Old Town Manor

Wedding Day

Our Wedding

A Recipe for Fate

Our story starts in the halls of Kirkwood Community College’s Culinary School — though it technically took us a year to notice each other. Katelynn was earning her degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking &amp; Pastry, while Jacob was working toward his culinary degree two years behind her. Rumor has it that Katelynn even taught Jacob during clinicals at The Class Act restaurant... though Jacob has no recollection of this, likely due to being distracted by her stunning beauty and sassy attitude. After graduation, both found themselves working at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center — Katelynn on the kitchen line and Jacob working his way up through serving, bartending, and eventually supervising. The two didn’t exactly hit it off at first... but that changed in the summer of 2016. Working side by side, they bonded over long shifts, sarcastic banter, and shared dreams — including their mutual desire for a Siberian Husky and a love of the tropics. (Jacob dreamed of disappearing to a deserted island; Katelynn had a slightly more practical plan of moving to Florida. Foreshadowing, anyone?) Their first date was at Jacob’s house, where Katelynn — fresh off a trip to New Orleans — insisted they watch The Princess and the Frog. It was her subtle way of hinting that Jacob was, in fact, an ugly frog. Soon they were inseparable… until Jacob was offered a management position at The Class Act. The catch? He couldn’t date a “lower associate” if he accepted. So, in a dimly lit corner of a dive bar, Jacob made the worst mistake of his life and broke up with Katelynn — for about 24 hours. They quickly decided to keep dating… secretly.

A Dash of Love, a Pinch of Chaos

Jacob still got the promotion, and Katelynn found a new role as a bread baker and cake decorator in Iowa City, conveniently close to Jacob’s house. Not long after, she moved in — along with her cat, Kit. Their family grew again in 2018 when Katelynn rescued a feral kitten named Legolas (nicknamed Nougat), luring her out of the woods with cured salmon from the kitchen. When 2020 hit, they were lucky to both stay employed through Covid — and like so many others, decided the timing was perfect to add another family member. Enter Lilly, a rescued Siberian Husky and retired puppy-mill mom who has been their beloved (and very hairy) sidekick ever since. Between work and pets, they’ve made time for adventures — from Napa and Morocco to Colorado, Michigan, and annual summer trips to Galena. Early on, they even visited Jacob’s grandparents wintering in Punta Gorda, Florida. (More foreshadowing!) In 2022, an opportunity came calling from a former leader at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center — this time in Fort Myers, Florida. After a serious pros-and-cons list, they decided to make the leap. Jacob spent the next month finishing every home renovation project he’d started (and a few he hadn’t) in preparation to sell their house — wrapping up just in the nick of time. As the move drew closer, the reality of leaving their home, family, and the life they’d built together started to sink in. It wasn’t just a career move anymore — it was a turning point. And Jacob realized there was no way he could start this next chapter without officially asking Katelynn to be part of every chapter after. So, he got to work designing a custom engagement ring with a local jeweler in downtown Iowa City — one that reflected Katelynn perfectly. Instead of a diamond, it featured a Tahitian black pearl, something she had once mentioned in passing but never expected him to remember. (He did.) When the ring was ready, Jacob planned a quick getaway to Galena, Illinois, and on July 11, 2022, among rows of vines at Galena Cellars, he got down on one knee. Katelynn said yes — through happy tears — as Lilly looked on, wagging her tail and wondering what all the fuss was about.

Anchored in Paradise

A few months later, they packed their Jeep Renegade with Kit, Legolas, and Lilly, and headed for Florida. Katelynn started at Oxbow Bar &amp; Grill, and a month later, Hurricane Ian gave them quite the welcome to their new home. But they persevered, closed on their first house that December, and have been building their life in Fort Myers ever since. Time has flown, but early last year they decided it was finally time to get serious about wedding planning. When Jacob won two roundtrip tickets on the Key West Express ferry, they took a trip — and instantly knew this was where they wanted to bring family and friends together to celebrate the next chapter of their lives. The rest is still being written… but we hope you’ll join us in June 2026 in beautiful Key West to be part of our story as it continues!

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Limited availability, please contact Jacob or Katelynn directly for room manifest placement.

We’re excited to welcome you to Key West for our wedding weekend! To reserve your room within our special room block at Blue Flamingo Resort Key West, please use the link below. When you click the link, be sure to toggle over to the June dates to view the rooms reserved for our group. From there, you can choose your preferred room type and the nights you’d like to stay. The rate you’ll see already includes the resort fee, so there are no additional mandatory charges added at checkout — just a smooth, easy booking experience. For guests staying at the Blue Flamingo, the resort offers a complimentary shuttle service to downtown, with drop-off and pick-up near Waterfront Brewery (201 Williams Street), just about two blocks from our venue. The shuttle departs on the hour from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, making it a convenient and walkable option for getting downtown and saving on rideshare fares. Please note that for late-night activities after shuttle service ends, an Uber or Lyft will be needed to return to the resort. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 💍✨

Blue Flamingo Resort Key West

Getting Around in Key WestGuests flying into Key West International Airport are strongly encouraged to use a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft rather than renting a car for the weekend. Parking in Key West is extremely limited—especially near Duval Street and throughout the downtown area. While availability may improve slightly during the summer months, parking remains scarce across the island, particularly near our venue and major attractions. For guests staying at Old Town Manor, or at Blue Flamingo Resort Key West and planning to visit downtown, we strongly recommend relying on rideshare services. The Duval Street corridor is highly walkable, making it easy to explore once you arrive. Approximate travel times and costs from the airport (February Rates):Airport → Blue Flamingo: ~7 minutes | ~$16 before gratuityAirport → Old Town Manor: ~15 minutes | ~$24 before gratuity Rideshare services are typically reliable, convenient, and affordable, and will help you avoid the stress of limited parking during your stay.

Key West International Airport

Travel

Itinerary

Sunset Sail Welcome CruiseIn lieu of a traditional rehearsal dinner, we're inviting all of our guests to join us for a private sunset sail aboard a luxury catamaran in Key West. This will be our main “night-before” wedding celebration, and we would love for everyone to be part of it! We’ll be enjoying light bites and a selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages while sailing at sunset. Guests are welcome to make their own dinner plans before or after the cruise, as this outing will be our only organized event that evening. We’ll be reaching out to confirm attendance in advance, but we encourage everyone to plan to arrive on the island by Thursday or early Friday morning so you can join us! 📍 Boarding Location &amp; TimingMeeting Location:Ocean Key Resort Marina (Sunset Pier)0 Duval Street, Key West, FL DateFriday, June 12th, 2026 Arrival Time:Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to departure for check-in and a brief safety orientation. Guests who arrive after boarding time may miss the cruise. 🚗 Getting ThereParking is limited in Old Town. Paid parking is available near Mallory Square and CVS, but we strongly recommend using rideshares, taxis, or hotel shuttles when possible. Please allow extra time for traffic and parking. For guests staying at Old Town Manor, the marina is easily walkable, and that is how Katelynn and I will be getting there. We’ll likely plan to leave as a group around 5:45 PM for anyone who would like to walk together and ensure plenty of time to arrive.

Katelynn & Jacob

Katelynn & Jacob

K&J

Wedding Day