Emily and Cory met in 2021, when Emily moved from Lawrence, Kansas, to Tacoma. After knowing each other through mutual friends for about a year, fate had it that Emily came and sat at Cory’s bar one evening, leading to their first one-on-one conversation, and he was smitten. Coworkers of Cory’s were told of his crush, Emily’s friends were told, and plans were hatched. A couple of weeks later, at Emily’s birthday party, through numerous texts and a phone call, it was made obvious to Cory that he should attend. At that party, Cory worked up the courage to ask for Emily’s number. Dates happened, months passed, families were introduced, and soon Cory and Emily moved in together. Another two years passed, and Cory proposed on New Year’s Day 2025.