Taneel Nichole Burke

Taneel is a native of Tampa, Florida. Her parents Charles Burke and Linda Glover along with her step mother, Sandy Burke have supported and helped her to earn a Bachelors of Science Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters of Education Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of South Florida. Taneel has been an elementary school teacher since 1999, where she has taught both first and second grade students in the Hillsborough County public school system. Taneel also works as a tutor and a mentor for underprivileged children in the urban areas of Tampa. Taneel plans to continue working as a teacher while gaining the experience needed to become an administrator at an elementary school in the future.

Nicholas Robert Ziegler

Nick, also a native of Florida, was born in Gainesville and raised in Fort Myers, Florida by his parents Edward and Linda Ziegler. After high school, Nick moved to San Antonio, Florida to attend Saint Leo University and then to Tampa where he attended the University of South Florida. Nick is currently working at a local golf course and as a server at a restaurant in Tampa while continuing his education and preparing to past the P.A.T. which will allow him to work as a P.G.A. apprentice. Nick is working on a degree in Golf Course Management at Saint Leo University. After graduation he plans to become a P.G.A. professional and work in tournament operations.

How We Met
Nick and I were working together at a local restaurant. We had our eye on each other for quite some time before either one us had the courage to speak to the other. Luckily Nick was able to muster up enough courage to ask me if I would like to hang out after work one night. I, of course, agreed. We began dating in March of 1998.
When we got engaged:
January 1, 2003

How It Happened
Nick and I spent part of the Christmas holiday and New Year's in Europe with our friends Teimour and Shari in 2002. We were in London, England for New Year's Eve. The four of us went to a very posh nightclub to ring in the New Year. Just before midnight, with champagne in hand we began the countdown. Right at midnight, while people were cheering and kissing one another, Nick pulled a beautiful ring from his pocket and asked me to make him the happiest man in the world by becoming his wife. At first I thought he was just kidding, but the look on his face and the ring on my finger told me otherwise. I told him "yes" many times and we spent the rest of European vacation on cloud nine. It was perfect!