Our story began at UMass Amherst, where we met in a Communications class during our senior year. A few weeks later, we ran into each other at a bar in Downtown Amherst on Halloween. I was dressed as a pot plant (my friend went as ‘Chef Curry’—a lyric from Drake’s ‘0-100’—I swear it made sense in 2017), and Jake was rocking his classic “Jake from State Farm” costume. Our costumes sparked a conversation, and somehow, we ended up on the same bus home. That’s when we realized we were neighbors, living in apartments directly across from each other. The Pufton village-Brandywine apartment proximity sealed our fate, whether we knew it or not. We began crossing paths more and more and eventually developed a friendship.

After graduation, we went our separate ways—Jake moved back to Marlborough, MA, while I returned home to Seekonk, MA. Despite the distance, we stayed in touch, and one night, out of the blue, Jake asked me on a date to see The Lion King. We got caught in a torrential downpour on the way into the IMAX theater in Providence and spent the rest of the evening damp and uncomfortable—but somehow, that only confirmed that we liked each other as more than friends.

A few months later, I landed a new job in the city and moved into an apartment in Boston. Not long after, Jake ended up just a few streets away, making it even easier for us to spend all of our free time together. Then came COVID. Jake caught it first, so we decided to quarantine together. What was supposed to be a few days turned into several weeks in Jake's two-bedroom Brighton apartment. During that time, we found joy in the little things—puzzles, lots of Fiorella’s takeout, coloring books, freezing walks around the neighborhood, and binge-watching The Sopranos. Those moments showed us how much we enjoy doing life together.

After quarantine, we took the next big step and moved in together in Brighton. We spent nearly a year there, building our life, our careers, and growing closer. By early summer 2022, Jake got a promotion that required us to move to Connecticut. We had two months to relocate and find a place to live. Instead of doing what most people might do and rent an apartment, we decided to pull the trigger and buy a place of our own. After two trips to Connecticut to explore the real estate market, we found the perfect 1925 Colonial. It needed a little TLC, but we knew it was home.

Weeks later, we couldn’t resist the urge to bring home a golden retriever puppy named Nemo. Suddenly, our lives were filled with chaos, joy, and puppy training. But through it all, we became even stronger as a team, learning how to handle life’s curveballs together and creating memories that would last a lifetime.

Two years later, on a Thursday night in July, Jake asked if I wanted to go out to dinner. Leading up to it, he was acting a little off—he even suggested taking sunset photos on the beach before dinner. I was hungry and confused, so I turned him down, but it definitely raised my suspicions.

Then Jake ordered sesame-encrusted salmon, even though he’s allergic to sesame. At that point, I started second-guessing everything—why would he risk anaphylaxis if he was planning to propose? But after dinner, Jake took me down to the beach, where he finally popped the question. It was pitch black outside, but I was overwhelmed with joy, love, and excitement.

When it came time to plan our wedding, we knew it had to be in Western Massachusetts—the place where it all began. This place holds so many memories for us, and we can’t wait to walk down the aisle and begin our next chapter surrounded by our loved ones. We’re beyond excited to celebrate with all of you!