If you’ve been around us long enough, you already know our story has always been about finding our way back to each other.

In September 2014, we were both attending Northern Virginia Community College — young, still figuring life out, and not expecting to meet the love of our lives. Somewhere between classes, we bumped into each other and officially met on September 3rd. From the very beginning, something just felt different. The conversations were easy, the laughs came quickly, and it felt comfortable right away, like home.

Our first date was on September 12th, and we watched the movie As Above So Below. By September 19th, we were officially dating. At the time, we had no idea this date would one day become the happiest and most meaningful day of our lives.

Those early years were full of young love, fun, chaos, and growing up. We cared deeply about each other, but like most young adults, we were still learning who we were as individuals. About a year and a half later, life pulled us in different directions. Brian left for school, and Jenine focused on growing her career. Letting go was one of the hardest choices we had to make, but what makes our story different is we never truly left each other’s lives.

Though we weren't together, we stayed friends. We would still FaceTime for hours, talking about life, relationships, and everything in between. We shared the same friend group, so in many ways, we were always still there for each other.

In October 2022, life did what life does and brought us closer again. We started becoming more than friends again, with intention this time, but still taking things slow.

By July 28th, 2023, we realized that nothing between us had ever really changed. This time, with no uncertainty, we decided to commit to what we had always known — we wanted to be together.

The truth is, we were only holding back all that time because we were scared. Scared of getting hurt. Scared of losing each other again. But once we made it official, everything felt easy… familiar… like home again but completely new at the same time. We weren’t the same people we were years ago, but our dreams and goals still aligned just the same. That’s when everything clicked. There was more understanding, more patience, and more intention. And the best part was that, instead of growing as individuals, we got the chance to grow together, as a couple, and soon to be husband and wife. Deep down, even when we weren't together, we both knew we'd always choose each other and this was it.

On Christmas Eve 2024, Brian asked the question in the most unexpected and romantic way. Consisting of seven long poems, Jenine read through the eyes of Brian which re-created our last 10 years together. The ending of each poem gave a clue to where she could find the next poem, located with an object that has ties to our past. The final poem, located in the Christmas tree, finished with the instructions to turn around, where Jenine found Brian on one knee, asking her to spend forever together. The “yes” came instantly.

And now, on our special day — September 19th, 2026 — the very same day we first became official in 2014, we get to stand in front of the people we love most and say “I do” to each other… and to every version of ourselves that brought us here.

Our story isn’t perfect — it’s real. It’s friendship, love, timing, growth, second chances, and choosing each other again and again.

And after everything, we feel incredibly lucky that we get to spend forever together because...

it’s always been you.