Erica & Jay's love story began in the most modern of ways—a match on JSwipe. Their first date at Coral Tree Cafe in Encino was filled with the kind of excitement and nervous energy that only comes from the possibility of something extraordinary. Jay, in complete awe, could hardly believe someone like Erica, both sophisticated and beautiful, would be sitting across from him. Erica quickly noticed there was something special about Jay. His warmth, intelligence, and undeniable charm made her eager to see where this would go. It was also evident they both had some things in common that made them compatible from that very first date. They already knew they shared a similar set of beliefs having matched on a Jewish dating app, but they also both grew up near each other, were pursuing careers in healthcare, have a similar sense of humor, and are family oriented. From that very first date, their adventure unfolded in the little moments across the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles areas — strolling through the serene paths of Descanso Gardens, hanging out at The Village, and very memorably, spending an afternoon at Peddler’s Fork. As they sat together, Jay opened up to Erica about himself and when Erica met his vulnerability with understanding and warmth, he knew—this was it. She was the one. Erica, always thoughtful, wasn’t far behind in reaching that same realization. A little more time, a few more adventures, and one special evening at yet another memorable Valley spot, Vino, sealed it. One of their favorite memories is the day Erica played the word “love” in their online Scrabble game. With a lot of curiosity and excitement about this word choice, Jay picked up the phone to tell Erica he loved her. Erica said it right back. From that moment, their bond only grew stronger. By April 2022, their love had deepened into something unshakable, and they took the next big step—moving in together. Then, in January 2023, they expanded their little family by adopting Hazelnut (Hazel) Biscotti, an energetic pup who quickly became their greatest source of joy and entertainment. Jay had known for quite some time that he wanted to marry Erica, but he patiently waited for her to be just as certain. That moment came during a trip to Cancun in September 2023. Jay had envisioned a picture-perfect proposal on a romantic boat ride, with the sunset casting a golden glow around them. Reality, however, had other plans—the boat was packed with loud tourists, and the moment wasn’t quite as intimate as he had hoped. So, he adjusted. Later that night, in the quiet of their hotel room, he finally asked the question he had been waiting to ask. Erica, of course, had already figured it out— and she didn’t hesitate for a moment to say yes! As their love story continued, Jay and Erica made another big decision: they were ready to get a home together. Wanting to be legally married before taking that momentous step, they had a courthouse ceremony—an intimate, meaningful milestone in their journey. From the start though, they knew that celebrating with their family and friends, along with having a Jewish wedding ceremony was even more important. And now, here they are, ready to do just that. And they can’t wait to share this special moment and next chapter with all of you.