Our story began in the fall of 2022 at Ole Miss, where fate placed us in the same classroom. We barely spoke, just two strangers in a class full of people. It wasn’t until late spring of the following year that we reconnected as friends through sports—which, if you know us, is no surprise.

A few months later, I transferred to Virginia Tech, while Banks closely followed by transferring to Appalachian State to play baseball and stay as close as he could to me—though he kept that detail to himself at the time. After some patience and persistence on his part, our relationship blossomed beyond friendship.

From the start, our bond was natural, easy, and filled with laughter, as if we’d known each other forever. The long drives, late-night phone calls, and supporting each other from the stands became our new normal.

When it came time to choose where to say “I do,” we wanted somewhere that felt like ours. We stumbled upon West Virginia, only to realize how perfect it was. My parents were born and raised in Wheeling, and much of my family still calls West Virginia home. Banks’ dad’s side, the Tolley family, is from southern West Virginia, near Beckley.

Without even trying, we chose the ideal place to bring our story full circle—honoring our roots while starting this new chapter together.