After finally accepting that the possibility of finding the “right” person for me to settle with and have children was potentially not a part of my destiny. I had a conversation with God and said “Okay, God I accept my life for what it is and although I desire to be married and have children someday, I choose to live by your will.” I started focusing more on myself, my career, my future, and my favorite hobby of all my fitness. I was dedicated, and would go to the gym nearly every day at the same time. And lone behold there was someone who appeared to share the same dedication and persistence as myself. After months of observation (haha girl math) I came to the conclusion that Mark was a good guy. He kept to himself in the gym, and seemed to be liked by most people as I would see them greet him. I never saw him with other girls and observed he had no ring on his finger either. Then fate stepped in, and on an empty Saturday afternoon there he was on the racks by himself. I offered him a protein bar, which he declined haha (that's so him to do so btw). He politely explained the pre-workout would make him nauseous if he ate. We began to converse and the best way I can describe it is I felt the most instant feeling of attachment, peace, and reconciliation I’ve ever experienced. I felt like I knew him, like I’ve known him and the best way I could describe it is that I had missed him and how happy I was to see him again. From that day on, our life took flight and we sped through all of the firsts, without a second thought. I listened to my heart, and trusted that this is my person and I went in whole heartedly. I began a new life with him, with all the adjustment that it takes to let go of what feels comfortable and safe. I knew that sharing a life with him would make every leap of faith worth it. Mark is not only today my husband, the father of our son, but he is truly my best friend and the most important person in my world. He is a man of few words, but assuringly he is a man of his word. He is loyal to his dedications and I feel so blessed to continue to grow and share our life together. Therefore, we cannot wait for the celebration of our love and marriage together this July 25, 2025. Just one day before our son Mark turns a year old. There is so much to be thankful for, and it all begins with the unfailing love and protection of God. Thank you all for taking the time. -Brianna O’Brien Brianna (and now, little Marky) have given so much purpose to my life. Marriage and children were never on my horizon as I traversed adulthood. I thought that life was best when flying solo and that independence was the most surefire path to a happy and fulfilled life. Those sentiments held true for quite some time... until I met Brianna. As she explained above, we met at the gym on an unassuming, quiet, and sunny afternoon. After our brief first encounter, I felt compelled to ask this stranger for a hug [and stopped myself from going in for a kiss haha], which was very out of character for me. I could quickly ascertain that she had the potential to be a true partner and someone that could challenge me, and help push me to greater heights. As we continued to embark on our joint journey, it became clear that my sentiments above no longer held true. Our shared lifetime became more important than independence, our mutual love and passion became more important than selfish amibitions, and our new combined destiny gave way to a new thought process, and an altered perspective of our limited time on this earth. Fast forward, and we are married, have an amazing, healthy, joyous little baby boy, and are re-celebrating our union with all of our closest friends and family. Although life is moving at warp speed, we want to slow it down for one Friday evening, to capture precious moments that money and power can never replace...and we hope that you'll join our celebration and remember what matters most in life. -Mark O'Brien III