It all started with a Bumble match: a girl from Long Island swiping right on a guy from the North Shore. Jess was in Boston for work when they first connected. Sparks flew, but the timing wasn’t ideal. They made a casual promise to reconnect the next time Jess was in town, but life got busy, and the conversation fizzled. Luckily, Joe—ever the guy with a plan—set a reminder and messaged Jess just in time to schedule their first date. They met at the Boston Aquarium, where they spent the day learning about marine life and, more importantly, each other. Saying goodbye wasn’t easy, but with no Boston trips in her calendar, Jess jokingly said, “Hey, want to meet me in Vegas after my next conference?” She didn’t expect much. Joe, however, booked his flight that day. Vegas turned out to be one for the books. They roamed the Strip, tried their luck at roulette, and Jess somehow hit red 13 times in a row, winning just enough to rent a Mustang convertible. With newfound swagger and a stop at the iconic Chicken Shack, they spent the next day road-tripping to the Grand Canyon and back. Eight hours in a car together, and neither of them wanted to jump out—an early sign that they were onto something good. For the next three years, they navigated the quirks of long-distance dating: weekend visits, endless FaceTimes, and meeting up wherever their schedules allowed. Their first seven dates took place in seven different states. The long drives, quick flights, and grueling Greyhound bus rides, while uncomfortable, were just another reminder that they were worth the effort. Then came COVID, and with work shifting remote, along with the graciousness of Joe's roommates, Jess took a leap and moved to Boston. What had been a weekend romance became full-time life together. Joe, for the first time, let someone see the quirks his family knew well—but instead of driving her crazy, it only made Jess love him more (most of the time). They moved her childhood dog, Robby, up north, and their little family was complete. Over the next few years, they lived in Boston, Newburyport, Middleton, and Rye, before finally buying their first home by the beach in Hampton. After years of memories and good intentions, Joe finally popped the question. It happened at Maudslay Park in Newburyport, overlooking the Merrimack River—their favorite place to walk Robby. There was no elaborate plan, just a quiet moment between the two of them, knowing without question they were exactly where they were meant to be. With a lifetime of inside jokes, spontaneous road trips, and Robby singalongs ahead, Jess and Joe can’t wait to start the next chapter of their story—together, forever.