Dylan and Jessica both moved to Washington, DC for work in the fall of 2020. The following summer, they both joined an incredible volleyball community that played pickup games in Garfield Park and in front of the Washington Monument. The group organized a weekend to Ocean City, Maryland. During the trip, the group went out to Seacrets for a night out. Around midnight, Dylan and Jessica were among the first to head back to the Airbnb. A few hours later, around 3am, the rest of the group returned — missing one person. Both the responsible friends, they immediately noticed and jumped into action driving back to the bar to rescue their friend. It was on this late-night car ride that Dylan and Jessica got to know each other and connect. They successfully recovered their friend and spent the rest of the weekend enjoying each other's company. Before leaving, Dylan asked for Jessica's number. On the ride back to DC with a guy friend, he asked for advice on when to text her. Classic guy advice, the friend said: "give it three days." Dylan didn't listen. Immediately after dropping his friend off, Dylan texted Jessica, and their love story began.

From that first message, Jessica and Dylan began a relationship for the ages. One early moment that resonated with Dylan was when he asked Jessica to buy him a massive 5lb chocolate bar during her Hershey Park trip. Jessica happily agreed, showing her kind and selfless nature. After that thoughtful gesture, Dylan knew he had to officially ask her out. Their first date was supposed to be at Doi Moi — until disaster struck. Dylan dislocated his knee moments before their first date. Even in blinding pain, all he could think about was making their date. But Jessica convinced him to prioritize his health. For the next few months, she helped take care of him during his recovery. Months later, they had their first real date, where they bonded over their passions and shared love for adventures and community. Their relationship only deepened during a group Fall trip to West Virginia. On their drive down, Dylan fell in love with Jess’s unbridled joy for the changing leaves, gasping with excitement at every red tree. This trip solidified their greatest strength as a couple: their open and honest communication. They stayed up all night talking about their shared values, dreams, and lives. A week later, Dylan invited Jessica on their first trip away as a couple to dog sit Kenya in Philly. So many profound moments would happen on these fall trips; they officially became a couple on this first trip, decided to move in together while on a month-long Vermont/Philly trip, and would eventually get engaged on one. However, the first ‘I love you’ came in a quiet moment, just relaxing together, when Dylan and Jessica's eyes met and they both felt like they knew each other so well — and just as he was about to say it, Jessica beat him to it. She said "I love you," and Dylan instantly said it back. From there, their love grew deeper — filled with passion, laughter, and endless shared adventures. They both shared mutual love for weekend trips and travel; Jessica learned the true nature of Dylan’s obsession with bookstores on a trip to Charlottesville, they thrifted and went to a Broadway play in New York City, spent a work trip in Colorado, and enjoyed family trips to Colombia and scalloping in Florida. One of their favorite trips that exemplified their love for small towns, weekend adventures, shopping, and just wandering and discovering the world came in Fall 2022 in New Hope, PA; they are excited to share those memories while hosting their wedding next door. Their entire relationship was defined by these trips, attending every DC event, going out to dinners and plays, long conversations, and just hanging out at home watching soccer or cooking together. The DC Volleyball community played a huge role in their relationship as they would come to lead the group for over three amazing years and make lifelong best friends in the group. They officially moved in together and built their first home in the Spring 2023. They continue to grow their life and share each other's passions; Dylan picked up Jessica's passion for fitness and health, they found their mutual love for board games, and they both supported each other in achieving lifelong dreams together with Jessica becoming a certified personal trainer and Dylan getting into Graduate School. They have an amazing life together, share a deep and goofy love, and it was blatantly obvious they had found their person.

In September, Dylan got the perfect ring — prongs twisting to embrace the diamond, reminiscent of their safety in each other's arms; he couldn't wait to propose. Though their upcoming spring trip to Italy seemed perfect — as Italy meant so much to them both — he was far too excited. He wanted Jessica to be his fiancée as soon as possible, and chose their annual Fall Colors Trip, where they'd be visiting Letchworth and Watkins Glen State Park in upstate New York. Dylan didn't know exactly when the proposal would happen, but on the first day there were too many signs: he spotted a fox (a good omen in his family), a wedding was happening as they drove into the park, and the Gorge and its three waterfalls were simply breathtaking. All leading up to a perfect moment. They spent the morning hiking and in awe, looking at the changing colors and immense natural wonder, and just completely in love. Wanting a bit of seclusion, Dylan and Jessica went off the trail for lunch. Every year Jessica has a new favorite fall color and this year developed with an obsession with the yellow/lime leaves. When looking for a hammock spot, Jessica would offer numerous options, but Dylan would mysteriously say no as there wasn’t enough of her favorite colors. Eventually, they found a spot and had a nice, quiet lunch. Quiet? That is not like Dylan. Well, he had other things on his mind. For weeks, he'd tried practicing what he'd say, but every time he cried and lost his words. As they sat together, Dylan was reflecting on how to express his love, his gratitude for their life together, and his excitement for the future. After lunch, Dylan offered to clean up the hammock so Jessica could go get the trail map from the car — his chance to secretly set up, only learning later that Jessica knew the entire time. Dylan set up his phone to film, even filming a few practice videos to make sure he was in frame when on one knee. Now the moment had come, Dylan stood holding back tears as Jessica slowly walked up — already welling up — they both knew what was about to happen. Dylan took her hands and held them tight, immediately crying, and his voice tightened with emotions. In the middle of the proposal Jessica reached out, wiped his tears away, and encouraged him by saying, “You are doing great, keep going”. That gave Dylan the strength to continue and get to one knee and asked: Jessica Dominique Papagno, will you marry me? In that moment, a millisecond felt like eternity, but she immediately said yes. Suddenly, there were cheers as a few distant watchers celebrated with them. They both broke down in tears and hugged each other for what felt like hours. Then Jessica told Dylan the most traumatizing news: despite all the planning and practice, when Dylan got down on one knee his phone fell forward at the exact moment of the proposal. On the recording, you can hear Dylan's dramatic, high-pitched “NOOO!” when he realizes what happened. But the proposal was not over, propping the phone back up, Dylan explains that he used his Grandfather's ring box which still had a handwritten note asking his Grandmother to marry him in 1986, and her yes. Dylan used the same box and included his own handwritten note to continue the tradition. During their relationship, they would often write little love notes, and nearly a year and a half ago Dylan wrote one that was so meaningful that he saved it for their proposal. So on the proposal day, Dylan read her the note, “I love that you inspire me to be better and support me in every phase of life” and then he added “and I’m excited for our next phase of life”. They continued to cry and hold each other in awe of the moment, and spent the rest of the day celebrating their engagement. Back at their Airbnb, they called their people for hours, reliving the joy of their magical proposal, and seeing their surprise and love. They spent the rest of their fall trip blissfully in love, in shock, giddy with excitement, and more connected than ever.