“An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break.”

That ancient Chinese proverb is the base of what is known as the invisible string theory - the idea that certain people are meant to find each other, no matter how winding the path.

Here’s a sentence Amanda never thought she’d say:

“Thank you, Kansas City Chiefs fans.”

For context: In the fall of 2022, Tom and his roommate Paul had just moved into their new apartment on 49th Street and were on a mission to find their neighborhood watering hole. On a whim, they wandered into the smallest. stickiest little Irish pub on 51st and settled in to watch the Chiefs lose to the Chargers (the Chiefs still won. Whatever.).

As Tom sat on a barstool, he overheard a woman behind him absolutely eviscerating a loud Chiefs fan who had the audacity to bring up Josh Allen. First, she came for Mahomes’ rising turnover rate. Then she pivoted - seamlessly - to his receding hairline. And that was the first time Tom heard Amanda’s voice.

Amanda, who had come with two friends and many, many Irish regulars, just so happened to overhear someone behind her mention “Fordham Road,” “Pugsley’s Pizza,” and “Mugz’s.” She turned around, tapped him on the shoulder, and asked, “Wait… did you go to Fordham?”

Spoiler: He did.

They ended up talking all night about their shared time at Fordham (where they somehow never met), their mutual love of football, overlapping friends, and their obsession with Jersey Boys, where Tom proceeded to get up and prove he knew the Broadway choreography to Walk Like a Man. He did.

They exchanged numbers, and Tom walked Amanda home. At her door, she hit him with a “thanks, bud.” and subsequently friendzoned him.

They became close friends, and while Tom was patiently waiting for the love of his life to give him a chance on a real first date, he asked her to show him around Hell’s Kitchen through little friend dates - going to Thai restaurants, cookie stores (shoutout Schmacks) and hole in the wall pubs. After enough of those, Amanda finally said yes to a real first date: a cozy Italian dinner followed by mini golf, the perfect preview of their relationship: warm, happy, and just so much fun.

Since that first rainy night in November, Amanda and Tom haven’t stopped laughing, exploring, or standing by each other’s side through life’s trials and triumphs. They found not only love, but best friendship, relentless support, and confidants.

Okay, I’m dropping the third-person voice now (we all know it’s me writing this), because our story isn’t just something to put on a page, it’s something we live every single day. Growing up, Tom and I were lucky to watch our parents show us what true love looks like. They are our blueprint, our forever goal. For a long time, I wondered if that kind of love only existed for them. But the second I met Tom, my world turned from black and white into technicolor.

He is the brightest, kindest, most full-of-life person I’ve ever met, someone who makes even the ordinary feel magical. And somehow, through late-night bar banter, a shared love of Dominos and football, and one very persistent invisible string… we found our way to each other.

We can’t wait to keep writing this story together, not just on our wedding day, but every day after. With all our favorite people by our side, and a lifetime of laughter ahead…we're just getting started.

I can’t wait to marry this man.

Surrounded by all of you.

No Chiefs fans, though.