We're getting Married!

How we met is a matter of ongoing contention! Jonathan insists they met a Clover Food Lab in Central Square, and that they were introduced for the first time by Matt Lowe (American) and Jimmy Maiarana. Delane is convinced they met much earlier at a party, but that Jonathan, per usual, just doesn't remember well enough. In either case, we continued to hang out as friends in our tight circle of friends with Ali King, Shanae Burch, Tee Wamsley, and Matt and Jimmy. Gradually, things began to change. Jonathan would always find himself asking if Delane was coming to hang out. Delane would maintain obliviousness and try to invite more people to hang out. Then one night on the way home from an evening full of dancing, we found ourselves alone in the cab maybe for the first time. No one knows who started it, and it certainly doesn't matter now, but we found ourselves holding hands.

Jonathan knew that the most important thing for Delane would be to have family and friends present to celebrate the engagement. Unfortunately, the pandemic made it challenging to gather people together. However, a golden opportunity arose when Delane decided to go to NYC to visit her sister Bailey the week before she and Jonathan were planning driving down to VA for a friend's wedding with their friends Tee and Morgan Wamsley. The plan was that when Jonathan and crew arrived in NYC to pick up Delane on their way to the wedding in VA, Jonathan would surprise Delane on the front steps of Bailey's house with a bit of botany and geology. To amp up the surprise, they told Delane by text that they were running really behind and Delane needed to rush out when they arrived. After the porch was set, Jonathan texted Delane that she needed to rush down so they wouldn't be late. Tee and Morgan were standing by with champagne and to take photos. Bailey was ready to take photos too. Typical of life in Astoria, many other people were standing by too. The florist came to see the big moment. The next door neighbors out were trimming the hedges. The sushi delivery guy was patiently waiting by the fence. Passersby stopped to observe the scene. The only one not realizing what was happening was Delane, who asked "why aren't you helping me with my bag??" Jonathan countered her question with another question, and the rest is history.