Welcome to Our Surprise Vow Renewal Celebration!

When we got married on April 21, 2020, the world was in lockdown. There were no aisles or altars, just love and a promise to stand by each other, no matter what. Just a few months later, we were granted custody of my wife’s youngest sibling, and overnight, we became parents. We didn’t get to plan a wedding, take a honeymoon, or celebrate with the people we loved most. We became homeowners, caregivers, and partners in parenting all at once. We’ve grown so much together over the past five years. We've laughed, cried, and built a life grounded in love and teamwork. So on April 19, 2025, I planned a surprise vow renewal and gave my wife the wedding she never had but always deserved. She thought she was attending someone else’s ceremony, but walked into her own. This day was a thank you: for her strength, her love, and for doing this life with me. We made it through so much, and we did it together.

The story goes that Syd spotted Whit, the bright-eyed freshman class president, across Moody Caf and just knew. Or maybe it was Whit who first saw Syd, the aloof, athletic sophomore crossing Front Quad, and couldn’t take her eyes off him. We may not remember who saw who first, but we’ll never forget what came next. At one legendary Valentine’s Day party, Syd made the first move, and the rest was history. After three years together (and one breakup), a sweet dog named Onyx, and a post-grad move to New York City, Syd got down on one knee in our Harlem apartment, and Whit said yes.