In December of 2015, they matched on the hottest dating/hookup app of the time: Tinder. Fresh out of relationships and not looking for anything serious, they swiped right before Christmas and then… waited. After weeks of Jesse not making a move, Liz finally broke the silence with, “So when are you taking me on a hot date?” That first date was burgers. Jesse was quiet; Liz was not—filling the space with stories, jokes, and her signature vulgarities. Jesse wasn’t quiet because he was shy; he was busy taking in the most interesting girl he’d ever met. Their first year together was spent laughing nonstop, eating their way through the city, and bouncing from bar to bar with friends. A little over a year in, Jesse moved in with Liz and quickly became the fox in the hen house. Liz and her roommates treated him like one of the girls—while still appreciating him for “boy stuff” like taking out the trash and fixing clogged drains. They learned each other’s quirks, watched endless seasons of Doctor Who in bed, and officially started building a life together. In 2017, they traveled to meet each other’s families. Liz graduated college the next year, and by 2019–2020 they were traveling everywhere—the Pacific Northwest, Asheville, New York City, Pittsburgh. During all of this, Jesse went back to school to pursue a career in therapy and crushed it with perfect grades. Both thrived at work… until COVID hit and Liz was suddenly sent home from the bars. Lockdown forced them to slow down, and in that stillness, they truly grew together. Jesse’s logic balanced Liz’s chaos, and without hustle culture pulling them apart, they spent uninterrupted, quality time together. Liz only survived the pandemic thanks to Jesse's support and hundreds of hours of Animal Crossing. When the world reopened in 2021, they traveled back to the Pacific Northwest—this time secretly looking at engagement rings. They kept traveling, celebrating career wins, and supporting their families. In 2022, they both began working at a members club together and thrived. By early 2023, after an anniversary trip to Charleston, they knew Nashville no longer served them, and by Valentine’s Day they were seriously talking about moving closer to Liz’s family. Later that year, Liz planned a girls trip to Tulum for her 30th birthday. Jesse insisted on joining as the “chaperone,” and the girlies welcomed him with open arms. What Liz didn’t know was that Jesse had been hauling around an engagement ring the entire trip. After missing a sunset cocktail hour, the group pivoted to a random hotel beach. As the sun dipped below the horizon and friends approached, Jesse dropped to one knee. Liz was equal parts shocked, touched, and mildly furious—stunned that Jesse had successfully surprised her. There they were, crying on a beach in Tulum at sunset, as their friends celebrated that “mom and dad” were finally getting married. Turning 30 and getting engaged in the same five days? Iconic. Their first year as fiancés flew by—working together, taking hot engagement photos, traveling to San Francisco, starting new careers, and soaking up time with friends. With the help of family, they locked in their new home in Ohio. Spring was a blur of half-packed boxes, listing their Nashville house, Liz working all over the country, and Jesse holding everything together. Moving states was no small feat, and they remain endlessly grateful to the friends and family who helped make it happen. Since landing in Ohio, they’ve felt completely at peace with the decision—spending more time together and with the people they love. What once felt impossible now feels easy, and they are finally ready to tie the knot, surrounded by those who helped get them here. So here’s to 10 years of them. They can’t wait to celebrate together on September 6th.