The Story

The Story of KJ and JJ

Dearest family and friends, we know you have many questions about the wedding: Why Boston? What activities do you have cooked up?

We love KJ--but who the hell is JJ?!!

The answers are: because it's awesome, many, and that's a long story. But you've come to the right place for answers. 

The story of KJ and JJ began on March 27, 1981, when Katherine Barrett Johnson (KJ) was born to loving parents in Chicago. Four months and two days later, Jonathan Jellis Rawlings (JJ) was born to loving parents on the West Texas frontier. KJ would go on to grow up in Maryland with a nickname that garnered universal acclaim. Before JJ settled in Tennessee, his mother feared that his middle name would provoke teasing by his classmates, and she insisted he have a nickname. Thus Nate (aka Natertots) began his journey. 

After a distinguished early career as a public servant, law student, and stints in tech and corporate law, KJ returned to work at the White House to clean up the world via regulation. Natertots spent his early adulthood living in a series of tents, bivouacs, armored vehicles, and some of greater Baghdad's finest abandoned factories. In 2014, he left a civilized city with real pizza and a working subway system to move to the swamp and try his hand at government, too.

A well-orchestrated blind date led to six months of girlfriend-boyfriend happiness. Then Natertots followed KJ to the White House, into an office at the opposite end of a 100-yard marble hallway. In the most powerful building in the world, through speeches and regs, they helped keep the world safe for democracy. 

In the summer of 2016, Natertots proposed and KJ said yes. But as the wedding planning began, there was a small problem: KJ & Natertots made a terrible hashtag. But #KJ&JJ ? The digital media kids said that would work. 

KJ and JJ are thrilled you're making the trip to Boston to help celebrate the official addition of the ampersand to their names. They have many fun activities planned, and on these pages you'll find a full schedule (a KJ special), details about travel, where to stay, what to do, and more. 

So get pumped--see you in Beantown! 

-KJ & JJ