Wawasee graduate Jessa Henry and her soon-to-be fiancé, Zack Folan, are asking for the help of their family, friends and Jessa’s home county to help them win a 60 Second Love Story contest.
North Webster native Jessa Henry, 28, and her boyfriend, Zack Folan, 28, celebrate their chance meeting and how it grew into an incredible love story every day. The only thing that could possibly make it better is if their story is chosen as the grand prize winner in a 60 Second Love Story contest.
The love story between Zack and Jessa began on a red-eye flight in 2010. Zack was flying cross country from Baltimore, Md., to pick up his two precious daughters from a previous marriage. Jessa was returning from a ski trip with friends. There was an instant connection and the two stayed up all night talking and learning about each other.
Their relationship began building over Skye sessions, email exchanges and of course, phone calls. They agreed in July 2010 to try the long distance thing. Then, in March 2011, Jessa left her home behind to start a new life with Zack and his daughters in Maryland.
The 2002 Wawasee High School graduate worked for almost 7 years as a licensed massage therapist at Anthony Chiropractic in Warsaw while she worked toward a college degree. When she finished her bachelor’s degree in business management, she and Zack made the decision that Jessa’s career search should take place in the Baltimore and D.C. area where Zack is the executive suite sales manager at the Verizon Center for the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards.
“With some hometown contacts I was able to land a job with Biomet Mid Atlantic in Baltimore,” says Jessa.
Although Jessa admits she never had experience with children, the connection with Zack’s two daughters – ages 3 and 5 years old – was just as instantaneous as it was with Zack. “There is never a dull moment!” she says. “[They] never cease to amaze me with the questions they ask and the amount of love that they give out. After never even having so much as babysat it’s amazing how quickly the 3 of us were able to bond.”
Having earned the title of “bonus mom” to Zack’s daughters, Jessa says the six of them – herself, Zack, the girls, the girls’ mother and her boyfriend – ” … have become quite the friendly modern family.”
While planning to marry, the couple came across a unique opportunity to try to acquire one perfect sparkler that would begin their happily ever after in style. They entered a jewelry store’s contest called 60 Second Love Story. For the contest, couples create a video that tells of their unique love story. The kicker is the video can only be 1 minute in length. Zack and Jessa’s video is one of only 8 finalists.
Although Zack hasn’t officially proposed to Jessa, they are planning a June 2013 wedding. Zack is waiting to see if they’ll be awarded the $10,000 engagement ring to present to Jessa, but even if they don’t win, she says he’s planning an event they’ll always remember.