Go to Ponce City Market and then walk the Beltline

Downstairs at Dark Horse Tavern (Katherine’s all time favorite bar but get ready for great live Karaoke and beer to be spilled!)

Explore Piedmont Park

Garden Room for brunch or drinks

Use this map to find all of our Atlanta favorites

We met at a rehearsal dinner in October of 2020 and quickly discovered that Katherine’s high school best friend, Ann Darby Sovchen, was one of Jimmy’s close friends from Furman. We exchanged numbers, took a selfie, and sent it to her — classic!

But Katherine decided Jimmy wasn't quite ready for primetime.

Almost three years later Katherine was in NYC for a friend’s birthday and mentioned to Margaret Horst (the bride from the 2020 wedding) that Jimmy had been reaching out. Little did Katherine know she’d be seeing Jimmy the next day!

And in fact Margaret called him out — asking Jimmy if he was ever going to actually take Katherine on a date. Spurred to action, that night he texted Katherine saying he wanted to come to Chicago for a real date. Tracks.

Jimmy asked Katherine out the Saturday before she was running a marathon. She had to decline. In fact, she said “No” four times for four different dates until she agreed to go out on a Tuesday night. At that point, Katherine didn’t think Jimmy would show up on short notice and knowing he’d have to fly in from the nations capitol — yet Jimmy was an hour early and Katherine was late (shocker)! But there he was, waiting patiently, having planned a full date night with happy hour and dinner. There was just something about Katherine since the day he met her that intrigued him and blew him away. Whether it was her confidence in her faith, her looks, or her warm personality, it all worked from the start for Jimmy.

At Figo Wine Bar in Chicago, Jimmy asked Katherine what appetizers she wanted. Katherine craved oysters, but didn’t want to seem over-the-top after Jimmy flew in from DC for the night. Katherine must not have hidden it well—another couple leaned over and insisted they order the oysters — and to Katherine’s surprise, Jimmy ordered both oysters and a charcuterie board (her faves)… even though she would later learn he hated oysters. Katherine has since fixed that problem (and more) and he’s learned to like oysters. Whew.

That same couple later asked if it was their first date. When they said “Yes,” the couple replied, “We’ve never seen a couple vibe like this.” From there, they went to a bar where Katherine properly initiated him to Chicago with a Malört shot, took another selfie, and sent it to Ann Darby — only to realize it was three years to the day since they had met. Ann Darby then sent them the original selfie from years back!

A few weeks later, Katherine invited Jimmy to a wedding in Atlanta. Jimmy booked a 5 am flight to Chicago from DC to land and drive down 12 hours with Katherine and Ponce (swoon). After traffic delays, they arrived in Atlanta at 3 am, so he ended up staying at her parents’ house and meeting them the next day.

By month two, Jimmy had met Katherine's family and — like the random couple from the first date —both sides liked the vibe. Later into their relationship, Katherine would impress Jimmy’s family with her steadfastness, intellect, drive, and a simple desire to help Jimmy be his best.

At the end of the day, their story is one that says if you commit to one another, bring enthusiasm to everything you do, show grace, allow room for each other to grow — both together and individually — and strive to follow the Lord, anything is possible.

See you in Atlanta!