It was a dark and stormy September night on the Penn State Behrend campus. The school was abuzz with the electric energy that naturally comes with the beginning of the first semester of the school year. University Gate Apartments, specifically building 900, knew this to be true as the cacophony of revelry rang out from the off-campus housing complex.

It is here we meet our protagonists.

Jess, apartment 933, and Chris, apartment 926, had only heard whispers of the other up to this point. Hushed tales in between sets at the gym and stacks at the library are the only moments in which they crossed paths. Then, on this very night, with Fetty Wap undoubtedly playing in the background, our star-crossed lovers lock eyes across a dismal kitchen counter. An undeniable sense of understanding fills the room as the two wayward souls traverse the crowded space toward each other. And so the story begins...

This is an incredibly dramatic retelling to simply say Jess and Chris met their sophomore year of college at their shared apartment building. From there, they did this super cute "will they? won't they?" thing for about 4 years. Some say they are the Ross and Rachel of our generation. Timing just never lined up for these two. Then suddenly in February 2020, the timing was perfect.

Jess and Chris went on their first date at Lincoln Avenue Brewery in early February 2020 and made it "official" on March 16th, 2020. Just 3 days after the COVID shutdown, Jess and Chris found themselves in one another's quarantine bubbles and just decided to stick together ever since.

From navigating a global pandemic to surviving life as double cat parents (shout-out Jasper and Odessey), Jess and Chris are so blessed to have found life partners in one another. This is only the beginning!

Registry