they're getting married

As it may be a bit trendy and cheesy to say they both swiped right, the details will be spared. Let us just say this love story began when Jessie and Andy first met in Syracuse, NY. Jessie was working her way through graduate school, and Andy was at a nearby town coaching at a football (or soccer, if you will) club. On that fateful day, Andy picked Jessie up in his rental car and they spent the afternoon in downtown Syracuse chatting and getting to know each other over beers at a couple of pubs - Kitty Hoynes and Blue Tusk - before having a wander around the Syracuse University campus and stroll through historic Clinton Square.

Jessie was taking photographs at her Uncle Gary’s wedding and Andy came as her guest. After stopping at a Macy’s to buy a replacement tie (Andy forgot the first back in Albany), the couple met Jessie’s parents at a hotel before going to TGI Fridays to share some appetizers. The first meeting! Once the parents had been met, the rest of the Berman-clan was introduced at the actual wedding including Uncle Gary, Aunt Lindsy, cousins Kate, Siri, and Rachel, second cousin Davida, her husband Dick, and their children Patti and Suzanne. Somehow, Andy stayed cool, calm, and collected as usual even during this family overload. Fast forward to today and it’s clear he’s accepted into the family; as evidenced by the current group chats with Jessie, Andy, and her parents – chats that are filled with dad jokes and generic soccer memes.

On a two-week holiday to the UK, Andy took Jessie to a Manchester United game (invoking many jealous comments). They sat in amazing corner seats - courtesy of Best-Man-and-season-ticket-holder Ben. Jessie was given the experience of authentic pre-game pub culture of football chants and supersized cups like at American McDonald’s but filled with beer! Despite Manchester United’s eight game winning streak with the new team manager, Andy and Jessie saw the most un-American ending to a game: a 2-2 DRAW. (You call that a Desmond, by the way).

The priority of the UK trip (with even more importance than seeing the football match [if you can believe it]) was for Jessie to meet Andy’s mum, Caroline. Jessie and Caroline had both gotten to know each other through WhatsApp messages and even a few phone calls, but this in-person meeting was a big, exciting deal (did I mention it was a big, exciting deal?)! Andy and Jessie met Caroline, her husband Kev, and Andy's older brother Nick at the Grosvenor pub for dinner and once nerves passed, they all had a lovely time! That night after dinner, the family's Spaniel Troy and his feline companions Alice, Stella, Tom, Ted and Suki were also met as Jessie graciously finished a "specialty" cocktail of Bailey’s and whisky made by Kev. The following day, Andy, Jessie, Caroline, and Kev visited The Deep, one of UK’s biggest aquariums, before heading to The Pear Tree pub for dinner. It was there that most of the rest of the family was introduced; in attendance were Uncle Graham, Auntie Julia, Grandma Anne, and her husband Paul. After dinner that night, Nick invited Jessie and Andy to see a band in a local pub, and the three spent the night out in Grimsby and Cleethorpes. Jessie was treated to an authentic English afternoon tea at a cafe the following day, which didn’t go down quite as well as she wanted after a night of beers (beers, not Beers).... The final day in Cleethorpes, the morning was spent taking a walk through the park with Troy before Caroline, Andy, and Jessie went to Papa’s, a fish and chip restaurant awarded Britain's best, for, well, as you might expect, fish and chips on The Pier.

Jessie had the opportunity to take Andy to a professional American football game, complete with tailgating and post-game authentic Buffalo chicken wings. Handwarmers were plentiful, beer was consumed, and first downs were celebrated. Weird, right? The weekend was spent with their friends Jordyn and Colin in a pleasant modern cottage from AirBnB. (PS - the game had a VERY American ending where the Baltimore Ravens beat the Buffalo Bills 24-17. No draws here!)

Given her work schedule, Jessie was already in bed, a common place to find her after 9 p.m. most evenings. Andy walked in and handed her their plush Christmas advent calendar with a handwritten "26" tab stuck into the “25” pocket. Inside was a small note reading "Reach for the star." Jessie gave Andy a confused look as he coaxed her out to the Christmas Tree; she grasped around the top branches, too short to locate what she was supposed to be finding. He got the ring down for her, and she mistakenly gasped, "No!" (not as an answer to the upcoming question but at her disbelief of what was happening). Of course, once The Question was actually posed, the real answer was an unequivocal and tearful "Yes!"

Jessie and Andy are so excited to celebrate this next chapter in their lives with you. See you in Poughkeepsie!