Jackie and Andre met in 2021 at Mastro's in Houston. Andre had arrived after a work meeting and was waiting at the bar when Jackie walked in and asked for him at the host stand. There was a moment of confusion. Andre was listed under Arash, his Persian name, which those closest to him have always called him.

Their connection was immediate. Dinner led to drinks at Anvil, though not before Andre offered to drive Jackie nearly 45 minutes home so she could leave her car there before continuing their evening together. Before the evening was over, he had called his best friend, Gus, to introduce her over speakerphone. Jackie was taken aback by his confidence and how naturally he expressed his interest. Andre, meanwhile, felt so at ease with her that he didn't want the evening to end. They spent nearly every day of the following week together, already feeling as though they'd known each other much longer.

With Jackie in Houston and Andre in Dallas, their relationship grew through visits between the two cities and introductions to each other's families. Jackie admired Andre's integrity, generosity, and the way he embraced life, while Andre was drawn to her warmth, loyalty, and dedication to their relationship. The excitement of those early months never quite faded, but over time, they found just as much happiness in the familiar routines of everyday life. Along the way, they came to appreciate the different ways they supported one another. Andre's clarity, and sense of conviction made Jackie feel safe and anchored, while her willingness to listen and offer support gave him the space to share his thoughts and feel understood.

As their relationship grew, so did their connections with each other's families. Both mothers welcomed them with warmth, making each feel naturally at home in the other's family. Meeting Noah was especially meaningful to Jackie. She still remembers his gentle, doe-like eyes and how naturally she felt drawn to care for him. Some time later, Noah wrote their names, Andre, Noah, Kya, and Jackie, into the fresh concrete outside their home. For Jackie, seeing her name alongside theirs was a quiet reminder of the family they were building together.

Their first overseas trip together took them to Turks and Caicos. Away from their usual routines, they spent time exploring and enjoying each other's company. It was during this trip that Andre realized Jackie was the person he wanted to spend his life with. Since then, travel, an active lifestyle, and the pleasure of simply being together have remained important parts of their relationship.

In December 2025, during a trip to Maui, Andre arranged what Jackie believed would be a couples' photoshoot on the beach. Just before the proposal, a honu, a Hawaiian sea turtle, unexpectedly settled beside the flowers. Andre slowed their walk to the beach, giving the photographer enough time to move the arrangement without disturbing the turtle. By the time he got down on one knee, he was so nervous that he forgot his carefully prepared speech. Instead, he simply said:

“I've known since the first day I met you. Will you marry me?”

On June 19, 2027, we'll return to Turks and Caicos, where we took our first overseas trip together, to celebrate our marriage. We wanted to keep our wedding intimate and share it with the people closest to us. Having you there means so much, and we can't wait to celebrate together in a place that's already so special to us.