July 2012. We were both do-gooders at the NYC non-profit Harlem RBI. She, a fundraiser who liked to gossip over drinks after work. He, a recruiter who seemed like he could use a work buddy. The rest is happy hour history.

December 31, 2016. We were returning from an impromptu vacation to Newport, Rhode Island. A GPS snafu convinced us that driving through Manhattan on New Year's Eve was a reasonable idea, and that's how we knew our relationship could survive anything. Two hours and three fights later, we were walking down a wooded path in New Jersey, toward a covered bridge filled with lanterns and candlelight. Xavier said something romantic, on bended knee. Annie said something awkward that involved a "yes." And then we surprise-partied with friends and family until the wee hours of the morning.