While the story of Sydney and Stewart seemingly started during the uncertain and trying times of the Covid pandemic, it actually dates back to the (not quite as) uncertain and trying times of… Middle School.

While neither can remember their first time meeting each other, Sydney and Stewart were part of their church’s orchestra, spending quite a bit of time getting to know each other and bonding over a love of pranks. Sydney, having a “thing” for dark hair and brown eyes was quick to develop a crush on the wholly unaware Stewart.

No good story is complete without unrequited affection and missed connections, so naturally, as the two friends entered high school, Sydney’s crush and attention turned elsewhere as Stewart’s own feelings grew for her: devastatingly poetic.

Life distanced the two, Sydney off to Athens, Georgia to attend the University of Georgia, and Stewart relocating to Oxford, Mississippi to study engineering at Ole Miss.

The occasional hometown meet-up at Chick Fil A and random “checking in” text was all that would keep the two connected for nearly a decade, until 2020.

Sydney, still traveling as an Atlanta based flight attendant and Stewart, a Norfolk, Virginia based Navy Officer, found that a more long distance friendship and closeness sparked between them during the dawn of the pandemic. The two friends agreed to watch “The Office” over Zoom in order to keep connected with a friend as quarantining and social distancing pervaded the world.

It was during a particular Zoom call of talking and laughing all night when Sydney noticed the sun rising on Stewart’s side of the computer screen. It "dawned" on her (see what we did there) that the same crush she had in middle school never really left, and so she confessed her feelings. Luckily, the stars finally aligned, and Stewart was quick to reciprocate his mutual feelings.

The two agreed to give “whatever this is” a shot.

Stewart and Sydney continued to build and define their relationship through long distance, as well as a deployment that brought Stewart across the Atlantic Ocean. However, with daily emails and handwritten letters, their bond did not diminish and continued to strengthen until Stewart *finally* moved back to Georgia,

Through their four years of partnership, Sydney and Stewart have enjoyed nights cuddling Calcifer (Sydney's cat) on the couch, a daily NYT puzzle morning routine, Lord of the Ring marathons, bar hopping around their neighborhood Marietta Square, getting lost together in Rome and Paris, weekend escapes up to the Blue Ridge mountains, sharing new music with each other, and spawning new inside jokes that they’re not even quite sure make sense anymore.

On May 4th, 2024, Stewart *surprised Sydney by bringing her up to Blue Ridge for their final trip as “boyfriend” and “girlfriend”, choosing to propose to her on the porch of their cabin rental, canopied by the forest and as the rain was pittering down on the leaves around them.

Sydney, of course, said yes, and they spent the remainder of their weekend dreaming up the rest of their lives in that little cabin together.

The two look forward to exchanging their vows with friends and family in the neighborhood where they have started to build a life together.

* - Sydney knew this was coming