It all began in November 2019 on the dating app Hinge, where JT and Kelly crossed paths. Kelly was living in Morristown NJ, while JT was living in Queens NY.

When Kelly and JT matched on a football Saturday, it was their shared love for Penn State that sparked their initial conversation. Both had attended Penn State University and instantly found common ground. As their conversations continued and they met in person, they quickly realized that they had a lot more in common than just their alma mater.

JT and Kelly’s fifth date was the annual New Year’s Eve party at the Flanagan household. A simple invite unexpectedly turned into a 5-night stay with JT’s immediate family and friends!

Just a few months into dating, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and the quarantine forced everyone to stay home. Despite the challenges and uncertainties, JT and Kelly leaned on one another for support and found a way to enjoy long weekends together at each other’s apartments. Hand-crafted margaritas became a staple on Friday evenings while they enjoyed countless virtual happy hours. In a way, it was a special time as video chatting and playing games via the Houseparty app made it possible to meet each other’s friends and families much earlier than if the world was not on lockdown.

Once the world opened up, JT and Kelly made up for lost time and got to experience just how fun (and expensive) dating can be in New York City and Morristown. It was quickly apparent to both of them that their similarities, values, and approaches to life felt seemingly impossible for them to have only met each other online!

On the weekend of April 1st, 2023, JT was celebrating 10 years cancer free and told Kelly they were meeting his parents in Morristown for a celebratory drink. Kelly’s parents were also in town for the weekend and planned to meet at the bar to celebrate. However, plans for the night shifted when JT proposed in the park before arriving at the bar, where a joint-family engagement celebration was awaiting their arrival! It was a full night to celebrate as JT also surprised Kelly by packing her an overnight bag (with too many options!) and booked hotel rooms for the family.

Kelly and JT were so lucky to have found love right before the global crisis and overcame the challenges that distance and quarantine brought. Their shared love of family, ability to adapt, and unwavering support for one another laid the foundation for their relationship that continues to grow. Teamwork truly does make a dream work.

We are grateful to have you here to celebrate our love and witness the beginning of the next chapter of our lives. It is truly in our friends and family that we find purpose in life. Thank you for being a part of our story, and we look forward to creating more lifelong memories together!