Our Story
Chapter 1
All because two people fell in love
Fate aligned our paths long before we met; but by the means of friendship, love, and a wedding, the pieces finally began to fall into place.
This is how it happened:
It was a warm summer evening in Whitestown, Indiana.
Mark first saw Britt as she arrived to the venue, just before the dinner began. She was running a bit late due to miles of construction on her way through Indiana from Michigan. Britt greeted her friend Kenny, a groomsman, who was also her date for the wedding and took a seat next to him. Mark spied an empty seat across the table from Kenny and his cute friend. It was by fate that Britt was even there in the first place...
Weeks earlier Britt and Kenny made plans to meet up while he was in town visiting family in southwest Michigan. They chatted about what was new in life and how each was doing in there current adventures. The subject of a dear friend's upcoming wedding, whom Britt had met years prior through Kenny, came up. Kenny was to be a groomsman and asked if Britt would like to acompany him to the wedding. Britt happily agreed; excited she would be able to witness her friend tie the knot.
Britt hurried her way into the venue for the rehesrsal dinner. She was relieved to see guest were still standing around chatting, and that she had made it before the dinner began. She spotted her friend kenny who was already there and they found an open table to take their seats. Britt looked around the room taking in the event. She found her gaze locked on a tall, dark haired man. She watched as he placed food on the buffet table. She couldn't explain it but she felt drawn to him... maybe she was just hungry. The tall guy eventually made his way over to the table were he took the seat acrossed from her. Their eyes met and Britt felt a flutter. Kenny said, "this is Mark, he's the best man". Britt responded, "Hi, I'm Brittany". The three chatted through out the dinner and mingled with the rest of the guests.
The next day was the wedding. It was hot. 95 degrees and lots of humidity. Britt being the person that she is texted Kenny who was getting ready with the boys and asked if they or the girls needed her to grab anything. She was on her way to drop off a platter of wraps, to make sure no one was starving before the big moment. Mark saw Britt arrive, he made his way to the kitchen with the excuse that "the bouquets needed more water" so that he could say, "hi" to her. It was from that moment that she was all he could think about, and that it was really hot, but mostly her.
After the exchanging of vows, dinner, and other wedding formalities, Mark asked Britt to dance. Well....more like gestured for her and the other ladies and dates of groomsmen, whom she was speaking with to join himself and a number of other gentlemen on the dance floor. Kenny eventually whispered to Mark, "We're just friends".
Moments laters a slow song came on and Mark put a hand towards Britt, asking her to join him, which she accepted. Brittany smiled as she was happily swept off her feet.
After the wedding, the party continued with a small group of people at a local restaurant. Mark arrived first and saved a seat for Britt next to him at the end of a long table. They talked and laughed the rest of the evening enjoying each others company. The restaurant was closing and it was time to leave. The group gathered outside to say goodbye. Hugs and smiles were exchanged. Mark awkwardly stood there staring at Britt, she leaned in and hugged him goodbye. Mark froze, to nervous to ask for her number. "Well, it was nice to meet you", said Britt, "maybe find me on facebook?' she said smiling. She was surprised he didn't ask for her number.
The very next morning, remembering what Britt had said, Mark searched through Kenny's friends on Facebook to find the cute blonde who he'd been dancing with all evening. Nervously, he sent the friend request and waited....Brittany received the friend request, but waited until the next day to accept.
Mark arrived back home to the east side of Michigan after the wedding. He began trying to think of some reason to go visit the west side of Michigan to see Brittany again. He decided to send Britt a casual message to let her know he was 'planning to take a trip out to Chicago for the 4th of July weekend. "Since I will be 'out that way' maybe we should get together if you're not doing anything..."
Brittany happily accepted Mark's request and invited him to watch the fireworks over Lake Michigan at the beach in St. Joseph. He arrived that afternoon, meeting Britt at a friends house, to park their cars. They walked the few blocks to downtown, St. Joseph. The two went to Schu's for lunch; they sat on the patio, continued to talk and get to know each other. Afterward, they headed down to the water to find a spot and hang out on the beach until sunset for the fireworks. It was effortless conversation throughly enjoying each others comany as if they has known each other for years.
The sun began to set. Britt recognized two familiar faces coming down the beach in their direction... it was her parents. Neither Mark nor Britt were expecting to introduce the other to their family on their first date. However, as fate would have it, Becky and Reiny Fitz decided to go see the fireworks that evening as well; and happened to go to the same spot . It was a funny suprise to say the least, but what made it even more so, was when Britt's sister Caitlin came later and joined as well. Despite Britt thinking the intensity would scare Mark away, it actually became a really funny story. Brittany and Mark enjoyed a romantic end to the evening with a firework display over Lake Michigan...with lots of space between the two as Brittany's parents and sister sat 3 feet behind them. It turned out to be a really good first date.
From that moment on Mark and Britt were inseparable. Talking on the phone or texting daily. Commuting back-and-forth from one side of the state to the other on the weekends to see each other. Traveling and going on adventures together in their first year of dating; Las Vegas for the premiere of the cinematic masterpiece, Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens, Chicago, New York, and Colorado to name a few.
The couple agreed this was going to be a forever kind of thing, and Mark relocated to Southwest Michigan.
Chapter 2
Our Story Continued...
Over the next couple of years Mark and Britt continued getting to know each other better, learnig their differences, faults and what was annoying about each other;. they even had their first fight. Their Love for each grew stronger nonetheless and they knew this was meant to be.
One day Britt went to put something in the (just emptied) recycling bin, noticing a single item, a FedEx overnight box. (Mark is not the best at surprises) her suspicions for the past month or so were confirmed...Mark was up to something...
Under the guise of "going somewhere for his birthday," Mark booked a trip to The French Lick Resort in southern Indiana.
Unbeknownst to Britt he had arranged an up-close elephant encounter at Wilstem Ranch for the next morning, Saturday, August 15, 2020. Britt was confused as to why they had driven 5 hours to southern Indiana to be in literally the middle of nowhere. The exhaustion from getting in at 1 AM and getting up at 7 AM (due to a minor time management error on Mark’s part); was replaced by excitement and glee when Mark said, "We're here for the elephant encounter." Britt was overwhelmed with emotion. Immediately, the angst of the moment was gone and replaced with pure joy at the thought of getting up-close and personal with a three ton elephant, and thinking to herself, "this might be the day he asks me that specail question".
Due to an oversight on the part of the Wilstem staff, the reservation was confused with another and the couple was informed they were a bit early, but encourage to explore around a bit. About a half hour later the error was realized. Mark and Britt were hastily ushered to a building about 300 yards up a hill. Mark was a bit nervous that his plan was now ruined. The couple jogged up the hill and open the door to the large metal building. There infront of them, stood the most magnificent creature, a 37 year-old, female African elephant named Lou. They were invited to come in and feed her some fruit, take pictures with her before it was time to help with her bath. Mark, trying to quickly prepare while Britt's attention was on the elephant, nervously tried to get something from his pocket. Brittany turned to face the camera while standing next to the elephant, and noticed Mark getting down on one knee. Her heart fluttered with excitement. It was in that moment when she realized what was about to happen. She couldn't contain her tears. "Will you marry me?" asked Mark. After some ugly crying and using Lou for support to her shock and excitement, Britt said, "Yes!" Finally, Mark proposed! He addressed the elephant in the room and put a ring on Britt's finger.
Chapter 3
Being written now.....
We excitedly await our wedding day to become husband and wife and share our love for one another in the presence of our friends and family. We hope to see you all as we celebrate, and begin this next chapter of our life together and the many adventures that await us in the future.
It is with much Love and Joy, we hope to see you there!
The bride and Groom,
Britt and Mark