Brian:

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Jacque and I started working together on the management team at the recording company Arts Laureate in April 2021. I knew in the very first moments of our first Zoom call together that she was special - someone I desperately wanted to know better. She was (and is!) absolutely brilliant and it was instantly clear we shared a connection worth exploring.  

 

Of course, I’d noticed her several months before we started working together. Arts Laureate used a messaging platform that featured photos of employees … and Jacque’s photo was striking. The first time her photo popped up in the company chat I remember thinking, ‘Wow, that’s the most beautiful, classy, glamorous woman I’ve ever seen in my life.’ Little did I know that she’d be even more so in person.

 

Anyway, within a week of us working together, I found myself frequently staying up until 4 and 5 in the morning chatting with her - dang that west coast / east coast time difference! Every day, I’d wake up for work after only a few short hours of sleep, completely exhausted, and yet so immensely grateful for my time with Jacque. I missed Jacque’s voice the moment our conversations ended each night. And, I was energized each morning knowing I’d get to hear her voice again. Honestly, if you haven’t heard Jacque speak (let alone sing!), let me tell you, she’s got a gorgeous voice. And, she happens to be the most fascinating, impressive people I’ve ever met. I was (and continue to be!) overwhelmed by her smarts, talents, interests, passions, and accomplishments.

 

Honestly, it was so wildly obvious to me I’d found a rare gem in Jacque, that I didn’t hesitate at all when (after knowing each other a short time) she suggested a visit from California. And, that first visit was AMAZING. We discovered our connection in person was just as real (more so!) than what we’d experienced on Zoom and over the phone.

 

Within a day of Jacque returning home, I booked a trip to visit her in California. On that trip I got to meet Jacque’s beautiful family - Donna, Victor, and Vanessa (and of course Pearl!) who welcomed me with love and kindness. I met many of Jacque’s close friends who I now am honored to call my friends as well. And I fell even deeper in love with this amazing woman whom I never would have met, but for our remote work at Arts Laureate. 

 

Jacque moved to the east coast soon after my California trip (I actually purchased her a one-way ticket while there) and we’ve been inseparable ever since. We do everything together and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Whether it’s camping, dancing, singing, reading, cycling, cooking, building puzzles, watching true-crime documentaries, playing Dungeons and Dragons (yep, she got me into that!), or walking with our senior pup, Cosmo - we do it all as a team.

I'm incredibly grateful to share this life with such a loving, gentle, talented, patient, beautiful, adventurous soul. I'm a lucky, lucky man and cannot wait until October 8th!

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Jacque:

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On a complete whim I applied for a job that was posted for less than 15 minutes in a classical singers Facebook group. The job was audio editing for virtual choirs during the pandemic and I'd be trained as we went. My first "office" job! I was so excited! We even had company zoom meetings once a month! And, on such a meeting, when I saw the Managing Director on the company zoom call, I froze in my tracks.(Or, office chair... My fish noticed.) He was the most handsome man I'd ever seen. Also a conductor and musician? *And* old-school refined and elegant? This guy surely wasn't for real.

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On another complete whim on my exit interview as things were slowing down I said I'd be open to project managing. Don't know why, just blurted it out. And what do you know, I got the offer the next day. Brian and I spoke for the first time at that point. And he was delightful. There, I discovered that he's funny too? And we like the same weird things? Who is this man?! 

We started to zoom for work, daily... Then hourly.

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There wasn't an exact moment when it hit me. I just always knew. I never wanted to stop talking to this man. Find out what he's thinking, laugh at his genuinely side splitting jokes, just be near him. He's truly the love of my life I have been waiting for (I know this now). I flew out shortly after "meeting" to see for myself if this was actually real.

And I've never left.

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Over the past year we have grown individually and as a couple. Meeting at this stage in our lives where we fully know ourselves and what we want has made the experience that much sweeter.

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I count myself the luckiest woman in the world to marry this remarkable man. Brian is hilarious, generous, kind, brilliant, and my best friend for always.

I adore his family, my family actually prefers him over me, and I can't wait to share this moment with you all, my friends.