It all started at The Stone Pony—Jason was performing, and Kara ended up with a last-minute extra ticket after a friend backed out. Neither of us expected much from the night, but we spent the rest of it inventing excuses to be near each other. Jason was immediately taken by Kara’s bright, bubbly energy. Kara was mostly impressed by how weirdly good Jason was at Duck Hunt.

Our first official date was on Jason’s 22nd birthday. Kara wasn’t 21 yet, which limited our options (read: no bars). So we drove to the Seaside boardwalk, hoping to hit the arcades—which, it turns out, are not open year-round. Instead, we walked the deserted boardwalk, got ice cream, and talked for hours. It wasn’t what we planned, but it was quiet, sweet, and totally us.

Since then, life together has meant board games that get way too competitive, concerts that leave us hoarse, way too much coffee, and our dog Davy Jones—who is completely obsessed with Kara and generously allows Jason to also live in the house. We’ve traveled to see Punxsutawney Phil ten times, because apparently we take Groundhog Day very seriously. And we’ve built a life full of creativity—karaoke nights, poems, songs, and spontaneous ideas that somehow turn into real projects—always dreaming up the next thing together.

Jason proposed during a trip to Asheville, NC—late at night, after dinner and more than one stop at various bar-cades. We were sitting at the Airbnb’s breakfast counter when he asked. It wasn’t flashy, but it was real. Kara cried anyway.

Now we’re here, getting married (!) and inviting you to be part of the next chapter.