...in a 6th grade choir class. Erick started the class later in the semester and it was there that Jess first laid eyes on her husband-to-be. Naturally, she thought he was charming and hilarious. Well, okay... maybe she found him to be annoying and talkative.

Still, she developed a crush on him, and he had a crush on her, though neither mustered the courage to say anything to the other.

Skip ahead to college - Jess and Erick have reconnected and learn that they have so much in common. The first time they meet up after years of not seeing one another, they wind up talking in Jess's dorm room lounge until 6am. The connection was instant. Those feelings from middle school resurfaced. They spent many nights together just talking about life, dreams, travel, film, video games... Everything. However, to the surprise of their friends who knew about their feelings for each other, neither Erick nor Jess took the next step. They stayed in touch over the years, but it wasn't until a global pandemic caused Erick to throw caution to the wind, put it all on the line, and finally ask Jess out. She said yes...

Jess and Erick were engaged on December 22, 2023 at the Huntington Botanical Gardens.