to have and to hold

His hometown: Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts Her hometown: Middletown, New Jersey First date: Dinner & a movie, 2016 Moved in: Arlington, Virginia, 2017 Engaged: Saint Lucia, 2019 To be married: Cape May, New Jersey, 2021 Two beach town natives found each other far from home in the town of Falls Church, Virginia at the very start of each of their professional careers in 2015. A shared workplace, friend circle, adoration for nature, and hefty appetite for cuisine from all corners of the world – brought these two from a flirty friendship to an enamored partnership. ~ During the early days of dating, the 2016 blizzard trapped us inside for five days and, looking back, we believe is when we fell in love before we knew it. The effortless cohabitating and opportunistic sense of adventure made that week one of the most memorable in our relationship; it’s where it all started and how we knew our worlds were meant to collide. From spying on black bears in the Shenandoah to brewery hopping in Maine, from chasing endless peaks in the Rockies to riding (and fishing) ocean waves all along the East Coast, our eyes are fixed on the horizon where we’ll seek out – or stumble upon – our next journey. And while we love discovering new places, the joy comes from uncovering the world in tandem; whether steeping our cold brew or crafting one of our DIYs – every day together is an adventure. Getting married is the next trail on our everlasting hike through life. For those who don’t know, we playfully go by Piggy and The Rat – at home we know no other names. What started as an inside joke from an Instagram post quickly became identities for each other. Jess knows he can plant a broad smile on Piggy’s face just by offering a snack. And Britt is yet to wise up to all of Rat’s fake-outs and hide-and-scare games. Down the road, we may even write a children’s book series based on these goofballs.