Carl and Jackie met back in 2018 through mutual friends. They both started dating other people after they met, but, luckily, those people were friends too. They got to know each other as the years went by, diving together, boating together, and just hanging out with friends. If you ask Carl, he remembers one day back in 2018 when all of them were on a boat over on lake boca in Boca Raton, FL.

One of Carl's favorite songs was on, which Jackie also enjoyed dancing to. Both of their partners at the time didn't like dancing, but if you know Jackie - she is a heartache on the dance floor and Carl loves a good song- they shared a friendly dance together.

To this day, Carl will tell you "that's when I knew she was different".

A few years went by, Jackie's relationship went sour, then a couple months later, so did Carl's...and shortly after that, they both realized that they enjoy the same things - fishing, diving, exercising, being outside, traveling, etc. So they started hanging out as friends...Almost. Every. Single. Weekend.

Carl, today, will tell you that he realized very quickly how Jackie was not one to pass up.

Jackie, on the other hand, was ready to swear off relationships forever and just be alone with Louie for the rest of their lives. Boy, was she wrong.

Weekend after weekend in 2023, they were diving and spearing together, fishing together, or going to local events together, to which Jackie made clear - "just as friends".

In May of 2023, one of their fishing clubs hosted an event at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL - where both Carl and Jackie decided to attend as it meant an entire weekend of fishing, spearfishing, fun, and everything was taking place at this prestigious Yacht Club.

The two of them drove down together, as they normally would for any other spearing or fishing or diving trip that they had gone on before. Talking the entire way, getting to know each other even more as they made their way down to the keys.

Little did Jackie know, Carl was only going on this trip to spend more time with her.

On the very first night, they both went to happy hour with the fishing club by the pool which was a ton of fun. Everyone disbursed and said they'd meet up for dinner at a certain restaurant, so Jackie and Carl went to the restaurant.

No one was there.

They sat for a few minutes and once they realized no one was coming, they went over to The Islander restaurant and sat at the bar for dinner. (Jackie wanted to make sure this was a casual dinner and that Carl shouldn't get any ideas). And if you know Jackie and you know the Islander, it is probably one of the best seafood restaurants on the planet - right up Jackie's alley.

All night, Carl was trying new sushi rolls, Uni shots (which he'd never tried before), this seafood, that seafood, as Jackie recalls, Carl kept saying "whatever you want. I'll try it". All night he had been opening doors for her, driving the golf cart for them, and making the decisions as they went along.

Definitely something that Jackie was not used to.

Her eyes finally turned into little hearts as they sat and talked and ate and drank at this amazing restaurant. They ended up staying until the place was almost closed.

Then...they get back into the golf cart and Carl takes a detour on the way back to the condo...

He drives to a bridge and turns all of the lights off on the golf cart.

((Where Ocean Reef is located, you can see MILLIONS of stars on a clear night.))

He said " I just wanted to look at the stars for a minute "

That was it for both of them.

And the rest is history.

9 months later they moved in together, 2 weeks after that, they got engaged, 5 months after that, they're married in Martha's Vineyard. 7/4/24

And on July 27th, they get married again in Pompano!

Travel

Tru by Hilton Pompano Beach Pier

Fort Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa