Back in March 2016, Ryan and Emilio found themselves in Nashville, each starting a new chapter. Emilio had just graduated from the University of Arizona and followed his close friends to Tennessee in search of adventure. Ryan was finishing his final semester of college when one night at a lively music-video bar called Tribe — a longtime staple of Nashville’s LGBTQ+ scene — their paths crossed and something clicked. They bonded right away over their love of music, shared sense of curiosity, and desire to live fully. Their first dates included trying food from each other’s backgrounds, attending field trips and fashion shows for Ryan’s fashion degree, and soon traveling together to celebrate weddings for Emilio’s former castmates. Somewhere in there, they adopted their dog Nikaya, who’s been part of the family ever since. After nearly two years in Nashville, Emilio’s job brought them west to Los Angeles — a city that blended everything they loved: sunshine, creativity, and just the right mix of casual energy and pop-culture sparkle. A few years later, Ryan’s work brought them to Brooklyn, where they dove into the city’s bold, artistic pulse — nights out at concerts, creative spaces, and the unmistakable Haus of Yes energy that fed their sense of freedom and self-expression. That chapter left its mark before they returned to LA in 2023, ready to keep building a life centered on community, creativity, and purpose. They’d always joked about getting married at the ten-year mark or on Halloween. But when the conversation around marriage equality being reconsidered by the Supreme Court resurfaced, they knew they didn’t want to wait. So this Halloween, they’re making it official with a civil ceremony, followed by a vow exchange on December 13 with their closest family and friends.