To say that it was love at first sight would be a lie. For those of you who don’t know the story, let’s just say that John’s preferred method of flirtation is sarcasm. Sarcasm that, on this fateful St. Patrick's Day 2016, Jess did not enjoy. The two found themselves at the same Fenway watering hole (Cask and Flagon), brought together through a common friend (our very own Mr. Chris Ryan). Jess had not been introduced to John, so she was pretty startled when someone came up to her at the bar. Prepping herself to deal with some crappy pickup line that was surely about to be dropped by the smirking face in front of her (oddly similar to that of the Grinch), she was shocked to hear that he instead chose to insult her choice of beer…now this was new. Dumbfounded at how someone could disagree with the brilliant choice of a Corona Light, Jess quipped back. After some back and forth, and I can only imagine some choice words, Jess found out that he was one of Chris’ friends and not just some other putrid green wearing hooligan out for the holiday. Somehow John left that night with her number, begging the question if Jess really hated him, and his sarcastic entry, at all.

St. Patrick’s Day 2016 - John left his Brighton apartment donning his finest mint green button down shirt and tasteful, shamrock-themed beaded necklace. The ladies wouldn’t be able to resist. After several hours at Cask n’ Flagon, turning down one hopeful girl after another, John was ready to chalk up the night as an abject disaster. Then, it happened. The sea of patrons parted to reveal a sight that was both intriguing and peculiar - a pretty girl across the bar with an ever-growing graveyard of discarded Corona bottles in front of her. As misguided as her beer selection was (on St. Paddy’s Day, no less), there was just something about this girl. John knew he needed to go in for a closer look. He popped his collar, and in perfect lockstep with the beat of the music, bobbed and weaved his way across the bar in her direction. So cold, so smooth. As he rifled through his arsenal of pickup lines in his head, deep down, he knew he’d need to pull out the big guns. With comedic timing that would make the likes of Steve Martin green with envy, he approached her and shot his shot: “Coronas? What are you, Mexican?” Despite the look of disgust on her face (which would become all too familiar to John in the coming years) Jess knew it was game over.

After some further failed attempts at flirtation through the spring and summer, we found ourselves in Boston’s best season, fall. As the leaves turned and fell, Jess also turned her attention towards John. Were his jabs perhaps… charming? Were his smirks actually… cute? Whatever it was, the tides had turned and during an epic Friendsgiving at her Gainsborough St apartment, Jess made her choice and the rest was history. Two months later, the two found themselves at yet another bar (Lucky’s Lounge this time) where they officially admitted they were “really dating”. Since then, their relationship has been anything but boring. They moved into their first apartment in the North End, their favorite neighborhood in the city. If they can survive living together in those 400 square feet, they can survive anything (if you’ve seen the place, you know we’re not kidding). From there they bought their first home in South Boston (with the help of our Boston bestie, Marianne). Soon after settling in, John decided to get Jess a cat for her birthday. Enter Oscar, their favorite little guy in the world. And since their engagement, they've added another little guy to the family - Fred. The pair love nothing more than traveling and spending time with their friends and family. Whether that is on the Jersey Shore (where John proposed), Cape Cod beach week, international and domestic excursions with their besties, and whatever trip and/or outing Jess has unknowingly signed John up for… the pair is happiest when they are with their people. And for that reason, we can’t wait to have our favorite people all together to celebrate in October!