We are getting married!

June 24th, 2013. Seton Hall Pirate Adventure. A weekend of college orientation, meeting professors, signing up for classes, meeting new friends and what would become a date that would change their lives forever. Jess & Leo both attended Pirate Adventure this summer on the South Orange Campus, both still in High School about to graduate and take this new adventure at this new school. It was on that very campus, on that very first day, that they met each other in a lecture hall, surrounded by a whole new class of incoming freshman. They introduced themselves and hung out during the first night of the orientation. They both sat at the volleyball nets and watched others play, getting up at some point for some 1am Empanadas at the Empanada guy truck. They became friends this very first night. Classes had started and Jess & Leo were in 3 of the same classes, one of which was World History (Leo's college major) & thankfully for it, Jess passed World History :). As time went on and majors changed, Leo & Jess did not have class together but would occasionally see each other on campus and kept in touch via text. 4 years later, graduation came & both set out on their own way & path. Leo started his journey of becoming a police officer & Jess worked to start her career in the field of social work. Although paths went separate ways, Jess & Leo seemed to still catch up with each other when they could, usually when it was someone's birthday or to vent about how bad the NY Jets played that season....which was very often. It wasn't until the fall of 2021 that Leo invited Jess out for beer & wings & to watch one of those dreadful NY Jets games at Blue 42 Bar in Elmwood Park NJ. It was then that the 2 rekindled their friendship and started hanging out regularly catching up on life. Leo was about to finish the police academy and Jess has just started a Master's Degree in Social Work. It was a friendship that they both held really special until they came to realize there was something more there. Both had taken a really big interest in each other & in each other's lives and cared for each other, showing they both had feelings. On a flight to Hawaii, Jess had finally told Leo how she felt about him and then had to wait 12 hours for the flight to land to finish the conversation while her phone was in airplane mode... oops. The two decided to continue to keep it casual and see where things went without any pressure - until Leo asked Jess to be his girlfriend (and in true Jess fashion Jess said not yet). 1 week later Leo decided to tell Jess that he loved her and the rest is history. They got engaged in May 2024 on the beach at sunset, they moved into their first apartment together in December and not long after adopted a special needs dog named Twinkle Toes (the absolute love of their lives). Who knew that 12 years ago on the Volleyball court, they really would be looking at their future spouses? And so, the story continues with this wedding & marriage. Jess & Leo are so incredibly happy & excited to start this next chapter of their lives together and they are so excited to share the celebration with each and every one of you. We will see you November 1st, 2026!