In September of 2023, Eliana and Rani’s love story started the way all great modern romances do- on Hinge. Rani’s response to the prompt “My greatest strength” was simple: “Always traveling.” It was exactly the kind of answer that caught Eliana’s eye. So, naturally, when he messaged her, she… left him on read for two whole weeks (whoops!). In her defense, she was probably traveling. When she finally answered, she mentioned that she’d just spent two months hopping between Israel, Greece, London, and South Africa. Rani was not expecting that. He had finally met someone who just might out-travel him. The catch? By the time she responded, he was already in Israel himself, waiting for his sister-in-law to give birth, with no return flight in sight. And just like that, their love story began before they had even met in person. They texted every day, FaceTimed every chance they got, and ignored the 7-hour time difference like it was no big deal. Rani stayed up until 7 AM most nights just to keep the conversation going, wondering if this was all real. Spoiler: it was. As weeks went by, the anticipation of meeting in person kept building. Eventually, Rani booked his flight back to New York for October 7th- the day that would change not just their lives, but the lives of every Jewish person around the world. They had already planned to go on their first date that night, but suddenly, going on a date seemed like the last thing that mattered. They went back and forth on whether they should still go. But Rani was adamant: “If we don’t meet, they win.” So, at 11 PM, after a 12-hour flight, in a world that suddenly felt unrecognizable, they chose each other. They met at Ampersand, and from that moment on, they were inseparable. In a time of darkness, they found light. Now, they’re getting married in the one place that has been a constant in their story- Israel. Because if there’s one thing October 7th taught them, it's that love, unity, and joy are the most powerful ways to fight back. Choosing to celebrate, to build a life together, and to gather with the people they love most is the greatest response to a world that tried to take that away. Yes, they’re traveling again, but at least this time, they have a pretty good reason- and you’re all invited! We hope you can join us in celebrating Eliana & Rani!