You never know when you might meet the love of your life. For Joel and Mel, that day was St. Patrick’s Day of 2021. The always graceful Mel had just broken her ankle, for the second time in a two-year span, and decided to break her no dating app streak after being bored and stuck in bed.

Enter the magical world of Facebook Dating!

While Mel mindlessly scrolled in her apartment in Sanford, Maine, Joel was scrolling the same app in Belmont, New Hampshire. As fate would have it—Joel expanded his preferred age range, and Mel expanded her distance criteria, and POOF! Zuckerberg’s algorithm brought these two crazy kids together and they each hit “Like”!

The pair met in person for the first time at 110 Grill in Rochester. Despite Mel being late and hobbling in a boot cast, Joel found her adorable. Mel was immediately smitten by Joel’s warm hug and boyish grin. The night went by in a blur of laughter, connection, and flirtation. They went to the bar to get drinks just to keep the conversation going and shut the restaurant down. Still not wanting the night to end, they chatted in Mel’s car late into the evening. The rest is history.

Despite the physical distance between them, Joel and Mel became inseparable. Nights and weekends that they were unable to meet in person were filled with video calls lasting hours on end where Joel would serenade Mel with silly and sweet songs about how much he loved her. Those early conversations had all the ingredients of a blossoming love: vulnerability, respect, curiosity, humor, connection, and acceptance.

In the days and months that followed, Mel and Joel explored life together. They met one another’s friends, family, and children, and grew to love them like their own. They celebrated holidays and redefined family structures. They went camping and travelled together. They ate way too much Mexican food and drank uncountable margaritas. They took silly photos, played drunk scrabble, and made up rock operas out of nowhere. They supported and encouraged one another’s artistic talents and interests. They went to concerts and started making music together. They helped balance one another and kept them grounded and safe. They held one another up with love and patience on the harder days, and they laughed and rejoiced in their mutual dorkiness on the brighter ones. They learned what it meant to be fully seen and loved for exactly who they are. In short, they each found their person.

In July of 2022 they said goodbye to long distance, and Mel moved in with Joel. By December of the same year, Joel proposed on Mel’s birthday in their newly shared home. And of course, they celebrated with friends over Mexican food.

Mel and Joel are excited to finally make this thing official! So now when Joel affectionately calls Mel his wife, it will actually be factual. They hope you can join them this October to celebrate their big day and one of a kind love!

M&J

Wedding Day

Reception