Our first photo together to our engagement photo almost 7 years apart.

Our story as told by our long term friend, Kristen, who was instrumental in our formative years and who we have been blessed to call a close friend all of these years: 


Their Story began in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Brian and Tara met at Sacred Heart University in the Spring of 2013. They were both Long Islanders, Sophomores and floormates - living right across the hall from one another in campus housing. The budding connection was undeniable, and after weeks of effortless conversation, Brian pulled the trigger and asked Tara to go on their first date to Manhattan, New York, and with ease (and a smile) she said yes. 

On January 10th, they made it official. From that day on, they were inseparable. Tara became Ta and Brian became Bri, and his hoodie became hers. Senior year, Tara left the country to study abroad in London. Brian flew 7 hours to visit her, and the two traveled to the electric city of Amsterdam. They explored picturesque stacked houses and immersed themselves into the culture, where they fell for the food, architecture and each other.

In May of 2016, they celebrated 2 years together, and their graduation from Sacred Heart. 

Post-grad, they found routine in: hiking, visiting beaches, trying new restaurants and exploring Tara's home away from home, the quiet old surf-town, Montauk and Greenport, a town where they both visited growing up and where they love spending their weekends. They fell deeper in love with travel and adventure, documentaries, cheeseburgers and stand-up comedies (their favorites being Dave Chapelle, Bill Burr, Tom Segura and Bert Keisher). Brian quickly became an intrinsic part of the Durkin family in Lake Grove, NY, and Tara was immediately embraced by the Cunnane's in Floral Park, NY. 

Over the course of the next 4 years, they supported their favorite sports teams together, (Brian, the NY Giants and Yankees & Tara, the Minnesota Vikings) - and rallied for the Knicks, courtside. Both suckers for dogs, it wasn't long before they rescued two four legged companions of their own, Shadow and Remy. Their favorite pastime as a couple became kicking back and spending time with friends, Brian's 2 older siblings, Patrick and Angela, Tara's younger brother Michael, and their niece and nephew, Kelly and Robert. 

On November 13th, 2020, after a day spent at the wineries indulging Tara with her favorite wines, Brian took her to visit their favorite beach in Greenport, New York. This was a familiar location that they had visited countless times in the past, and even though clouds and the smell of rain hung in the salty air, he knew it was perfect. Bri got down on one knee in the sand and popped the question, and with ease (and tears), Ta said yes to the most thrilling chapter to come.