Courtney
and
John
join us on
164 days until our greatest adventure!
Our Story
During the pandemic, in the digital age of FaceTime, Zoom calls and swipes, two adventurous souls named John Rusnak and Courtney Hitzel embarked on an unexpected journey that began with a "match" on a dating app. Little did they know that this virtual connection would lead to much more.
One fateful day, they agreed to meet at a local brewery in Columbia, South Carolina. At first, there was a touch of apprehension, the kind that every online dater knows all too well – would they end up catfished, or worse (with Covid)? But as they say, love conquers all fears, and after the first few minutes, the initial panic subsided. They both left their first date elated… the kind of feeling you get when you win a game of Monopoly Deal, or pull fresh baked cinnamon rolls out of the oven. Conversation flowed effortlessly, as if their souls had known each other for lifetimes. It was supposed to be just a casual brewery meetup, but by the end of that night, it was clear they had something special brewing between them.
Fast forward to the day Courtney got a job offer in Atlanta, Georgia – it was a leap of faith, but John didn't hesitate to take a leap of love. He followed his heart and found a job in Atlanta to be with her, and they became inseparable. From music festivals, to cruising down the Atlanta BeltLine and finding joy in everything they did, it was clear they had met their match.
Their love story continued to ascend, much like hiking a mountain. During a European adventure with friends, John led the group to an unmarked path after descending from the highest point in Germany, the Zugspitze mountain. What seemed like a normal hike led to a momentous proposal that took Courtney by surprise. After a few "let's take more photos," John dropped on one knee and popped the question overlooking Lake Eibsee, to which she answered “yes, yes, yes, a million times yes!”
John adores Courtney's delightful goofiness; her spontaneous British accent, goofy facial expressions, witty one liners and seemingly endless memory bank of movie quotes ensure there is never a dull moment. She not only makes him a better person but also adds a whimsical touch to their days. Courtney has self diagnosed OCD, but John would tend to agree. If you invite her over just don’t let her near your pantry unless you want it color coded (ROY-G-BIV), labeled and inventoried three ways. Courtney is the hardest working and most detail oriented person you’ve met. John often says “there is type B, type A, and then there is Courtney.” John finds her hardworking nature endearing, as she gives everything her full attention and never does anything halfway. With Courtney, saying no to silly ideas is simply out of the question, making their shared moments both romantic and hilariously unforgettable.
Courtney would say John is a bundle of “Golden Retriever” energy who bakes the best sweet treats and always keeps her laughing. He lights up a room and is such a positive force in her life, always cheering her up and calming her down in times of stress. She absolutely admires John for his ability to make decisions, keep his cool in stressful situations and always see the glass half full. After dating John for a few months, she started to lose the ability to open doors with how chivalrous he is. He loves playing video games with friends when he's not busy saving lives as a nurse or finding an excuse to ride his electric scooter. John’s playful and childlike personality at times keeps her young.
They love to explore and travel together, focusing not on material things but experiences they can share, especially if it involves cutting it up on the dancefloor. Their upcoming wedding, set against the majestic backdrop of a mountain, symbolizes their shared love for the great outdoors and the heights of love they've already reached (yuck - who wrote this?). It will be a day filled with adventure, laughter, and non-stop dancing.
One fateful day, they agreed to meet at a local brewery in Columbia, South Carolina. At first, there was a touch of apprehension, the kind that every online dater knows all too well – would they end up catfished, or worse (with Covid)? But as they say, love conquers all fears, and after the first few minutes, the initial panic subsided. They both left their first date elated… the kind of feeling you get when you win a game of Monopoly Deal, or pull fresh baked cinnamon rolls out of the oven. Conversation flowed effortlessly, as if their souls had known each other for lifetimes. It was supposed to be just a casual brewery meetup, but by the end of that night, it was clear they had something special brewing between them.
Fast forward to the day Courtney got a job offer in Atlanta, Georgia – it was a leap of faith, but John didn't hesitate to take a leap of love. He followed his heart and found a job in Atlanta to be with her, and they became inseparable. From music festivals, to cruising down the Atlanta BeltLine and finding joy in everything they did, it was clear they had met their match.
Their love story continued to ascend, much like hiking a mountain. During a European adventure with friends, John led the group to an unmarked path after descending from the highest point in Germany, the Zugspitze mountain. What seemed like a normal hike led to a momentous proposal that took Courtney by surprise. After a few "let's take more photos," John dropped on one knee and popped the question overlooking Lake Eibsee, to which she answered “yes, yes, yes, a million times yes!”
John adores Courtney's delightful goofiness; her spontaneous British accent, goofy facial expressions, witty one liners and seemingly endless memory bank of movie quotes ensure there is never a dull moment. She not only makes him a better person but also adds a whimsical touch to their days. Courtney has self diagnosed OCD, but John would tend to agree. If you invite her over just don’t let her near your pantry unless you want it color coded (ROY-G-BIV), labeled and inventoried three ways. Courtney is the hardest working and most detail oriented person you’ve met. John often says “there is type B, type A, and then there is Courtney.” John finds her hardworking nature endearing, as she gives everything her full attention and never does anything halfway. With Courtney, saying no to silly ideas is simply out of the question, making their shared moments both romantic and hilariously unforgettable.
Courtney would say John is a bundle of “Golden Retriever” energy who bakes the best sweet treats and always keeps her laughing. He lights up a room and is such a positive force in her life, always cheering her up and calming her down in times of stress. She absolutely admires John for his ability to make decisions, keep his cool in stressful situations and always see the glass half full. After dating John for a few months, she started to lose the ability to open doors with how chivalrous he is. He loves playing video games with friends when he's not busy saving lives as a nurse or finding an excuse to ride his electric scooter. John’s playful and childlike personality at times keeps her young.
They love to explore and travel together, focusing not on material things but experiences they can share, especially if it involves cutting it up on the dancefloor. Their upcoming wedding, set against the majestic backdrop of a mountain, symbolizes their shared love for the great outdoors and the heights of love they've already reached (yuck - who wrote this?). It will be a day filled with adventure, laughter, and non-stop dancing.