Our Story

It all started, fittingly enough, with a selfie. Jacob posted his illegal locker room mirror selfie, and Ashley, ever the rule-follower, went out of her way to message him and threaten to report him. It had absolutely nothing to do with how good he looked in uniform. Not a thing. The important part is, she secured a date.

On the night of that first date, Google Maps deserves the blame for always directing guests to the wrong side of Ashley's apartment, but it's also the reason she can say she laid eyes on him first. Jacob was leaning against his car, waiting for her to come down the wrong stairs, and when he turned, she saw that smile in person for the very first time.

Jacob, ever the gentleman, let Ashley choose the date. She picked sushi, and he sweetly let her eat most of what they ordered. It wasn't until much later that she learned he's not exactly a big fan of sushi, a small sacrifice he's still happy he made.

Although Jacob had warned her, he hadn’t gone into much detail. He was pledging a fraternity at the time and was on "duty" that evening. That night meant he was on call as a driver for whatever the frat needed, mostly driving frat members between different bars and clubs. It turned out to be the perfect recipe for endless conversation and nonstop laughter. They wrapped the night at his apartment, hanging out with roommates and friends, playing games and making their first of many memories together.

Jacob (patiently) taught Ashley how to snowboard their first winter together and it has become one of the things they look forward to most each winter. From the shaky first runs on the bunny slops in North Carolina to chasing fresh powder on trips across the country, the snowy mountains have been the backdrop for some of their favorite memories together.

When Jacob broke his arm on the very first day of a trip to Utah (never call last run!), Ashley stepped up without hesitation — keeping spirits high, handling everything, and refusing to let him hang up his board for good. She's been helping him push through the ailments of old age ever since (he's 29). Whether it's a quick weekend getaway or a full week on the slopes, snowboarding is their adventure.

They matched on Tinder, but both working at Universal had an even bigger impact on their story. Their first conversation began when Ashley responded to a selfie Jacob posted at work, and many of their early dates were spent at the parks, providing endless new experiences and countless chances to learn about each other.

Those Universal dates never stopped. Over the years, they've brought both families, nieces and nephews, to the parks for fun and relaxation. Jacob even pushed Ashley to go after the job she loves there, helping her grow into the person she is today. He also proves his love every year by attending Ashley’s favorite event, Halloween Horror Nights!

So it was only fitting that Jacob proposed in front of the Universal globe, followed by an unforgettable weekend at Universal and Volcano Bay with their families. This year they took their engagement photos at Celestial Park in Epic Universe. Full circle. ♡

Beyond the milestones, it's the small things that make their life together feel like theirs.

Their 6 (yes 6) cats run the house, and they wouldn't have it any other way. Ashley had 2 when they met, Bubba and Bear, who made quick work of making Jacob a cat person. They later took in four stray kittens in hopes of finding them good homes. They did… their own home! This added Karma, Kaos, Smudge, and Sweet Pea to the family.

When they aren’t busy watching their cats zoom around, they enjoy game nights together. They play video games and board games alike, from Mario Kart marathons and choose your own fate games to late-night Monopoly battles. And when they aren’t gaming, they're watching their favorite shows and movies, or reading new books together.

Every chapter before this one — the Uber of a first date, learning how to work together on the slopes, their travels through different fantastical worlds— has been leading somewhere. Now, with the support of their loved ones, they're writing the next chapter together: a wedding, a marriage, and a lifetime of adventures still to come.