Eric, a travel-happy vagabond, landed in Portland Oregon one smokey September looking to make some fast cash for a year. The plan was simple; work hard, save money, go for a few hikes, and not to lose sight of the ultimate plan of spending the remaining years of his 20’s galavanting around exotic and far away lands. Some months later, Eric found himself driving to meet a woman for a casual weekday meetup at one of Portland’s many purveyors of fine craft beers and baked Mac n’ Cheese. The one Eric was going to meet, an undeniably cute, witty, and highly educated, young woman named April, had appeared on Eric’s tinder some days before. What unfolded was one of the more mediocre semi-romantic encounters that either of them had ever been party to. It was a true “par for the course”… “5/10”… “nothing to write home about”.. Kind of date. And yet, for some strange reason, Eric sensed that there was more to the encounter than was obvious to either of them at that time. Maybe she felt it too. Maybe not. Whatever the reason, Eric reached out, and date #2 was scheduled for the next week. There was nothing mediocre about Eric’s next encounter with April. That night, and for many encounters after, Eric was cracked open, poured into, expressed, and validated as a whole and imperfect human in ways he did not know he could be.These moments set the tone for the 4 year story that has arrived at a new chapter, in which our beloved friends, chosen family, and gorgeous community get to come together and celebrate the myriad of relationships and stories that have given birth to this one right here. My love finds fullness in all of you who are reading this, and who will continue to be with us in our journey. See you dorks at the wedding!