Groom	Jeffrey Michael Owens, born June 24, 1970, in Titusville, Florida. As an only-child, Jeff spent most of his youth in Florida. He graduated Mainland High School in Daytona Beach and went on to get his BS MIS degree from the University of Central Florida in 1996. Regarded as entertaining, intellectual, and driven, he has always tried to reach his best.
Bride	DeAnna Faye Rice, born October 27, 1972, in Chicago, Illinois. DeAnnas family moved to Orlando, Florida when she was still quite young. After high school, she enrolled in the University of Central Florida where she, too, received her BS MIS degree. While she is viewed by many as caring, intellectual, and energetic, the fact that she is beautiful is only a bonus.
How We Met	Okay, here's the soap-opera. Try to follow along. Once upon a time in a college classroom, Jeff was approached by a guy named Matt, "Where did you get that Kenwood jacket?" "I was a rep at a car show once," Jeff replied. As it turned out, Matt and Jeff had met a couple of years before at a car show in Daytona Beach, but neither of them remembered. Soon they became great friends. [Okay... so now Jeff knows Matt - in comes DeAnna.] DeAnna and Matt had been dating for about a month already when Jeff met DeAnna -- they all became friends and would all do things together with others from time to time, but it was difficult because Matt and DeAnna lived about 30 miles apart from each other. Matt and DeAnna's relationship started out as friends and the "dating" thing just wasn't working. As time passed, Jeff found himself in the middle of their delima -- hearing their concerns from both sides. Both DeAnna and Matt wanted to go back to being good friends but were reluctant to make the final decision before the end of the semester (they were in the same class). Now, you might be thinking that Jeff caused this to happen - but he didn't. He respected their relationship fully - and did nothing but lend them his ear. Granted, he thought Matt was crazy for not wanting to stay with DeAnna, and he told Matt so on several occasions. So... the end of the semester arrived, and both DeAnna and Matt told Jeff seperately that they planned to part. Now, this was interesting because, out of the blue, Matt insisted that Jeff was perfect for DeAnna and that he should be the one with her. Ironically, Matt had come to the perfect conclusion. Jeff liked DeAnna (a lot) and wanted to be with her, but it wasn't until he realized that Matt was serious that Jeff finally realized how excited he was about the idea. Little did Jeff know that DeAnna felt the same way about him. So, DeAnna and Matt finally parted -- it wasn't a bad thing, in fact, they now have a great friendship! Now, all three of them (along with Matt's new fiance') often "hang out" together. Everything worked out so perfectly (maybe it shouldn't be called a soap opera), and the rest is history in the making!
Engagement	DeAnna and Jeff dated for 3 years. Soon after college, Jeff would make his move. DeAnna loves fondue, so Jeff took her to a romantic fondue winery. The food was excellent and the atmosphere romantic! After nearly two hours there, enjoying each other's company, it was time to leave. Before getting in the car, though, DeAnna was surprised to find the passenger side stuffed with red roses. Many kisses later, they headed home. Upon arrival, DeAnna was delighted to find it dark because, at the end of the long entry hallway, was a perfectly romantic fire. After a few cozy moments by the fireplace and some tasty wine, Jeff knelt down on one knee, looked into DeAnna's lovely eyes, and asked her to marry him.
Family	Jeff's rather small family consists of: his mother, Jan, and her husband, Bob Elton, an attorney, who live on the east coast; Jeff's father, Jim, and stepmother, Sandy, who live up north, where they have their own business; and four sets of grandparents that he enjoys visiting. DeAnna's parents, Lorraine and Paul Rice, live in central Florida. Her father is a senior engineer and her mother is an office manager. DeAnna's brother, Greg (a soon-to-be superstar movie director), wherever creative opportunity sends him. The other members of DeAnna's family live in Illinois and Ohio.