How We Met Nick and Jess met the way all great stories should begin—at a local dive bar. While Nick was playing pool at Dogwood Tavern in Lake Arrowhead, Jess happened to be there on a girls’ trip with friends. Sparks flew instantly, but as fate would have it, the next day came and went without another chance to spend time together. Thankfully, a little persistence (and a lot of texting) led to a proper first date in San Juan Capistrano—one Jess almost missed due to a classic case of miscommunication. Luckily, timing finally worked in their favor, and from that date on, everything fell into place. What followed was a whirlwind of impromptu Lake Arrowhead getaways, early introductions to family (including Nick crashing a Catalina trip to meet Jess’s dad on Father’s Day), and quickly becoming part of each other’s worlds. When Nick bought a home in San Clemente, Jess was practically living there—dreaming up renovations and making it feel like home. They now spend their days traveling, dancing, laughing, and enjoying the peaceful life they’ve built with their dog, Max. Excited for many more adventures ahead, Nick and Jess can’t wait to continue doing life together and growing their little family.