But if you asked Emily, she would say she didn't meet Joe until February 2, 2019. TLDR; we met through friends- Molly and groomsman, Kevin. The longer, more in-depth version- On September 30, 2017 we were celebrating Molly and Kate's 25th birthday. As any 25th birthday goes around here, we hopped on a charter bus at 10 am to head to Virginia's finest wineries. Thinking back, Joe was possibly sitting behind Emily on the bus but who will ever know? Apparently they didn't talk that day, because if they had- this wedding would have been years ago!! Flash forward 490 LONG days, it was the real day Emily and Joe met. Emily was doing her usual Saturday socializing. Going from a teacher party, her teammate Allyson (thank you!) dropped her off safely at O'Sullivans in Clarendon to meet up with another group of friends. About 10 minutes into being at this bar, Emily struck up a conversation with Joe.... well really, she needed him to buy her a drink because the bartender was being a little feisty that night. After the drink was purchased they proceeded to have a great conversation and went their separate ways. The following weekend was a calmer Saturday night, this time at Kevin and Molly's house for pizza! Joe and Emily were both there sharing their love for pizza, wine, and getting to know each other more. It was time for both of them to leave but they continued the conversation next to Emily's car while on the sidewalk outside of Molly and Kevin's house. Emily was hoping Joe would ask for her number, but no, it was another night of good conversation and no digits being handed out. The next time Emily saw Molly, at a Friday Galentine's day dinner, she decided to let Molly know that HER friend, Joe, needed to step it up! Emily told Molly, "I'm not sure who your friend Joe is, but if he wants my number you should just give it to him," to which Molly responded, "You definitely DO know who Joe is, you met him at our wine tour birthday party." "Hmmm," Emily thought, but it didn't ring a bell. Fortunately, Molly followed through with the game plan and gave Joe Emily's number that Sunday at their weekly soccer game. Joe promptly texted Emily to set up a first date the next Thursday at Verre Wine Bar in Courthouse. (Do you sense a wine theme? It's only fitting this wedding is happening at a winery!) After a 3 hour date, and another 30 minute conversation on the sidewalk, it was time to say goodnight. As Emily got home, very excited and tired, she went to close her blinds of her Columbia Pike apartment. Yes, this apartment overlooked the DC skyline and beautiful monuments, but what did she really notice for the first time in a while? A group photo from the winery birthday party a year and a half earlier, squeezed in just behind one of her bridesmaids, Katie Labadie, and next to three of his groomsmen, Kevin Reuter, Kevin Barrow, and Mike Ganassa, was her future husband.