Our modern love story begins where many 21st-century couples start, on a dating application called "Hinge." We know what some of you are thinking right now: No, unfortunately, Hinge is not sponsoring our wedding.

Emily was traveling across the country for a few months before starting graduate school in summer of 2019 and matched with Nate on the app. They talked for months and finally met in person for their first date at A-Pizza Mart, in September 2019.

Little did we know, the COVID-19 pandemic was coming! While the COVID-19 pandemic could pull couples apart, we were lucky! The pandemic brought us closer together. We moved in together while we were both working 40 hours a week and going to school at the University of Washington (UW)! It was a lot! We learned how to come together during times of challenge, lean on each other's skills, and build a base for our relationship based in care, compassion, and kindness.

We luckily were able to both graduate from UW during the same quarter! Emily earned a Master's degree in Public Health, and Nate earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Indian Studies with a minor in Environmental Science and Resource Management.

After graduating, Emily whisked Nate away to Atlanta, GA where she worked at the CDC. Then in October 2022, Nate whisked Emily all the way back to Seattle. Yes, you did the math correctly. We moved across the country two times in 15 months! We met so many amazing people in Atlanta and would not have traded this experience for the world.

We are now both living in Northgate and working at the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB). Nate is their Director of Environmental Services, and Emily is the Senior Evaluator for the Urban Indian Health Institute, a division of SIHB.

We are so excited to continue to build a home in Seattle, and eventually, start a family of our own. While that step is still a way down the road for us, marriage is the next step on the journey to making our dreams a reality! We are so excited to celebrate this relationship milestone with all of you.