Some Things are Just Better Together!

The Algorithm is sometimes right: We should probably come up with an elaborate meet cute but the truth is we met on Bumble. James swiped right, I swiped right, and messages started to be exchanged a few days before Valentine's Day. When James suggested meeting up we both actively avoided meeting on the 14th. So we met up at Neat., a bar on Pico in West L.A., the day after Valentine's Day. At the time I was living in Santa Monica and James was living in Pasadena. The bar is 90% closer to where I was living at the time so James was already earning points for effort. 4+ hours of easy, wide-ranging, laugh-filled conversation plus an awkward goodbye hug later, we both went home thinking we'd like to see each other again and that there just might be potential there.

Our joint birthday/vaccination celebration on the Big Island of Hawai’i was at an end. We had ziplined over waterfalls, snorkeled with sea turtles, walked through lava tubes, and eaten enough malasadas to ruin any chance of wearing jeans in the foreseeable future. But now it was time to pack and check out of our hotel (the Mauna Lani). While Jess was packing I was busy complaining about packing (“Why is my golf bag so heavy now?!”) while we watched the NFL Draft and Kentucky Derby. As I checked my golf bag one last time to figure out why it so heavy, Jess went to the balcony to say her goodbyes to the sea turtles that occupied the pond which was visible from our room. As she turned around to re-enter the room, I announced I had found what had made the bag so heavy. I reached into the bag’s side pocket, pulled out a box, got onto one knee and… I do not remember my exact words, but I believe she said yes. Hopefully she did, or the save the date cards and this website are definitely misguided. (Jess note: I did say yes and we celebrated with Mimosas and chocolate-covered strawberries. I also fervently believe I heard the faint cheers of some sea turtles. Or at the very least some polite clapping.)

With the health and safety of our dear family and friends in mind, we are requiring our guests who are eligible/medically able to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to attend our wedding. The events on Saturday the 5th will all be taking place in an outdoor location (with the exception of the after party). We will be operating under the California state regulations, whatever they may be at the time of the wedding. The measures are in place to protect our vulnerable guests who we love and cannot imagine being without.