As you know, Matt and Alison planned to be married on Fort Myers Beach. Unfortunately, plans quickly changed after learning about the damage and devastation that had occurred following hurricane Ian. Many of our favorite bars, restaurants, hotels and shops were completely destroyed by the hurricane. Although we were heartbroken about what happened in Ft. Myers, we are excited to move forward and continue the celebration on St. Pete Beach. The sandy beach, fun restaurants, live music and the beautiful sunsets make for the perfect destination to celebrate our love. We are excited to have a new place to share with all our wedding guests and start our forever. We would love for all of you to join us for a celebratory weekend on the beach and fall in love with St. Pete Beach like we have!

Alison and Matt met sometime between 2011 and 2012 at a house party in Lexington, Kentucky through mutual friends. They both went to school at University of Kentucky. Shortly after meeting the two quickly became very close friends. They spent almost every weekend in school together going to bars, having cookouts and tailgating with their big group of friends. It wasn’t until after college, while still living in Lexington that their friendship took a turn in a different direction. During a Keenland tailgate, it was suggested by Alison’s Mom, Jacquie, that the two should date. Shortly after, they decided to give it a try. Their first official date was at Parlay Social (a bar in downtown Lexington). The two dated on and off while in Lexington and even after they both moved to Columbus in 2015. After a handful of years apart, the two started running into each other again through mutual friends and one late night Alison sent Matt a text. The text read something like “Hey, what're you doing?” and the couple reconnected. Shortly after reconnecting for the last time the couple became inseparable. It only took them (really just Alison) about a decade to realize that they were meant to be. They moved in together two weeks before the pandemic and have only grown stronger since. They bought a house together in November 2020 with their pup Gracie and on May 5, 2022 Matt popped the question and their love story continues...

Alison had been asking about an engagement for a while, however it was very important to both of them that it be a surprise. While Alison was on vacation with her Mom, Matt called Chris (Alison’s Dad) up to meet up for drinks… hmm. Matt asked Chris for his blessing and of course he said YES. Alison had no idea when or where it would happen and neither did her parents. On May 5, the couple decided to take a walk downtown with Gracie, their Golden Retriever. They live in Franklinton, about 1 mile from the Scioto River in downtown Columbus. They usually walk past a popular bridge which overlooks the city so it was not out of the ordinary to take a walk on Alison’s day off. On a midday walk, Matt got on one knee and totally surprised Alison when he asked her to be his wife. Alison was surprised once again when she saw their friend Jermaine (Matt’s best man) run up in a wig to catch some photos of the couple. The couple celebrated that night with both of their families and quickly started planning their wedding. Exactly one year from the day they got engaged, they are so excited to celebrate their marriage with all their family and friends.