In February 2022, some of Valerie's closest medical school friends helped her craft the perfect online dating profile. Her profile shared all of her loves including pineapple on pizza, travel, medicine, friendships & dismantling systemic racism. She was quickly drawn to this fun loving profile. Aaron loved dogs and plants and wasn't afraid to proclaim LGBTQ & Black Lives Matter all while being comfortable enough in his masculinity to get a pedicure. His intentionality and clear communication quickly won Valerie over. Four days later, the couple went on their first date to Rain Dogs Cafe for trivia night. As promised, Valerie was awful! She likes to think Aaron found this endearing. Because exactly one month later, Aaron joined Valerie on a visit to her mom's house & to explore Washington, DC. From that moment on, the two have been inseparable! Whether it is Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Orleans, New York City, Quebec, Portugal, or Thailand, Aaron and Valerie have spent the past 3 years laughing, exploring, and growing together. They truly know that they are each other's persons and are excited to celebrate their love!

Valerie’s grandmother taught her to love through food. It’s only fitting she fell for a man who loves to cook as much as she does. Aaron wooed Valerie with his spaghetti bolognese. And to this day, it’s not the seafood boil, the spinach risotto, or the apple pie cheesecake that Aaron raves about; it’s the simple egg sandwich that reminded him of his childhood. Aaron and Valerie nurtured their love through good food in the kitchen… As a result, this guest book is an invitation to help nourish their love and to share a little of your own. Submit your favorite recipe(s) for the newlyweds to try. LINK: https://forms.gle/hU7xsFr6RSyrHk4T6 DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: January 28, 2026 On the wedding day, guests will have the option to write a message alongside their own recipes and add suggestions to others. This won’t just be a guestbook that sits in a box or on a shelf, it’ll become the bride and grooms first cook book together—a staple in their kitchen and a ripple of love in their new life together.