Alannah & Chris

May 2002

Our Story

June 2022

Welcome to Our Story, where our love unfolded over 22 years with unexpected twists and enduring strength. While we originally wondered why we didn't start our life together all those years ago, but we now realize the relationship wouldn't have survived long-term with everything we needed to experience separately. Everything happens for a reason!

Alannah (formerly Michelle) and Chris first met through mutual friends in high school in 2001—Chris a senior and Alannah a junior. During our brief time together, we cherished every moment, including Prom and celebrating Chris' high school graduation in 2002. Our relationship blossomed through the summer, but we decided to part ways to embrace life's adventures.

Chris and Alannah maintained their friendship for several years after high school. In 2007, Chris enlisted in the Navy and went to Pearl Harbor, HI. Despite the distance, their love briefly reignited. However, the timing wasn't yet right for them to begin a life together.

Over the next 17 years, Chris and Alannah stayed in touch sporadically as they navigated life's lessons separately.

During this time, Chris dedicated himself to serving our country with pride. He served aboard the USS Lake Erie in Pearl Harbor, HI, worked as a Navy Recruiter in Greenville, SC, served as Operations Department Leading Chief on the USS Truxtun in Norfolk, VA, and was promoted to Senior Chief with the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Squadron in Jacksonville, FL. His time in the Navy brought him immense fulfillment. He was honorably discharged in 2022.

Over those 17 years, Alannah contributed to the Navy's mission in her own capacity as a Defense Contractor at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, where she held various customer service and management positions. In 2017, she moved to Arlington, VA, taking on the role of Deputy Program Manager for the Army's Integrated Personnel and Pay System contract.

In 2020, Alannah began a career transition into the field of complementary and alternative medicine. Over the next few years, she earned certifications in hypnotherapy and coaching, launching a part-time business. Amidst the pandemic, she continued growing her business and supported her Army and Navy clients remotely, allowing her to leave Virginia. In 2021, while briefly residing in Spring Hill, FL, just three hours away from Chris (per Facebook), she contemplated reconnecting but hesitated, knowing he was married. The timing wasn't yet quite aligned.

In 2022, Alannah settled in Milledgeville, GA, purchasing a home and continuing to build her business while supporting the Army remotely. She made the decision to resign from her Defense Contractor position in mid-2023 to focus full-time on her business pursuits.

In July 2023, as part of her personal growth journey, Alannah chose to change her name from Michelle. Believing in the profound impact of words on our well-being, she extensively studied this concept and concluded that this change was essential for her continued personal development. While not an easy decision, it carries no negative connotation towards her previous name or family. Alannah is grateful that Chris has embraced this aspect of her identity and has respected her choice by never referring to her as Michelle since the change.

In early 2023, Chris relocated to West Virginia to help care for his mother and begin his adjustment to civilian life. He reconnected with Alannah via Facebook, leading to frequent conversations. Later in the year, he began a career in the trucking industry that took him on trips around the country.

Their relationship began to blossom again in August 2023, reigniting from a distance with daily conversations. By Thanksgiving, they reunited in person, instantly reconnecting as if no time had passed since High School. Chris visited Alannah (and Sandy) in Georgia shortly after, and they've hardly been apart since.

Their engagement was sealed in April 2024, when Chris proposed to Alannah in Panama City Beach, FL, a special moment on the Gulf Coast they both cherish.

Opting for a small, intimate wedding in Las Vegas, Chris and Alannah celebrated their union surrounded by those closest to them. They've reflected on their individual journeys, recognizing the growth and preparation needed to embrace this new chapter together authentically and wholeheartedly.

Through much experiment, they've learned valuable lessons about relationships and self-discovery over the past 22 years, now relishing the freedom to travel and enjoy life together, unencumbered by their previous career-addicted personalities and commitments.

Chris is now pursuing a career in Sales and Marketing allowing him to utilize many of the skills he learned in the Navy. Alannah is currently a self-employed a business coach and consultant helping coaching and alternative medicine businesses get off the ground and flourish. She utilizes many of the skills she's acquired through college studies, her time supporting the government, and her personal studies in alternative medicine practices.

Chris and Alannah enjoy spending time with their dogs Sandy (Alannah's 10 year old Labrador Retriever) and Jax (adopted in April from Chris' dad), visiting various RV parks, boating on Lake Sinclair near their home, and fixing up their 100+ year old Colonial home in Georgia. The two love spending time together, traveling, and planning the future of their new life together. They are spending their honeymoon in St. Lucia, a place Alannah has always dreamed of honeymooning.

We thank you for taking to time to get to know us and learn about our 22 year relationship! We invite you to watch our 5 minute wedding ceremony and enjoy the pictures here. If you'd like to send us a message, please feel free! We'd love to hear from you!