We're getting married!

Picture this: It was the height of the pandemic in July, where the humidity was 100% and you had to make reservations for everything, from dining to shopping, to ensure social distancing. Gerard and Casey had recently matched on a dating app, with Casey intrigued by Gerard's ...unique choice of a comic strip cartoon on his profile. Gerard had been in the middle of cooking dinner for his family while on vacation, and ended up setting meatballs on fire and leaving his brother to clean up the mess (sorry Pat) because he and Casey were having such a great text conversation. Gerard suggested they meet at a wine bar for their first date. When they arrived, smiling hello behind their face masks and chasing the awkward hug with a quick Purell spritz, they discovered the wine bar had no table for them; Gerard had accidentally made a reservation for the attached wine shop, where you had to schedule shopping time during COVID, and not the restaurant. The next table wasn't available for about another hour. First date was off to a great start! They hung out at a restaurant across the street while they waited, and when they were finally seated outside at the wine bar, they quickly bonded over French fries and their shared love of travel and family. In fact, as Gerard was mid-sentence describing how large his family was, he stopped and pointed at a woman walking towards them on the sidewalk. "Actually, that's my cousin!" By total coincidence (or the universe messing with them?), Gerard's cousin happened to be passing them on her way home, and Casey decided it was hilarious enough to warrant a second date. Despite the speeding ticket Casey got on the way home (sorry Dad), it was well worth it. Three years later...

After multiple apartments, too many houseplants, and nearly three years together, Gerard popped the question during a Hampton family weekend in Annapolis. The moment he quoted Taylor Swift when proposing, saying "I've loved you three summers, now honey I want 'em all", Casey simply had to say yes! A photographer was hiding at the beach where Gerard proposed, capturing the perfect moment. They spent the new few days celebrating with their families and thinking of even more ways to incorporate Taylor Swift into the wedding (Gerard is especially thrilled about this). We are so excited to celebrate this next chapter of our lives with you. See you in Philly!