One Sunday afternoon in spring of 2022, Monica received a text from her stepsister, Beth: “Hey girl hey, would you be interested in going on a date with an NJB”? Monica couldn’t help but wonder…was an NJB (a nice Jewish boy) all that she was missing? She took a leap of faith, agreed to give Eric her number, and buckled up for a night of studying for her Criminal Law exam. Across state lines in downtown Hoboken, Eric received a text from his college friend, Anya (a friend of Beth’s). The contents? Photos of Monica, her phone number, and gentle encouragement to set up a date. Eric texted Monica that very evening. They scheduled their first date two weeks from that night. (Jam-packed schedules would soon become a common theme…) Although neither Eric nor Monica were particularly artistic, Eric booked a paint-n-sip class in Tribeca, where the couple would have to paint The Office’s Michael Scott or Dwight Schrute. (A sweet foreshadowing, perhaps. Years later, Eric and Monica would watch the show together in the apartment they share). The night of the date, sparks were flying. Literally. A track fire almost deterred Monica, but she eventually made it to the paint bar. Eric suggested they share a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, which happened to be Monica’s favorite wine. Two hours of painting, chatting, and giggling went by in a flash. Neither was ready for the evening to end, so they made their way to Belle Reve (Monica’s favorite bar in Tribeca). By the end of the night, not only did they have two atrocious paintings, but they also had an unspoken agreement that this was the best (and longest!) first date they’d been on.

From there, their casual texts turned into essays—the types you had to scroll to get to the end of. The two had no problem chatting about various topics at once, learning about each other’s friends, families, goals, and passions. As Monica and Eric continued dating, they navigated busy schedules and the ups and downs of a “long distance” relationship. Between working full-time and going to law school in the evenings, Monica’s weeknights were very busy, and weekends were generally reserved for schoolwork. On top of working, Eric was also studying for level two of the CFA exam, training for a triathlon, and playing for a recreational basketball league. Nevertheless, the two were always incredibly supportive of one another and intentional about planning fun date nights on the Upper East Side, Hoboken, and neighborhoods in between.

After a year of traveling back and forth along the Hudson, they decided to hang up their weekender bags. Eric somehow convinced Monica to abandon her identity as a New Yorker (born and raised, thank you very much) and move into an apartment in Hoboken. Living under one roof, Monica and Eric’s love and support for one another only grew, especially as they grieved family losses together. In these difficult moments, Eric and Monica learned how to lean on each other. This made celebrating the good moments—Eric passing level two of the CFA, Monica graduating law school and passing the bar exam, and both starting new jobs (across the street from one another!)—even more special. When Monica’s family dog, Vasia, moved in with the couple in November 2024, Eric embraced him with open arms (and now Vasia barely leaves his arms).

As much as they love cozy nights in their apartment, a common thread in the couple’s relationship has always been their curiosity about the world. With Eric’s iconic itinerary skills and Monica’s passenger-princess personality, the two have always made travel a priority. In the last three years, they’ve celebrated a friend’s wedding in Tulum, island-hopped in Greece, sipped wine in Sonoma and Napa County, rock climbed in Arizona and the Grand Canyon, walked the cobblestone streets of Paris, and explored the beautiful coasts of the French Riviera. (Eric is the only person who could convince Monica to complete six hikes in three days, by the way.) While the two call Hoboken home, Eric and Monica also love traveling all over the US to visit friends and family.

When Eric proposed on July 23, 2024 in Sonoma County, the couple was overjoyed at everything this new chapter would bring. They couldn’t wait to officially combine their families. Today, they can’t wait to celebrate with all the loved ones who’ve been a part of their journey. They know August 30, 2026 at the Liberty House in Jersey City will be just as special as all the travels, date nights, and laughter that has brought them to this moment.