We got married! 4/11/26

Our story started in a place we know well — Plum Market. At the time, Tessa was a manager, and Patrick had recently moved to town and was working as the catering sous chef. Before he even arrived, there was already a spark of curiosity — his dad, who worked in the produce department, casually mentioned his son was coming to town… and Tessa’s ears definitely perked up. Not long after, Patrick made his entrance — and somehow it all began with a simple message: “Yes, Chef!” Between avocado toast, long shifts, and shared laughs behind the scenes, something quietly started to grow. But there was one small complication — as manager and employee, we weren’t allowed to date. So, like any great love story, ours began in secret. Stolen moments, knowing glances, and a connection that only grew stronger the more we tried to keep it under wraps. Eventually, love won — and Patrick made the decision to leave Plum so we could finally be open about what we already knew was real. Not long after, life tested us in ways we didn’t expect. During a year-long health journey, Patrick never left Tessa’s side. That season only strengthened what we already knew — that we were meant to walk through everything together. Once recovered, we made the move to Grand Rapids to be closer to Patrick’s children, Quinn and June. Meeting them made everything feel even more certain — this wasn’t just love, it was family, and it was meant for the long haul. A year after our move, we purchased our first home together — a place to build our future. After a year and a half of being engaged, with Tessa’s mother’s health in a delicate place, we decided not to wait any longer. We chose an intimate ceremony at her parents’ home, surrounded by immediate family, where Tessa wore her mother’s wedding dress — a moment that felt both deeply personal and incredibly full circle. From Plum Market beginnings to building a home and a family, our journey has felt like a poetic story unfolding — one that continues to grow, deepen, and lead us exactly where we’re meant to be.