Ben and Jess first met in September of 2021. Unlike most first dates, Ben and Jess's initial interaction flowed so well that they wasted little time on superficial small talk. Over an Italian dinner on Palo Alto’s California Avenue, they dove right into deep philosophical discussions. Despite a memorable evening, they fell out of touch when Jess moved back to Seattle soon thereafter and was consumed by the busyness of life. Despite the distance, Jess thought of Ben fondly and the rare connection they shared. On New Year's Day 2022, to his pleasant surprise she took a leap and reached out to Ben once more, and they picked right back up where they left off getting to know each other. They kept in touch with long distance calls and texts, and FaceTimed weekly to discuss their notes on Jordan Peterson’s Biblical lecture series as they worked through it together. Unbeknownst to them at the time, this experience planted a deep seed of spiritual pursuit that would eventually blossom in the Orthodox church. Ben and Jess briefly reunited as they visited each other in March and May. Finally, Jess was able to move back to the Bay Area in July. However, they could not yet rest easy as their nascent relationship was to face further trials of separation when Ben had to spend much of the summer overseas for his business. Finally, soon after his return from the Philippines, Ben and Jess went to a pumpkin harvest party hosted by his business mentor in October 2022. When they arrived, Ben introduced Jess as his girlfriend when greeting others. On the way home, she said, “I didn’t know I was your girlfriend.” “Well, you’ve graduated. Do you accept the title?” And fortunately, she did! In early 2023, their search for spiritual truth led them to step into an Orthodox church - and at last, there they found it. Captivated by the beauty, mysteries, and the ancient traditions of the faith, Ben and Jess began studying, praying, and attending weekly liturgy. In January 2024, Ben and Jess were baptized into the Orthodox church, and look forward to sharing a life serving God through the Holy Sacrament of Marriage. After the wedding, the newlyweds plan to return to the Bay Area, pack up their apartments, and move cross-country to Virginia to begin the next chapter of life together. We'd love to have you come visit!