New college graduates, Jake was living in Westfield with his Aunt, Uncle & cousins (shoutout Stahlers!), and Jill living in Basking Ridge with her family until soon moving into the city to start grad school.

We became connected via dating app on July 3rd, and quickly scheduled the first date at Winberies in Summit, NJ on July 10th. We hit it off, staying at this restaurant for 4+ hours. When it was time to leave, Jake walked Jill to her car, though quickly realizing she forgot her purse at the table. Jake being the gentleman he was, he ran back with Jill to get her purse, and walked her back to her car again. That's a funny story that Jake likes to remind Jill of :)

Our first Yankee game together, soon after becoming *Official* on September 28th, 2019.

Jill met the large extended Marsico family on Thanksgiving 2019 - this is also the same weekend that we shared our first "I love you"!

The beginning of NYC Holiday day trip tradition!

Jake took Jill to Ft Lauderdale for their first vacation together. It was an amazing experience and we'll always treasure this trip together!

Weddings as a couple begin :)

Jake surprised Jill on a boat tour around NYC on what felt like the coldest day EVER (prequel to Engagement Night we'd say). Jill was so shocked as she knew that Jake hated boats - but Jake insisted on a beautiful night in our city!

When COVID hit, Jake moved back home to Galloway, and Jill moved back home to Basking Ridge. We would try to see each other for a couple days every 2-3 weeks as we were 2 hours drive apart at this point. This was hard, but we created such amazing memories with each of our families that we wouldn't have the chance to do otherwise.

Jake was finally able to see Jill's happy place with her family & close family friends. Jake knew how important this vacation was to her, and felt special to be invited and spend this time with Jill's family! To the beginning of annual LBI vacations together!

Jake grew up going to the Outer Banks with his family and family friends. This is the Marsico's favorite place to vacation - and Jill was so honored to be able to come and create such amazing memories during this week.

In September 2020, Jake was still living at home in Galloway while Jill had to move back into the city for grad school. We were again living far apart, so each weekend we were able to see each other was so special for us. Our first anniversary weekend especially! This dinner was so fun, yummy, and it was great to be dining in NYC despite COVID still being around!

Jake finally moved into NYC with his cousin (shoutout Nina)!! He was finally only a quick 20 minute subway ride away from Jill's apartment. Jake's kitchen was a *bit* bigger than Jill's so we (Jake) had a lot of fun cooking extravagant meals.

We will always refer to this trip as the most relaxing we've had thus far. Driving around in golf carts, playing tennis, laying by the pool, and hitting the beach and beach bars was truly the best.

While Jake moved in to NYC in January of 2021, Jill moved out of the city across the river to Hoboken with some of her best friends in August of 2021. This apartment was beautiful, but our favorite part was the balcony, where we had a lot of special date nights!

Delaware people - if you know, you know :)

Jill graduated from NYU in September of 2021 with her Masters in Speech Pathology with Jake's support for all 2+ years of it. She couldn't have done it without him :)

Going to Peddler's Village during the holidays has been a Lardiere family tradition since Andrea and Jim, Jill's parents, were in college. Jill (and Elie) grew up shopping, walking, and eating around Peddler's Village, so the New Hope area became a special place for us. It was so exciting to be able to include Jake, and his family, into the tradition. Full circle moment now that we are getting married in New Hope, PA!

Charleston has become one of our favorite places. This was such a special vacation together full of food, drinks, and touristy activities. We were so lucky to also go in March 2023 with our best friends. Maybe a second home in Charleston will be in our future????

We were talking about moving in together as 2022 began; however, the rental market was still so awful from COVID. We then started playing around with the idea of buying - this was a shocking idea that came to fruition; however, with the support, knowledge, and expertise that Jake held in this area, Jill felt calm and at ease that this was a good decision not only for our relationship, but for our future!

Just the best night to date. On the coldest & windiest day of 2023 (literally google it- it will say this was the coldest day of the year), Jake got on one knee and proposed to Jill at one of their favorite restaurants - Battello in Jersey City. Jill had no idea leading up to the night, though once she began getting some hints as she was getting ready, she knew for sure what was about to happen when Jake said "let's go look at the lights and take a picture" once we got out of the uber as we arrived to the restaurant. Now if you know Jake, he will never be the one to initiate a picture - we're working on it don't worry.

Jake then surprised Jill with a private dinner, where Jake told Jill all of the events leading up to this night. He then surprised Jill yet AGAIN with a full party at a bar around the corner from our apartment with 80 of our closest family and friends.

This was truly the best night of our lives and I owe it all to Jake for planning this perfect night, and thank you to all of our family and friends who were there to celebrate us that night. We will never forget it!

We decided on doing our engagement shoot in LBI in August during our vacation as these LBI trips are so special to us. The weather was perfect, and Jake was such a trooper with all of our pictures :) Our photographer truly captured our love and our relationship, and we can't wait for her to capture our love on our wedding day.