Being too classy for Tinder, Jay and Diandra met like roughly 99.99 percent of modern day millennials do, through a dating app, Bumble. The difference? It was all on Diandra to start the conversation and make the first move. She gathered all her social grace and years of well developed wit and humor and after reading Jay’s introductory biography, set the rest of her life in motion with “Hey what’s up!” Now Jay, forever the sarcastic one with an off the cuff joke or commentary, waited three long days as is tradition and at the end of them he replied to her bold opening with an equally impressive “Hey Diandra!” The rest, as they say, is history. A history in which the two exchanged messages non-stop for months on end, Diandra having gone back to New York to finish her Masters, Jay working his way up that corporate ladder at his new job. Texts became phone calls, phone calls became video calls (before Covid made them cool). All the while there were cute gestures like Jay looking up the café where Diandra was studying and having the staff bring her a coffee and pastry he ordered for her online. What began in February 2019 had become something more to both of them by May, and yet distance kept them apart. It was this reason that led to Jay’s trip from his hometown of Miami, leaving all the humble comforts of this simple quirky place in exchange for a visit to the Big Apple, all to see the girl he knew he was falling for. It was a huge adjustment but Jay made it to the Big City. It was an initially awkward meeting, what with Jay holding flowers he bought on the way there after having mastered Uber, Diandra upset at having never told Jay she hated surprises and had been expecting him later in the day, they both finally had their first date; the most expensive dinner and a movie after airfare prices were included. They spent a few days sightseeing with Diandra as Jay’s tour guide, showing this smitten Miami boy all the things they’d talked about seeing together, one of which was enjoying one of New York‘s finest steakhouses. After an amazing meal, Jay didn’t learn his lesson and surprised Diandra once again. Before they could order their desserts, the waitstaff came out with a slice of chocolate cake topped with a candle, only it wasn’t that birthday prank to get free food. Diandra was all smiles as she played along and thanked everyone that congratulated her. Looking at Jay, he took her hand and made the following promise. “If you blow out this candle, two things will happen. First is that you’ll be my girlfriend. The other is that in one year’s time I’ll bring us back to this same restaurant and we will celebrate our actual anniversary right here. The first of many.” Diandra blushed, took a minute, looked at Jay and blew out the candle and didn’t share the dessert. Sadly, Covid prevented them from going back for obvious reasons, but they did keep the spirit of the promise alive for four years. Which brings us to now. We are both very excited to share in our 5th anniversary with all our friends, family, and loved ones. We would like to invite you all to join us for a tropical getaway to relax, unwind, and take in all that the DR and the lovely Excellence Resort have to offer, with only the mild inconvenience of a wedding. One more time, we would be delighted to have you join as Jay and Diandra say I do on 5-25 for their 5th anniversary and first day of matrimonial bliss.