One of the best parties in Cincinnati is Bockfest. An annual festival to mark the beginning of spring and delicious bock-style beer. On February 28, 2020, Eric and Mel ended up meeting at Bockfest. Mel was there seeing her friends and Eric was with his friends. Turns out, two of those friends were dating each other so we first connected outside of Arnold's Bar at the parade kickoff. We spent the entire night talking and toasting. After exchanging numbers, we hung out a few times in the next two weeks enjoying a hike and a taco night. But Covid was right around the corner and as the world was shutting down, we decided we'd be a bubble together. Gone were the expectations of traditional dates but rather, we spent hours talking on porches, taking walks with dogs and learning each other.

Over the years, we went on adventures, hikes and road trips. We homebrewed, made sausage (ask Eric about our bratwurst experience), did house projects and spent hours each week supporting each other through the ups and downs of day-to-day life. On July 3, 2023, Eric asked Mel to join him as the ultimate life partner surrounded by friends and family at our July 3rd Party. And on March 22, 2025, we're so excited for even more friends and family to join us as we officially join together for this next chapter and then spend the night celebrating each other, our community of friends from all over and the family who have shaped us.