Story

Matt and Amanda met teaching marching band together, in 2011. Amanda thought Matt was cute, and Matt was barely aware of Amanda’s existence. A few years later, Amanda popped onto Matt’s radar when she attended his 30th birthday party, thrown in his parents’ backyard, as someone’s plus one. After that, they stayed in touch some, and finally hung out when both of their groups of friends went to Bar BQ Bar (Orlando), in December 2012. They tucked away into a photo-booth to chat alone, then of course took a few photos. Fast forward through coffee shop study/work hangs, trivia nights, and lots of chicken wing date nights, and boom, they’re  in love. Matt had his own business, and Amanda had studies. Through all of this, they learned they could count on each other. Make compromises. Depend on support. Have all the fun all the time. And. Above all. They became a team. A strong team.

Amanda moved to Jacksonville only a few months after she and Matty became a thing. She would also spend a few summers in Maryland, a month in Sabine, Tx, a year in Gainesville, and four summers in Mississippi. Wherever she went. Matt would follow. 

In December 2018 Matt proposed to Amanda, in that same photo-booth they first stole away to. Amanda had planned to propose to Matt that night, she had really set the scene; she rented a cabin down town, planned a reunion tour where they visited all their old Orlando haunts, and she had ended the night in that photo-booth on purpose. With a hidden camera set up in the booth, and her grandfather’s ring in pocket, she started, by saying a few words of gratitude towards having Matt in her life. Then Matt spoke of his gratitude as well, and pulled out the vintage ring he had found in England (the first place they traveled together over seas). She pulled out her ring, and they both said yes.

Forever. Yes.