A long long time ago (2015) in a place far far away (Chicago, IL), John and Emma locked eyes across the room at a dorm party. When their eyes met, they both knew what each other was thinking. “This party sucks.” The party started to suck a little less as they bonded talking about their mutual love for standup comedy, and dislike for many of the other party attendees.  John knew it was love at first sight and eagerly waited for Emma to realize that, as well. Shortly after their meet-cute, Emma saw John walking in the hallway while reading a book and wearing an 'On Wednesdays We Wear Pink'  tank top (and it was, in fact, a Wednesday) and thought, “I’ve gotta get me some of that.” She also thought, “Walking while reading? This guy has a gift!”  Their first date was to see the movie “Straight Outta Compton,” as John knew Emma liked movies, and rap music, and it seemed like a perfect fit. It was at that moment that the two decided to continue spending time together. However, shortly after seeing “Straight Outta Compton,” John dropped “Straight Outta College.” (John likes to joke he didn’t get much out of school other than his fiancé and $16k (US) of student loans, both of which have loyally stuck with him for nearly 10 years.)  Their love was growing, but they were young and uncertain about the future. In 2017, Emma moved back to Toronto and John moved home to Connecticut. The two remained in a long-distance relationship, and together they would map out their scheduled visits. And it worked, for a while. No holiday, milestone, or important TV series finale was missed.  Then 2020 happened… you thought work Zoom meetings were bad, try having a relationship over one! After 10 months of being separated by a closed border, John abandoned his nation of birth and obtained his Permanent Residence in 2022, officially moving to Toronto. Now John and Emma spend all their time together watching their favourite shows, enjoying long walks in the city, and writing comedy. John’s poor dishwasher-filling technique is peanuts to Emma -- and John agrees that Emma’s insane habit of rearranging the entire apartment’s furniture once a month is something he can live with as well. So, the time finally feels right to celebrate the next chapter.  This past summer, John and Emma went to New York City, a shared favourite place for many reasons beyond pizza. It was on this trip, and while doing their favourite thing (a several-mile-long morning coffee walk), that John proposed to Emma on the High Line. John's original plan was to propose in Washington Square Park, but when he saw homeless people attacking pigeons with swords, he didn’t feel it was the right spot.  Now, John and Emma want to celebrate with you, their friends and family whom they cherish most, on their 10th anniversary, September 13th, 2025. John and Emma would not have been able to make the insane gauntlet of logistical nonsense work out in their favour if it wasn’t for the places to stay, the words of wisdom, the rides to airports, the shared meals, and the much-cherished love from all of you. After all, you know the old riddle about weddings - if two partners kiss at a wedding and nobody’s around to bear public witness, is it really holy matrimony? (Philosophers have pondered this for millennia, though the law is pretty clear on the matter). The Happy Couple look forward to seeing you all and can’t wait to share a fun day!