Our Story
The Beginning
Charlene and Joe met right before Memorial Day in 2019.
There's some controversy about how they actually met and we're not going to really get into details here. If you really want to know - go ahead and ask them in person. You might get the real story... or not. It's not like you're really gonna know the difference. As Memorial Day neared, Joe knew he needed to see Charlene before she traveled back to Brooklyn. So, they had their first date on her stoop, just some snacks, rum and a conversation. They both felt a spark. Charlene was cautious, Joe was excited. But it was there! So much so that Charlene changed her train back to Albany, arriving earlier so she could see him again. Joe picked her up at the train station, and they had their first real date at what would become one of the favorite spots in their future neighborhood, Lionheart.
Summer of 2019
The Story Continues
As the weeks and months went by, Charlene and Joe kept spending more and more time together. Their budding relationship was slow and sweet. Joe knew Charlene was special and he wanted to do things right, take it slow and not mess it up. Charlene wasn't really into the whole slow and serious thing (#HotGirlSummer!) but she gave him a chance. And they're both lucky she did! In September they took their first trip together. A little glamping in the Catskills. There, Charlene finally agreed to officially become Joe's girlfriend.
The Pandemic
The shutdown, kinda really helped...
Charlene and Joe’s love story truly deepened during the pandemic. Quarantining together gave them the unexpected opportunity to discover how much they enjoyed simply being in each other’s space—and how rare it was to never get tired of being together. Charlene was working long hours at the governor’s office, while Joe was furloughed from his job at the hospital. One day, he came over—and simply stayed. In between the chaos of daily press conferences and endless Zoom calls, Charlene started cooking elaborate dinners: lasagna, tacos, eggplant parm, steak, Dominican comfort food—you name it. Joe swore she was trying to make him gain weight (which, if you’ve ever seen him and his blessed fast metabolism, you know is no small feat). But the way to his heart really was through his stomach. Over time, Charlene realized how comforting it was to wait for him to come home to her apartment, and how much joy his presence brought to her daily life. It was in those quiet, shared moments that she knew she wanted to spend her life with him.
The Proposal
To Ireland or Bust!
For Joe’s birthday, he decided he wanted to go to Ireland. Charlene, ever the fan of warm weather, would have preferred somewhere sunny—but Joe was determined to connect with his Irish roots, and since his birthday would fall during the trip, she gave in. Ireland it was. Charlene planned an elaborate four-city Irish extravaganza, complete with food, sightseeing, and one activity she was especially excited about: a professional photo shoot in Dublin. She scheduled a photographer for a casual shoot to capture the two of them exploring the city. During the session, as they were posing, Charlene noticed something bulky in Joe’s pocket. She turned and whispered, “Why didn’t you take everything out of your pockets?” Joe quickly brushed it off with a “Just look at the camera!” Then, in a gorgeous courtyard in front of Dublin Castle, Joe turned to her and said, “Please don’t cry.” That was the last thing Charlene clearly remembers—because everything after that was a blur. Joe got down on one knee and started to propose… using the very photo session Charlene had planned as his perfect cover. The photographer, completely unaware that this was happening, gasped and said, “Oh shit!” while he furiously started clicking away. Charlene and Joe burst out laughing. Joe grinned and said, “I got that guy to say, ‘Oh shit.’ … what do you say? Will you marry me?” Charlene couldn't speak but through her tears she nodded YES.
A (Sacramental) Love Story
They Left Space for Jesus...
Charlene has always been Catholic - what they call a "cradle Catholic - and her faith has been an important part of her life in her own way. Joe wasn’t raised particularly religious, but as their relationship grew, so did their conversations about values, spirituality, and the kind of future they wanted to build together. Charlene gently planted the seed (okay, maybe a mustard seed) about conversion—but never pushed. Once they decided to get married, and Joe understood how meaningful it was to Charlene to be married in the Church, he said yes—to the wedding and to the faith. They joined St. Pius X, a warm and welcoming parish, and after one meeting with Father Daniel, Joe decided to enter RCIA. Together, they went to every class, and Joe embraced the process with thoughtfulness and heart. In March 2025, Joe became a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church. And this September, in that very same church, Father Daniel will marry them.