How We Met:

Sometimes love finds you when you're about to give up on it.

We met during the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic on Match.com — both of us ready to call it quits on dating apps. In fact, Aaron had already stopped actively checking his account and was preparing to let his subscription quietly expire. But fate (and a well-timed joke) had other plans.

One of the last matches Aaron received was from Elise — and what caught her attention wasn’t just his profile, but his dry, clever humor. Listed under “Currently Reading,” Aaron had written: “I’m currently reading a book about industrial adhesives and I just can’t seem to put it down.” That single pun sparked a conversation — and Elise didn’t waste any time suggesting they meet in person.

We chose Salt on the Plymouth waterfront for our first date. Aaron arrived a bit early and popped into Fedele’s Chocolate Shop, picking up a milk chocolate rose as a small gesture for Elise. The moment we saw each other, something just clicked. Over dinner, conversation flowed effortlessly — like we were old friends who had been apart for too long and were finally catching up.

We didn’t want the night to end after dinner, so we wandered down to Cappy’s and spent hours listening to live music by the water. That night felt like the beginning of something rare. Since then, we've barely spent a day apart.

The Proposal:

Some moments feel like they’re written in the stars — or carved into ancient stone along a wild coastal cliff.

In May of 2024, we traveled to Ireland with two of our closest friends, Phil and Heather Doherty. What began as a dream trip quickly became the setting for a life-changing memory. We explored Ireland’s historic pubs, windswept coasts, and vibrant cities — and even found ourselves unexpectedly enchanted by the wild beauty of Scotland.

But the most unforgettable moment happened on May 7th — Elise’s birthday — atop the majestic Cliffs of Moher. Under the stone arch of O’Brien’s Tower, with the Atlantic Ocean crashing far below and the soft mist curling around us, Aaron dropped to one knee and asked Elise to spend forever by his side.

She cheered, and while the joy was spontaneous, the surprise… maybe less so. Elise had started to pick up on some suspicious whispers between Aaron and Phil in Irish pubs — quiet little conversations that just didn’t feel quite as subtle as intended. But if Elise knew, she played along beautifully.

It was a promise made on the edge of the world, surrounded by history, friends, and the wild romance of the Emerald Isle — a birthday gift neither of us will ever forget.

Our Life Together:

Since that first night on the Plymouth waterfront, life has felt like an unfolding story — one filled with laughter, love, and shared adventures both big and small.

We’ve wandered together through charming towns like Gloucester, enjoyed forests of Vermont, and cheered at the Highland Games in New Hampshire with tartan pride. We’ve built cozy weekends around books and movies, we have conquered digital worlds side by side in video games, and even spent months crafting fantastical stories together during our Friday night RPG campaign/weekly online game night with friends.

Our journey as partners has also been one of building a home. We started in Elise’s apartment in Marshfield, but eventually settled more permanently in Our home in Plymouth, where there’s more space for our four-legged gremlin and most loyal sidekick: Obi, our endlessly energetic half-Boston, half-Rat Terrier (a proud “Brat” by breed and personality).

Whether it’s sunning Obi on the back deck, laughing at a favorite movie we’ve seen a dozen times, anticipating the next episode of our favorite show, enjoying cocktails with our close friends at Brewster Bar or just sharing a quiet moment with tea and a book — life together is easy, full, and real. There’s a rhythm to our days now, and a peace that comes from knowing we’ve found something rare and enduring.

We’re planning to return to Scotland for our honeymoon, continuing the journey that began with a joke about glue and grew into a love that’s become our home.

Every day we spend together is filled with warmth, laughter, and a quiet certainty that this is exactly where we’re meant to be. As Aaron says:

“I couldn’t imagine life without her anymore. Being without Elise is like being without the air in my lungs.”

E&A

Wedding Day

Reception