Our story began in 2016 in Philadelphia—and like the best stories, it just needed the right spark to begin. My cousin Caitlin had recently started working in the 39th District of the Philadelphia Police Department when she texted me: “Hey, one of the guys I work with saw your photo on my Instagram and wants to know who you are.” She told me his name was Steve and asked if she could pass along my number. I’ll admit—being set up wasn’t really my thing. It felt like stepping into the unknown and definitely out of my comfort zone. But Caitlin didn’t hesitate. She told me Steve was a great guy—respectful, honest, and down-to-earth. She didn’t just suggest him—she wholeheartedly vouched for him. That made it easy to say yes. And then… nothing! Turns out Steve was trying to play it cool, waiting the “classic three days” so he wouldn’t seem too eager. Caitlin called him out immediately, told him to stop overthinking, and reminded him to trust the moment. Thankfully, he listened. When he finally did reach out, it felt like talking to someone I’d known forever. Our first conversation was effortless. One date turned into two, two into weeks, then months. Before we knew it, we were saying “I love you”—and nearly nine years later, here we are: planning our wedding and our forever. The rest is history. Thank you, Caitlin! ;-)

The right one is always worth the wait Nine years, countless memories, and one beautiful forever. We took our time and now it’s time to say I do. I always told Stephen I didn’t need a flashy proposal—just something that felt uniquely us. Turns out, he was listening more closely than I realized. One of my favorite early memories together was a quiet evening in Washington Square Park. Stephen had picked up dessert from a place called Sweet Charlie’s, and we found a spot at a memorial to sit and enjoy it. We shared something that night—something simple, sweet, and unforgettable. It’s a moment that will always stay just between us, but to call it “special” would be an understatement. That memory stayed with him. When the time came, he knew exactly where he wanted to ask me to be his wife. We had dinner plans with our friends Billy and Kait—or so I thought. Stephen had said Billy was itching to go into the city to try a new restaurant, and since we hadn’t seen them in a while, it all seemed completely believable. With Kait playing it off so naturally, I wasn’t suspicious in the slightest. On the way to dinner, Stephen suggested a quick walk through the park. As we reached that same memorial, he gently told me to turn around. There stood some of our closest friends—others Stephen had secretly gathered for this moment—smiling, waiting. I turned back to find Stephen down on one knee. He said a few quiet words—meant only for me—and I said yes. At the very place where a small moment once meant so much, but now means everything, Stephen offered forever. Afterward, we spent the evening surrounded by some of our favorite people—laughing, sharing stories, and celebrating a moment that marked the beginning of the rest of our lives. It couldn’t have been more sweet and uniquely us.