Liz & Joel
February 1, 2025 • Jacksonville, Florida
Liz & Joel
February 1, 2025 • Jacksonville, Florida
Our Story
It seemed strange to write Our Story from a 3rd person narrative, so we decided to tackle this section separately, each picking photos and captions that best describe how we felt in those moments. I hope you enjoy reading Our Story!
August 23, 2020
From Liz: Let the record show that I made the first move! Joel had a link to his public Instagram account on his dating profile and after a thorough stalking, I decided to swipe right. This wedding is brought to you by Hinge.
August 28, 2020
From Joel: Our first date was a 9-mile hike of Liz's choosing. In the chance I was going to kidnap her, Liz picked a hike she knew would be busy and made sure to share her location with her sister, Amy and her best friend, Kerri. Spoiler alert: no one was kidnapped!
August 30, 2020
(L): With Joel moving back to Rhode Island four days after our first date, we crammed in a lot of hangs before he officially left. Our second date was a day around Brooklyn, where we took our first photo together on the rooftop of the William Vale hotel in Williamsburg. Our 3rd date was Joel's last day in the city so we had a bagel breakfast in the park near my apartment. Joel brought his ukulele and pretended to "practice" while he waited for me to meet him. I didn't have the heart to tell him guitars are a little cooler...
September 03, 2020
(L): Having been laid off during COVID, I was so excited to learn that I landed a new job with a company based out of Seattle. I got the news the week I met Joel and 8 days later he sent me the sweetest note with a bouquet of flowers. He figured out quickly that "receiving gifts" is my love language (haha!).
September 15, 2020
(J): I knew I wanted to see Liz sooner than later and what better way to get to know someone you've only known for 3 weeks than by taking a road trip to New Hampshire and going on a 4-day hiking and camping trip!? Lucky for Liz, she also got to meet my parents when she picked me up from Rhode Island.
Liz kicked my butt on a 7-mile hike on Franconia Ridge, but I got to flex my people skills when I befriended some camping neighbors and snagged us some fresh empanadas.
October 20, 2020
(L): This is one of the first meals that I cooked for Joel. Dining al fresco on the patio of my Bushwick apartment, we talked (and agreed!) to take things slow. Approximately 2 hours later, Joel suffered from amnesia and forgot all about our conversation and told me he loved me during an episode of Game of Thrones. The feelings were not reciprocated but don't feel bad, this story has a happy ending!
October 22, 2020
From Baily: our first family photo. yay.
i was forced to take this photo, by the way. mom started bringing this loud human around who wouldn't stop playing the same two jack johnson songs on that stupid miniature guitar. he also doesn't understand PERSONAL SPACE. he wouldn't stop trying to pet me, kiss me, play with me. he also calls me weird names like "meeshi" and "jimmy." i'm warming up to him though. after all, he did build me a cat tree.
November 28, 2020
(L): This photo was taken right after I (finalllly) told Joel I loved him back (not during Game of Thrones but possibly after some spiked cider).
November 29, 2020
(L): Jackie wouldn't let me be in the Holiday card photo (inside joke!), so we settled on a group picture while on a little nature walk :)
December 05, 2020
(J): The first people I got to meet on Liz's side were her Aunt Betty and Uncle Mike in Staten Island. Uncle Mike (pictured here) is also our wedding day officiant! We bonded over a great Italian meal at Bocelli's where Uncle Mike and I talked about the importance of family and tradition. They play such a big role in Liz's life and I am very grateful Uncle Mike is officiating our wedding,
December 22, 2020
(J): Next up to impress: Liz's dad, John. He might look like a scary Italian dad, but he's got a soft spot for Liz and me (after 1 or 2 old fashioneds). This was taken during Liz's family's annual Christmas Dinner outing. John with an old fashion and me with a VERY EXPENSIVE mescal negroni.
December 31, 2020
(L): Once 2021 kicked off, we started having conversations about me relocating to Seattle for my new job. We knew it was fast, but I didn't want to go there without Joel and Joel felt the same way. And with that, we decided to stay in NYC until July so we could have one more summer in the city.
We spent the next 7 months exploring, visiting/hosting friends and family, hiking, and preparing for our next chapter in Seattle
July 03, 2021
(L): We made it to Seattle! While Bailey slept off the 3 sedatives I had to give her to get there, Joel and I went to our first Mariners game! Go sports!
September 01, 2021
(J): After living out of our suitcases in temporary housing for the first 2 months, we finally found an apartment in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle. We were excited to unpack and Bailey was excited to have some of that personal space she loves so much.
September 18, 2021
(J): We discovered one of our favorite places to go camping: Lake Wenatchee. It was about 2.5 hours from our home and has a HUGE lake with beautiful sunsets. This turned into a place that Liz and I went to every summer for our anniversary.
September 27, 2021
(L): Doing as the locals do, we checked out the state fair where Joel won me a creepy yellow bird with a black toupee and I won him a unicorn. Safe to say we never went back to the state fair.
October 30, 2021
(L&J): The day had finally arrived! THE PARENTS MEETING! Both of our parents wanted to come visit us so we had their trips overlap so they could meet one another. The weekend was perfect with brewery hopping, museum visits, and a Halloween bonfire in our yard (and yes, we know our dad's look alike).
We've created so many fun memories together in the last 3 years. From backpacking in the North Cascades, to visiting family in Phoenix, California, and Florida, to attending various sporting events, hiking in Banff, and picnics at Golden Gardens. Liz even learned how to make my dad's matzo ball soup! Sharing some of our favorite moments below
July 14, 2023
(L): On July 14th, while back in Jax for my mom's birthday, Joel got down on one knee, said a bunch of beautifully nice things that I don't really remember because I blacked out, and asked me to marry him. It was the easiest "yes" I've ever said. What followed was what I can only describe as the best weekend of my entire life. Joel arranged for everyone who is near and dear to our hearts to fly in and celebrate with us. My parents and sister planned the most perfect engagement party and Joel even got the airlines to cancel Jackie & Steve's flight so they could spend an extra day with us!
July 14, 2023
(J): I proposed to Liz at the kayak launch on the intracoastal in Liz's parents neighborhood. Every time we were back in Jax, we would take her parents golf cart and ride up to the launch to see the view and take a selfie. Little did Liz know that this would be the place where I'd ask her to spend the rest of her life with me :)
December 23, 2020
January 01, 2021
December 25, 2021
December 25, 2022
July 14, 2023
We are so overwhelmed by the love and support that our family and friends have shown, and we can't wait to celebrate with you ALL on February 1st! Special thank you to our talented friend, Isabel, for taking engagement pictures for us!
