Tie the Knot
OUR STORY
How We Met
Our story began back in 2005 at our Army helicopter maintenance training. We quickly became friends, bonding over love of music and the many jokes that John would crack in formation just to get Crystal to laugh. John continued his service in the army as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot while Crystal embarked on her own path to a new career. Despite the distance, we kept in touch over the years with once-every-few-years phone calls, just to make sure the other was doing well.
Reconnecting
After 17 years, fate brought us back together, and we realized there was something deeper between us. Those years of friendship had laid a strong foundation for a beautiful relationship. We embarked on a long-distance relationship, with John stationed in Savannah, GA, and later relocating to Corpus Christi, TX, while Crystal lived in Stevensville, MT. We knew that what was ahead of us would be one of the hardest things we have ever done but we also knew, that it was totally worth it.
Navigating Long Distance
Our long-distance relationship came with its fair share of challenges, but in the end, it has only made us stronger. Every phone call, video chat, and visit was an adventure in its own right. Each time, learning something new about each other or listening to a new song together that one of us thought the other would like. Crystal also mastered the art of working remotely from 30,000 feet and racking up frequent flyer miles, while we both became experts at navigating painful airport goodbyes. Despite the distance, we kept each other laughing through the ups and downs, always counting the days until we could finally share the same zip code.
Falling in Love
It wasn’t just the big milestones, but the little moments that made us fall in love with each other. Like the time John brought home a magnolia flower, simply because he remembered Crystal mentioning how beautiful they were. Ever since, he hasn’t missed a chance to pick her flowers on their walks together or even send her pictures of flowers that he sees that made him think of her while they are thousands of miles away from eachother.
For John, one of the moments that solidified his love for Crystal was when we were caught in a rainstorm while cruising on a boat in Savannah. Completely soaked and laughing, a Tool song came on, and we both belted out the lyrics in perfect-to-us-harmony. John realized that he had finally met his match in love of music and adventure.
It was in these moments—through shared laughter, thoughtful gestures, and spontaneous adventures—that we realized we had something truly special.
The Proposal
On December 30th, 2023, during their annual New Year’s trip to New Orleans, John surprised Crystal with a private mule-drawn carriage ride through the historic streets of the French Quarter. He had even packed a bag with champagne and cups to make the moment extra special.
As they rode through the city, the sun cast a golden glow over the iconic buildings of the French Quarter, while their guide shared stories of New Orleans history. John, unusually fidgety, kept checking his pocket (likely to make sure the ring was still there). When they reached the corner of Chartres Street and Esplanade, the carriage driver mentioned that it seemed like a good spot. John then turned to Crystal and said, 'Take a good look at this corner because you’ll remember it for the rest of your life.'
With those words, he reached into his pocket, got down on one knee inside the carriage, and asked Crystal to marry him. Although she can’t remember every word, she’ll never forget John saying, 'Crystal Marie Jarzynka, will you make me the happiest man on the planet and marry me?'
Of course, Crystal said yes! The rest of the day was spent celebrating as they shared the news with friends, family and strangers, all the while Crystal proudly showed off her beautiful ring and her future husband to everyone they passed in New Orleans.
Thank You
We are incredibly grateful for the love and support of our family and friends who have been with us throughout our long journey to get to this point. We can't wait to celebrate our special day with all of you and create new memories together.
Thank you for being a part of our story. We look forward to sharing our wedding day with you and beginning the rest of our lives together!
