Although they did not know it, Jake and Maddie’s story began when they were introduced to each other in a fraternity house in the fall of 2018. It was Maddie’s sophomore year, and Jake had just started his first year at Elon University. The two became friendly over the next year, but ultimately summer came along, and so did Maddie’s fall semester abroad. It wasn’t until January of 2020 when Maddie stumbled back into that same fraternity house, not expecting that this night rekindling with Jake would change their lives forever. A few weeks later, the two took their very first trip together to Jake’s family’s Kiawah home, where their relationship further blossomed. In March of 2020, Elon sent students home for what was presumably spring break. A week turned into two, and classes were then shifted online. During that time and into the summer, Jake and Maddie spent the next five months with Jake's family in Kiawah before returning to Elon in the fall. The two had a quite eventful senior and junior year, starting with Maddie’s wisdom teeth removal, both of them catching COVID, and a sprinkle of grand-theft-auto (where they somehow got the car back). After Maddie’s socially-distanced graduation, the pair returned to Jake’s family’s Kiawah home for another summer together before Jake began his senior year and Maddie began her first year teaching. For the next year, Jake and Maddie spent the weekends driving back and forth between Elon and Raleigh. This year of “medium-distance” was all worth it when Jake graduated and the two finally moved into their first apartment together in June of 2022. As Jake embarked on his first year working as an associate, and Maddie her second year teaching, the pair continued to grow their lives in love together. This love further grew on July 3rd, 2023, when Jake and Maddie welcomed Miley, a ten-week-old beagle puppy, into their little family. This sweet, silly (and stinky) new addition has proven to be one of the best decisions they have ever made. After celebrating four years together, Jake and Maddie closed on their first house in Cary, North Carolina on Leap Day of 2024. Less than a month later, unbeknownst to Maddie, Jake (and Miley) had a plan. On March 22, 2024, after a busy Friday in first-grade, Maddie came home to a red, heart-shaped balloon floating in the garage window. As she stepped inside the house, still in her big, puffy coat, there was Jake on one knee, with Miley and the balloon floating from her collar. Jake and Maddie cannot wait to share their love with you on their wedding day, August 9th, 2025! 🤍