Sarasota has always been Hallie's happy place. Her Gigi & Papa (Mom's parents) built a house there in 2002, and since then it's been a special family vacation spot. Gigi passed away in 2014, but Hallie knows she still had an instrumental role in her ending up in SRQ. In her senior year studying broadcast journalism at Indiana University, she started to apply to news stations all around the country. One market she totally overlooked was Sarasota. She got a call from a 941 area code on her cousin Hersh's (who is also officiating the wedding) birthday, March 1. It was SNN, a news station in Sarasota. Not only had Hallie not applied - she had never even heard of it! One week later, on her Papa's 75th birthday, March 8, she got offered the job. She moved to SRQ five days after graduating college and never looked back. In April of 2018, Hallie's mom Debbie was visiting her and insisted they go dancing on a Friday night. Naturally, Hallie took her to the Beach Club on Siesta Key. If you've been there, I need not say more. If you haven't, it's not exactly the place you'd go expecting to find your future spouse. Jake spotted Hallie from across the room, and Hallie looked back his way. Jake insists he went up to Hallie first; Hallie insists she went up to Jake..guess we’ll never know. He'll never forget what she was wearing: a multicolor (of course) off-the-shoulder, two-piece top and skirt. And Hallie, for different reasons, will never forget what Jake was wearing (ask her about his ensemble). Jake bought her a drink and they started talking. It was only Jake's second week living in Sarasota after moving from Pittsburgh. His love of baseball brought him to the Suncoast, taking a job with the Bradenton Marauders. The two discovered they both studied broadcast journalism, but Jake really had a passion for sports. At that time, the Sports Director position at SNN was about to open up. Jake ended up getting the job on May 23, Gigi's birthday. The rest, as they say, is history!

Jake & Hallie had met up only in group settings since that fateful Beach Club night. They planned to finally hang out alone on a Wednesday night, and Jake made it clear he even turned down golf with "the fellas" to hang with Hal. Knowing Jake, that made quite the statement to Hallie, who was equally as excited about Jake. They decided they would pick up dinner from their mutual favorite restaurant, Chipotle, and watch a movie. Hallie was all ready for that plan, until Jake showed up at her door with a big cooler with "YOUNG" written on it in faded black sharpie. In the cooler was Tito's & lemonade to make some cocktails, and, of course, string cheese & an apple. You never know when or where Jake will need a snack. "Ok, should we hit Chipotle?" Hal asked. "We could always go out somewhere?" Jake said. An actual restaurant? Not Chipotle?! Hallie knew this guy was serious about her. Jake was new to Sarasota so Hallie picked one of her favorite spots, Surf Shack, for some tacos at their upstairs piano bar. Their first date, for both of them, felt like their 100th. After tacos, strawberry jalapeno margaritas & a drive over the Ringling Bridge, the two of them knew this was only the beginning.

Hallie thought she knew exactly when it was coming: April 27, their 3-year anniversary. And Jake used that to his advantage while planning. April 23…. It was just like any Friday at work (at least for Hallie). Coincidentally Hallie got her hair done that morning, which also worked in Jake’s favor. Meanwhile, Jake was on air with Hallie and had to keep it together. After the early newscasts, Hallie thought the two of them were going home to make dinner on their break. Jake told Hallie to leave her car at SNN because he packed a cooler for a surprise picnic (shoutout to best man, Lucas, for the Kanga cooler). Jake took Hallie to the bayfront and walked her to a spot they’ve never been before. He held her hand and in retrospect, she noticed they were definitely clammy. They got to the spot and laid down a picnic blanket, and Hallie sat down. Little did Hallie know, Jake coordinated everything down to her being on her “good side” for the photographer when he got on one knee. That’s when Jake asked Hallie to be “forever Young” with him. That was just the first surprise of the night. Jake walked Hallie down the road to dinner and to her surprise, he had coordinated with the Peilet’s and Young’s for them to be there. Hallie never cried so many happy tears! The two still swear that was the best night of their lives…until December 3, that is.