Joel and I met at college when we were both 19 years old. Our sophomore year, we both worked for our university’s student newspaper, became friends, then more than friends, and officially started dating one week before we got sent home because of COVID-19.

The first five months of our relationship were spent doing long-distance, with him in Chicago and me in Orlando. I've never been more excited to go back to school than I was our first semester of our junior year.

Fast forward two years—we both graduated in May 2022 and I followed him up to Chicago with no job or plan, just lots of love and trust in God that this was the best move for our future.

And we're so glad I did. The last two years have been filled with navigating real adulthood together—finding and losing jobs, moving into our first apartments, paying bills, making new friends, discovering our favorite coffee shops and restaurants, and building our life together in Chicago. We got engaged on November 26, 2024 after spending Thanksgiving with my family in Florida, and the rest is history!

If you’re reading this, thank you for being a part of our story.

Love, J&T

To be completely honest, I don't remember the first time I met Taylor but I remember having her on Snapchat the summer after Freshmen year. I swiped up a few times with corny lines, and I guess they worked so well she joined the School Newspaper just to hang out with me in person.

After more corny DM's from both sides, she asked me out by asking if I like iced coffee...who doesn't? We were 'talking' for more than 4 months until I finally asked her out while teaching her Spanish in my apartment.

Covid keeping us apart made it so that we were inseparable once school started again, and have remained that way since. Approaching graduation, I had landed a job in Chicago so Taylor made the brave decision to move here with no job or savings — she is a woman that knows what she wants and trusts in God!

In the last 2 years, we've moved into our respective first apartments, explored dozens of Chicago restaurants and gems, made new friends, and continued to fall in love. Of course, there are bumps in adulthood, but navigating these with Taylor has only confirmed we are meant for each other.

We look forward to celebrating the beginning of our life together with you!