask her to be my girlfriend, but the night she arrived I couldn’t wait and decided to ask her right then. Ever since we have grown stronger in our relationship, in our faith, and in our love. I have always believed that I didn’t deserve someone as amazing and beautiful as Syd, but God had a different plan for me. I have been blessed with a woman who loves the Lord, loves others, and loves me with all her heart. (Not to mention she’s an absolute smoke show and going to be the best momma ever!) I am the luckiest man in the world and I think it’s about time she changed her last name! P.S. A huge thank you to Teri McLena for introducing me to my wife