At Local Pulse, we love good news. We also love love and we love Pensacola. So, when Woody Dobson invited us along to document his proposal to Hannah Zimmern at the Saenger Theatre yesterday, we immediately said yes (spoiler alert).
Woody is an 8th grade World History teacher at Ferry Pass Middle School and Hannah is the Director of Operations on The Zimmern Real Estate Team and also the Co-Director of Pensacola Mardi Gras. Yesterday around 5pm, Hannah’s father, Danny Zimmern, told Hannah that they had a Mardi Gras meeting at the Saenger Theatre. Little did she know, there was no Mardi Gras meeting and her soon-to-be-fiancé was waiting backstage while some of her biggest life cheerleaders were crouching behind a balcony in the seats atop.
Danny and Hannah were lead down to the front seats by Jeffrey Sharp, General Manager, Saenger Theatre and he told them he would be right back with some of the team’s Mardi Gras ideas. He never came back. Instead, the giant, red velvet curtains were draw and Woody was stood there with a bouquet of flowers and a stunning engagement ring from Bere Jewelers. He confessed his love before kneeling down on one knee and asking her to be his forever, and of course, she said YES! And of course, the rest of us were in water works.
While the pair became engaged at one of their favorite Pensacola locations, they initially met online.
“Our first date was Aug 21, 2022 at Zoe’s Kitchen at the mall. It was a five hour date because we just clicked and it felt like we’d known each other forever. There wasn’t any awkwardness; it just felt natural,” said Hannah.
This first date came just two months after Woody had moved to Pensacola from Tupelo, MS. Starting a coastal lifestyle in Pensacola was a welcomed contrast to his hometown.
“It was surreal,” said Hannah. For example, Tupelo is a place that is basically closed on Sundays. There are some events occasionally and they are just now getting their first Target.”
Once they started dating, Hannah showed him all there is to love about Pensacola; the theatre, sports, endless food options, breweries, coffee shops the beach, and all the other thousands of events that are in Pensacola all the time. This doesn’t even include Pensacola Mardi Gras, one of Hannah and her family’s biggest joys and biggest events of the year.
“Woody got thrown into a world that was unknown to him of large scale events, parades, krewes, Mardi Gras traditions, and definitely was a crash course in all things Pensacola and my family. He jumped right in and loves every second,” said Hannah.
We are honored to be a tiny part in your love story and we know that entire community of Pensacola will be cheering you on because that is exactly what you do for our community.
“Pensacola is home to some of the most incredible people. Woody came here on his own without much family. He started a new life here and faced so much uncertainty, but the people he has met here have become family,” said Hannah.
“He was immediately accepted and welcomed by everyone. It is a type of kindness that he swears is so rare and special to Pensacola, he’ll never find it anywhere else. We celebrate our engagement surrounded by strong pillars in our lives and we are so grateful. It takes a village, and our village is better than most.”
Congratulations Hannah and Woody — thank you for sharing your love story.
