Natasha and Josh met in New York City in the spring of 2021. Their first date was for Dim Sum and a stroll in Chinatown. Natasha introduced Josh to Xiao Long Bao, kicking off another love affair that brought them back to Chinatown countless times over the course of their two years in NYC.

Their second date was 7 hours long and best foreshadowed the joys to come. Josh schlepped to Flatbush from New Jersey via three different rail agencies to meet Natasha at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. It was a rainy day so they had the gardens mostly to themselves. Sitting on the second rain jacket Natasha had brought (to sit on!), they had their first kiss in the Native Flora Garden.

Following their day at the gardens, it was evident to both that they had something special. Josh continued to make the schlep from New Jersey to Brooklyn. Their budding romance was nourished by parks, delicious food, table top games and the the good graces of the MTA.

When Natasha's residency ended, they moved together to Pittsburgh to start her Fellowship at UPMC. With a bounty of moss in the area, including at the park across the street, Natasha fueled Josh's addiction to terrariums. Thus bloomed another love affair for them both that would bring their love of natural world into every moment of their shared lives.

Josh carefully planned the engagement for the Solar Eclipse of 2024. Together with two of their friends from NYC, they drove up to Lake Chautauqua near Jamestown, NY for the totality. Mother nature teased them with peaks of the sun through the clouds until darkness with the total eclipse. Natasha (geeking out as usual) ecstatically declared that this was the coolest day of her life, prompting Josh to seize his chance. When he presented the ring to her, Natasha gasped and flopped backwards on the dock. Good thing they were sitting! After a minute or two of helpless happy giggling, she pulled it together enough to take the ring and shout for all to hear: "WE ARE GETTING MARRIED!!" Josh took this as yes.

Wedding Day

Reception