Justin and Jo-Anna met by happenstance in 2010 in Sacramento, CA. Justin made his interest known and Jo-Anna was unsurprisingly stubborn; in turn, Justin was characteristically persistent. Over the next year the two spent some time together as friends and when Jo-Anna moved to Oakland late 2011 their romantic relationship ensued. The two have been inseperable ever since. |
At the end of May 2013, Jo-Anna made one of her imromptu road trips to Los Angeles for a friend's birthday and to attend her sister's baby shower in San Diego. Before getting on the road Justin handed Jo-Anna an iPod preloaded with songs that related to their relationship in some fashion. Justin had a plan but Jo-Anna thought he was just being his normal romantic self. While in Los Angeles, Jo-Anna was rifling through her purse and came across a love letter that Justin snuck into her bag before she left. Once again, Jo-Anna was pleasantly surprised but unsuspecting of what was in store. On the drive back up to Oakland, Jo-Anna (who was dressed in sweats, wearing glasses, and had her hair in a bun) told Justin how tired she was and complained of a headache. Justin told her that he would order food so Jo-Anna could just relax when she arrived home.
Jo-Anna made it to the house and walked in to find 100+ candles lit everywhere with the same playlist from the iPod playing in the background. Justin told her to take some Ibuprofen, take a shower, grab some of the Chinese food he ordered and relax. Jo-Anna, amazed at how thoughtful Justin was, walked over to the medicine bottle he placed on the kitchen counter and began to open it. As soon as she turned around to grab water out of the fridge, she saw Justin waiting on his knee with THE RING. Jo-Anna, overwhelmed with emotion and in total disbelief, fell to the floor. Justin... shook his head and told her to get up.
Justin told Jo-Anna that she was amazing, that he loved her, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Then he asked the big question "will you marry me" and Jo-Anna said "Duh. Of course." Then she kept him up for hours while she took a million pictures of her ring. |
Justin and Jo-Anna are getting married on December 1, 2013 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The ceremony will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and the reception will follow from 6:00 p.m. to midnight at the International Swimming Hall of Fame nearby.
If you received an invitation please RSVP by September 28, 2013. |
