10.16.2025

That's right, we matched on the dating app, Hinge, when we were living in Raleigh, NC. We had our first date at Little City Brewery on June 26th, 2021 and have been together ever since. We quickly bonded over our love for craft beer & dinner dates, live entertainment, and exploring new places. We started navigating deployments around the world, being plus ones to loved ones' weddings (s/o The Guiffrida's & The Clukey's, est 2022), and started the footprint of what it means to be "Zach & Nicole". With a deployment on the horizon, we moved into our first apartment in Durham June 2022, where we truly started growing together. We took trips to NC Coast & Florida, met each other's families over the holidays, and watched another great couple get married (s/o Heyduk's, est 2023). By Summer 2023, we were re-signing our lease and meeting in Vegas with friends to galavanted the city and visit the Grand Canyon. Years 1 + 2 set a great blueprint for the adventure, love, and support we have going into this beautiful relationship.

As Zach's new job took him to Japan in autumn 2023, we knew our first international adventure was on the horizon. We explored all Tokyo had to offer, from paying respect at the Meiji Jingu shine, dining at hole-in-the-wall ramen restaurants in Golden Gai, shopping in Harajuku and dancing all night at ULTRA Music Festival. On Sept 13th, 2023 we hopped the bullet train west from Shinjuku Station to Kyoto for a day of exploring with our friends on their honeymoon. With a crisp ASAHI Lager in hand, we strolled the Bamboo Forest as Zach took a knee and proposed, w/ Steve & Brit not far behind recording (thank you so much). As busy as the trails were that day, we were the only people atop a hill by the old tea house. We shared a celebratory lunch and visited the Monkey Sanctuary to end this forever memorable day. And to think, Steve & Brit almost missed their flight TO THEIR HONEYMOON as the ring was being delivered to their house for them to bring...Zach takes the cake on "chaotic" for this one ;) 11/10 execution though.

Just weeks after getting engaged, we packed up our apartment and moved to Wilmington, NC where we bought our first home together. With a sunroom for Peach (our cat), plenty of space for our lego & book collections, and just 10 min from the ocean, we were excited to spend more time together and make this little oasis our own. Over the next few years, we painted every room & laid new floors, renovated the backyard and grew enough basil for the entire town. We took on individual professional endeavors, we continued traveling near and far (Poland; Georgia; South Carolina; Tennessee; New England; California; Mexico), and have been so fortunate to host many of you at the our home for beach vacations. As 2025 quickly showed up, we realized life is forever changing but there's one constant: each other. Just shy of 2 years as "Fiancee"'s in summer 2025, we decided we knew how we wanted to get married...

Buying a home together, changing career directions, and navigating long-distance engagement while Zach continued traveling half the year was no easy-feat. Many nights were spent talking future plans, goals, and how we wanted to celebrate our wedding. After debating what seems every possible way to host a wedding, on a Friday in September ‘25, we snagged our marriage license and called the magistrate to book a date for our courthouse wedding. With just our witnesses, a photographer, and some wooden flowers, we were officially married on Thursday October 16th, 2025 at 345pm. The next chapter of our life started with sharing private vows under oak trees, oktoberfest beers at our favorite Wilmington brewery, and swooning over a custom cake. Our world slowed down as we laughed, told stories, and shared a day together we won't ever forget. While we didn't get to celebrate with friends and family (yet), we want to express how much we love & cherish each of you and the support you bring into our lives as we navigate all life's twisted tracks together. Your presence is our present, and we look forward to the next flight or car-packed drive to spend time with you soon. Cheer's to our next greatest adventure together, marriage. Love always, Mr. Zachary and Mrs. Nicole Borice