Our story is a classic tale of modern love… aka, we met online! Our first encounter (more on that later) was on Hinge, a dating app that connects you to others through your existing social network. After the initial, ubiquitous exchanges after matching with one another the conversation, well, ummm… it fell flat.

In the far away land of Covington (across Lake Pontchartrain from the city), James was thinking, “meh, guess he isn’t that into me”. Meanwhile, down in New Orleans, Sean rarely logged in and was uncertain how to use the app (old age setting in).

A few weeks passed and then we crossed paths again. After much swiping left and right, there was that handsome, familiar face again. Another swipe right, “It’s a Match!”. The conversation resumed, and this time it flowed. As it turned out, Sean was in the process of moving across town, hence the lack of communication on Hinge. A flurry of messages ensued and became a daily routine.

One day James called up his friend Lauren to fill her in on this new man in his life. The conversation went something like this:

James: So, I’ve met this guy. We actually met once before but it never took off, then we recently matched on Tinder. Our conversations flow, he’s very handsome, funny, charming…

Lauren: Oh! Send me a picture… (opens text pic) Oooo, he’s a cutie!

James: I know, right!?

Lauren: So, when are you going to ask him on a date???

James: Well, I don’t know. He went to Georgetown, and he is an attorney…

Lauren: ………. Um, okay……. What’s the problem? When are you asking him out?

James: What if he’s a pretentious a-hole, Lauren?

Lauren: OH MY GOD!!! You are ridiculous!!! What if he’s just a very smart, well-educated, professional???? Ask that man out and stop being an idiot!

Meanwhile, Sean also was seeking friendly advice from people - noting his particular concern that James was a psychologist and Sean is, well, Sean!

However, thanks to Lauren's motivating and sagacious advice (and the reassurances from Sean's friends that Sean surely wasn't as crazy as he thought), James and Sean decided to bite the bullet. We scheduled a Happy Hour date at Flemings, both thinking “let’s not commit to more than an hour or two, just in case”. Seriously people, you just never know with online dating!

Well, that happy hour turned into five hours… we literally were told by the bartender, “Settle up, we’re closing.”

After that first date we decided we really liked seeing each other and have made a habit of it ever since! We spent our first Valentine’s Day together in the city of love, Paris, and took a train to Amsterdam where we battled raging winds, deluges of rain, and got caught out on the street in the middle of a hailstorm. We returned home just in time to celebrate Mardi Gras- catching throws and watching parades with friends, dancing the night away at the Endymion Ball, costuming and wandering around the French Quarter, and then the world came to a screeching halt due to COVID. Sean hunkered down with James in Covington for the lock down, and after surviving countless days in-and-out together, we decided we liked each other enough to move in together. We relocated to Lakeview, a neighborhood in New Orleans, and grew our family with the addition of Shea, our rescue pup! We even survived the ultimate relationship test…. furniture assembly! We have spent each day together smiling, laughing loudly, loving each other fully, entertaining one another, and making memories ever since!

We are thrilled to be celebrating our love for one another, and our big day with all of you!