It all began on a sunny July morning in 2017 when fate (and a shared penchant for punctuality) brought Maura and Justin to Vanguard. Maura, fresh off her Haverford College lacrosse career and already a Philly local, was geared up for a new adventure. Meanwhile, Justin had just left the California coast behind, trading in beach vibes for Philly’s urban charm after graduating from UC San Diego. Justin, his roommate John, and Maura found themselves outside the Vanguard building, over an hour early, as if destiny had scheduled a little extra time for introductions. In the weeks that followed, the training classroom became their unofficial hangout, where inside jokes and shared glances quietly set the stage for something special. But the plot really thickened when Justin, seizing a work lottery win, scored two tickets to a Sixers game. Brimming with confidence (and possibly a dash of gambler’s luck), he invited Maura for what would become an unforgettable first date. Amid the cheers and occasional Wells Fargo Center boobird, Justin seized the initiative, buying Maura Shake Shack and a Corona—an act that set her heart aflame. Two weeks later, Maura invited him to her birthday party. Under the soft glow of birthday lights and amidst heartfelt conversations, both finally admitted what they’d been dancing around: they had fallen for each other. From that night on, Philly became the backdrop of their whimsical journey. They reveled in their 20s with a fantastic circle of friends—from Vanguard comrades to Maura’s lacrosse buddies—making memories, sharing laughs, and cementing their bonds in the city of brotherly love. Even when Justin’s career led him to Business School and the bright lights of New York in late 2023, the couple’s bond only grew stronger during a year of long-distance adventures. By summer 2024, Maura found a new role outside Vanguard, and the pair reunited under one roof in a cozy Upper West Side apartment, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their urban love story. Since then, their passports have been stamped with adventures far and wide—from the sun-drenched beaches of Aruba and Mexico, to the romantic boulevards of Paris, the lush landscapes of Costa Rica, and a nostalgic return to Zurich in Switzerland, Justin’s hometown. Every trip, every laugh, and every shared moment has led up to this special day, which they look forward to celebrating with friends & loved ones.