Jake and Maxine’s story began in September 2022 with instant sparks. Their second date had to be rescheduled thanks to Hurricane Ian — duty called for Jake, a firefighter — but once the storm passed, things moved fast. By the end of October, they were officially a couple, and from that point on, they were inseparable.

With Maxine working as a flight attendant, travel naturally became a part of their relationship. Jake always made a point to drop her off and pick her up from the airport, flowers in hand every time. Their adventures quickly took off — from exploring their home state of Florida to discovering new places together: New York, Arizona, Nevada, Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Belize, Mexico, and Honduras.

In April 2023, Jake asked Maxine to move in, and the two began building a life — and a deeper love — side by side. Then in September/October 2024, history repeated itself: more hurricanes threatened to interrupt their next big moment. Jake had to re-plan his proposal three times before finally popping the question on November 15th, right at their condo where it all began. He recreated special memories from their relationship, leading Maxine down a sweet trip through their story — ending, of course, with a very enthusiastic “yes!” They capped off the night with a romantic evening in downtown Naples.

Now, Jake and Maxine are beyond excited to celebrate their next chapter in one of their favorite cities — New Orleans — surrounded by the people they love most.