We know what youre thinking: Soooooo… did you meet at work?

No, no we did not. And this is when we automatically gear up to answer the inevitable follow up question, well if it wasnt at the hospital, then where did you actually meet?

It was the beginning of June 2021. COVID was in the midst of its second summer, and the emergency authorization vaccines had recently been released. People are just getting comfortable again holding larger social gatherings, and what do you know? Stephanie’s step-sister, Paige Valchuis, is getting married to some lucky guy named Jamey Mroz. This guy happens to be one of Tommy's closest cousins! Who woulda thunk? The invites were sent out, but both Stephanie and Tommy were supposed to be busy the weekend of the wedding. By some miracle, at the last minute, both these kids decided in their own separate ways that, to heck with prior obligations, let's celebrate the love! And off to New Hampshire they went.

After playing a round of pre-wedding golf with Paige's dad Bob (Stephanie's step-dad), Bob had a wonderful idea to introduce the young doctor to, who else, but this beautiful nurse who happens to be his step-daughter, Stephanie.

Being the young gent that he is and was, Tommy was tasked with important man of the groom's party obligations, including filling the men's specialty flasks with 12-year-old Balvenie single malt scotch. Naturally, Stephanie assumed this was a bottle that he was drinking and keeping all to himself. From here on out, all Tommy's advances were more and more difficult because all Stephanie saw was a dashing ALCOHOLIC! Still didnt keep them from staring at each other the entire ceremony and throughout the reception.

And despite the misconceptions about the spectacularly tasting bottle Tommy was carrying around, he was finally able to work up the courage to try again after being rejected, like, three times in a row. They started talking and never stopped. At farewell brunch, he got her number, and the rest is history.