Our story starts in the halls of Kirkwood Community College’s Culinary School — though it technically took us a year to notice each other. Katelynn was earning her degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry, while Jacob was working toward his culinary degree two years behind her. Rumor has it that Katelynn even taught Jacob during clinicals at The Class Act restaurant... though Jacob has no recollection of this, likely due to being distracted by her stunning beauty and sassy attitude.

After graduation, both found themselves working at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center — Katelynn on the kitchen line and Jacob working his way up through serving, bartending, and eventually supervising. The two didn’t exactly hit it off at first... but that changed in the summer of 2016.

Working side by side, they bonded over long shifts, sarcastic banter, and shared dreams — including their mutual desire for a Siberian Husky and a love of the tropics. (Jacob dreamed of disappearing to a deserted island; Katelynn had a slightly more practical plan of moving to Florida. Foreshadowing, anyone?)

Their first date was at Jacob’s house, where Katelynn — fresh off a trip to New Orleans — insisted they watch The Princess and the Frog. It was her subtle way of hinting that Jacob was, in fact, an ugly frog.

Soon they were inseparable… until Jacob was offered a management position at The Class Act. The catch? He couldn’t date a “lower associate” if he accepted. So, in a dimly lit corner of a dive bar, Jacob made the worst mistake of his life and broke up with Katelynn — for about 24 hours. They quickly decided to keep dating… secretly.

Jacob still got the promotion, and Katelynn found a new role as a bread baker and cake decorator in Iowa City, conveniently close to Jacob’s house. Not long after, she moved in — along with her cat, Kit. Their family grew again in 2018 when Katelynn rescued a feral kitten named Legolas (nicknamed Nougat), luring her out of the woods with cured salmon from the kitchen.

When 2020 hit, they were lucky to both stay employed through Covid — and like so many others, decided the timing was perfect to add another family member. Enter Lilly, a rescued Siberian Husky and retired puppy-mill mom who has been their beloved (and very hairy) sidekick ever since.

Between work and pets, they’ve made time for adventures — from Napa and Morocco to Colorado, Michigan, and annual summer trips to Galena. Early on, they even visited Jacob’s grandparents wintering in Punta Gorda, Florida. (More foreshadowing!)

In 2022, an opportunity came calling from a former leader at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center — this time in Fort Myers, Florida. After a serious pros-and-cons list, they decided to make the leap. Jacob spent the next month finishing every home renovation project he’d started (and a few he hadn’t) in preparation to sell their house — wrapping up just in the nick of time.

As the move drew closer, the reality of leaving their home, family, and the life they’d built together started to sink in. It wasn’t just a career move anymore — it was a turning point. And Jacob realized there was no way he could start this next chapter without officially asking Katelynn to be part of every chapter after.

So, he got to work designing a custom engagement ring with a local jeweler in downtown Iowa City — one that reflected Katelynn perfectly. Instead of a diamond, it featured a Tahitian black pearl, something she had once mentioned in passing but never expected him to remember. (He did.)

When the ring was ready, Jacob planned a quick getaway to Galena, Illinois, and on July 11, 2022, among rows of vines at Galena Cellars, he got down on one knee. Katelynn said yes — through happy tears — as Lilly looked on, wagging her tail and wondering what all the fuss was about.

A few months later, they packed their Jeep Renegade with Kit, Legolas, and Lilly, and headed for Florida. Katelynn started at Oxbow Bar & Grill, and a month later, Hurricane Ian gave them quite the welcome to their new home. But they persevered, closed on their first house that December, and have been building their life in Fort Myers ever since.

Time has flown, but early last year they decided it was finally time to get serious about wedding planning. When Jacob won two roundtrip tickets on the Key West Express ferry, they took a trip — and instantly knew this was where they wanted to bring family and friends together to celebrate the next chapter of their lives.

The rest is still being written… but we hope you’ll join us in June 2026 in beautiful Key West to be part of our story as it continues!