Tucker first spotted Bertina in ROTC at Ohio State back in 2017, but it took a few months (and a lot of food talk) before they became good friends. It started with casual chats about dining hall meals and grew into a shared mission to try every good spot in Columbus—especially Buckeye Donuts. Looking back, those foodie adventures were probably their first dates… they just didn’t realize it yet. They spent more and more time together, insisting to friends they were “just friends” (spoiler: they weren’t for long). In 2019, things took a turn during a backyard “Viking Spaghetti” night—pasta boiled over a bonfire, no utensils—and a hiking trip where Tucker surprised Bertina with a kiss. That unexpected moment led to where we are now. By the end of the year, she met his family and, after a long Christmas break apart, made it official in January 2020. Just as they were settling into couple life, COVID hit. What was supposed to be a quick visit to Cincinnati turned into three months of quarantine together. Definitely not your typical start, but it worked! Fast forward through long-distance Navy life, countless airport goodbyes, and lots of phone calls—Tucker popped the question after Bertina’s deployment in December 2023 on a trip to Asheville, NC. They bought a house in Norfolk, VA last spring and are so ready to finally be in the same place. Now they can't wait to celebrate with all of you!