Our story began unexpectedly at an engagement party. Tyler, on leave from the Navy, and I, accompanying my friend Nikki—who’s now one of my bridesmaids—it was like we were the only two at the party. But, at that point, I was seeing someone else, and Tyler had plans to reenlist. That night, we also became the reigning champions of chicken fights in the pool, a title we proudly hold to this day. Despite our immediate connection, I left the party thinking that was the last I’d see of him, yet I couldn’t stop talking about him with my friends and family always ending the conversation with it doesn’t matter I’ll never see him again. About a month later, fate intervened during a trip with my college friends to Coshocton, New York. We were nearing Nikki’s family farm when Tyler called—he had been invited by another friend and was checking our arrival time. Hearing his voice again, I excitedly whispered in the dark to Greer, seated beside me, that Tyler was the guy I hadn’t shut up about for the last 13 hours. Upon arriving, Tyler and I seamlessly picked up our conversation, as if no time had passed. The only difference now was my newfound single status and his decision against reenlistment. That weekend, we were inseparable, and the following week, while Tyler was still on leave, we spent every possible moment together after my internship hours. By the end of that week, despite facing a future of long-distance challenges between Akron and Norfolk, we decided that we would give it a try. The distance, compounded by Navy underways, deployments, and blackout periods, made our time apart feel both insurmountable. The suddenly it was 10 months later, and Tyler moved up to Akron as I finished my last year of college. Five years later, after overcoming an apartment fire, raising two dogs, and buying a house together, we decided it was time to make our “trial run” a permanent. Tyler proposed on the same dock we took our first Christmas card photos on. It was our fifth anniversary. At the time of our wedding, we will have been together just over seven years. We’re thrilled to be celebrating our journey with you and can’t wait for the day we say “I do.” The countdown has begun!