Joey and Emma met in August 2018 at Laurentian University in Sudbury, ON. They were both first year students living on the 3rd floor of the UC Residence. From day one, Joey and Emma were close friends. They instantly connected being the funniest folks on the floor! They were basically attached at the hip; teaming up at Sunday Sports, making world renowned TikTok’s together, or grabbing a non-gluten free but says gluten-free meal from G-Hall, it was always Emma and Joey… Well, unless you’re talking about 8AM Calculus. At that time Emma would detach from Joeys hip to continue to sleep in (sorry mom!)

Next was second year. After Emma and her ex broke up, it was Joey’s chance. They tested the waters to see what it would be like, but realized that they didn’t want to ruin their friendship (at least that’s what Emma thought.) After about 2 months of just staying friends, not knowing Joey wanted more, Emma realized that she had to pursue Joey. Although she knew that she wasn’t ready for a relationship, she knew that she wanted to grow with Joey. She knew that Joey was for her. They started seeing each other “in secret” but really, all their friends knew. In February 2020, Joey asked Emma to be official- to which Emma said no.

Emma knew that she wasn’t ready to commit to being a full-time girlfriend for Joey. She knew that she had to heal herself first so she could actually be a good girlfriend to Joey. Then COVID hit. Emma and Joey had to go to their separate homes in Barrie and Richmond Hill. They stayed up late every night having Facetime sleepovers, and woke up to each other’s sleepy faces. Finally, on May 31, Emma was allowed to go to Joey’s house. They had a blast just hanging out, making TikTok’s, walking around the neighborhood, and spending in-person time together. Fast forward again to July 2. Joey and Emma woke up in Richmond Hill and Emma had to drive back up to Barrie to work, but before she did, she asked Joey a very important question. Will you be my boyfriend?

As Joey says, it was the quickest yes of his life. So, on July 2, 2020, Emma and Joey started their official dating journey together. They spent the summer seeing each other periodically. That summer, Emma’s father, Mike, unfortunately passed away, and Joey was by her side every minute of it. He would leave his house in Richmond Hill at the drop of a hat, drive to Barrie, and just hold Emma for as long as she needed. This summer was really important for Emma because it proved to her that Joey was someone who could handle her extreme emotions.

We went back up to Sudbury in August 2020. Both of us in 3rd year working as Resident Assistants in the West Residence building. This part was rocky. Joey had never been in a real, official relationship before- and let’s just say Emma’s picky. They had a lot of arguments, bickered, and Emma even yelled a few times. This year taught them communication. Joey was able to learn how to read Emma, and Emma was able to understand her emotions better, thus better explaining them to Joey. Communication has been a key factor in their relationship ever since, and if you ask them today, they would say the same.

At the end of 3rd year, Joey started a Co-op in Timmins and Emma started renting a house with some friends in Sudbury. This was so hard for the couple. Not hard in the sense that they didn’t think they could make it, or that they had urges while the other was gone; hard in the sense that we missed each other so much, and just to see one another was a 4 hour drive. Emma adopted 2 cats that year, a Siamese named Phoenix, and a Tabby named Dottie. Since Joey was gone and the house Emma was staying in made her go insane, she found comfort in cats; her roommates however, were unimpressed. Emma was forced to get rid of Dottie and immediately knew who she would rehome her to- Joey! Joey needed a friend, Emma thought. He was all alone in Timmins, he had no friends up there, and he only had Emma visiting maybe once a month. Emma brought Dottie up to Timmins and Joey was complete. That was his little princess. She greeted him everyday when he got home from work, always right at the foot of the stairs. Emma knew she made the right choice.

After a year and a half in Timmins, Joey was back for their 5th and final year of University! Joey moved in with one of Emma’s friends, and was it ever a party! Emma’s house was getting more and more disgusting, so she was practically living at Joey’s too. Imagine a bungalow, 4 people, 4 cats, 2 bedrooms- that was Joey’s place… that was better than Emma’s place at the time. Thankfully Emma’s mom Krisanne came up with a plan where we would have Joey move in and have the other tenants leave. As of April 2023, Joey and Emma have been living together. They stayed in Brenda, a house in Sudbury, with two of their friends, Simone and Harper. They enjoyed this time. They had their own bedroom and space for themselves, but also space to hangout with friends and still live that “in our 20’s” experience!

In June 2023 Emma and Joey both graduated from Laurentian University. They graduated on the same day, so their families got to watch both ceremonies (aww). A little after graduation, Joey fulfilled a promise he told Emma a while ago. On October 28, 2023 Joey got on one knee and asked Emma to be his wife. Obviously, she said yes! They were now engaged. Emma was showing off her ring to al her colleagues, life was falling into place. Emma and Joey were both in entry level positions in their career fields, Emma was still volunteering and playing sports, Joey even acted in a play! The next year was great. Joey and Emma had a full year of graduate life together before taking the next big step in their lives.

April 1, 2025. Moving day. Joey and Emma finished loading the U-Haul, strapped the cats carriers in, and headed off. Where? Sudbury to Kitchener. Joey and Emma started renting their very own apartment together. They still have Dottie and Phoenix, who love the balcony. They are still in entry-level positions; both of them with a new company.

The present. Today. Here you are, reading our story. Thank you for taking the time to read about the relationship that Joey and I have been building. We are so excited to host you at our wedding this August! We love you all!