Our Story:
It’s not often that you meet your best friend and true love at a Halloween costume party. I actually think its unheard of, but that's how this all started…
It was October 26, 2002 – out at Carlos N Charlie’s on Lake Travis. I was dressed like a b-boy in an all white Adidas jump suit, and she was dressed as a dominatrix, in all black leather….go figure. We jammed out to Jay-Z, we drank Vodka Red Bull, and we had an absolute blast! Jessica and I exchanged numbers through a mutual friend the very next week, and shortly afterwards had our first official date. Umi Sushi was the spot, which is right around the corner from our loft and still one of our all time favorite places to go. At the time, she was finishing up school at UT, and I had just gotten hired at Insight and was living at the world renowned “Club Mecca”. Oh the memories…..
The relationship immediately took off and we spent just about every weekend together – going out with our friends to the Red Fez, tailgating at the Longhorn games, and even back then we enjoyed getting a good sweat at Gold’s Gym. Over the next 8 months, I gradually started piling up my clothes on her floor. We soon realized the mutant sized roaches were out numbering us, so we made a huge decision, decided it was time for a change – and got our own place! Sosa, because he is nice and also a Mexican - helped us move that day, in the pouring rain. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Jessica then took off to Spain for her study abroad – doing ever important research on things like the Spanish language, Gaudi, vino rojo, Latin music, oh and Ibiza. What is interesting is our relationship continued to grown while she was gone, we missed each other greatly.
I had begun to settle into my role as an account manager, and was starting to make some money – and pay off loads of debt from college and my days as Zoolander. Jessica had just graduated from UT, and was searching for her next move. Her sister Olivia came calling with a job opportunity from Los Angeles to partner with her at Wolf Gang Puck Events - and what an opportunity it was. We had a very stressful several days trying to figure out what to do. But we talked, and talked some more, and agreed that we both needed to grow and give each other a chance to develop as professionals – into our own skin. This was a chance to build her resume, and make excellent money as a new college graduate. I was on a similar path. So off she went, to the big city of LA, working with her big sis.
Now, that chapter lasted for a good while. We set rules to see each other almost every month, she would fly to Austin, or I would fly to LA. She was quickly promoted through the ranks, and was doing things that we all dream of – going to the Grammy parties and sitting next to Brad Pitt at the ESPY’s. Back in Austin, I had become a Sr. Account Executive for our Central Texas team and debt free! But over Christmas in 2006, Ryan had had enough, and when I went to see Jessica in LA I gave her one of the best gifts of all time. And I will be honest we are pretty fantastic gift givers. I gave her a key to my new apartment, and I asked her to move back to Austin. The rest is really history, but here are some highlights:
We took a weekend road trip to Indy to get a damn dog - Mr. Kaney, Mr. Z, Manz, Blanco Lobo, Big White Rabbit, we could go on…..
We bought our home together, and are losing money in it every day
She took up Cross Fit with the Kepler/Thiel clan and became an elite competitor – I am her number 1 fan and I have the shirt(s) to prove it
Trips, trips and more trips – Cabo, Costa Rica, Puerto Vallarta, Playa Del Carmen…(notice a trend?)…and most recently SOUTH BEACH for her BIG 30!
An epic search for the perfect engagement ring
A proposal over Christmas
And now here we are celebrating with our family, closest friends, and most of all each other. We love you all and are thankful to have you celebrate this day with us – even though it took us 8 years to get here!
Ryan and Jess
