Our Story
The Beginning
Kevin and Stephen met in October of 2021 on Tinder while living in Charlottesville, VA. Kevin was in graduate school at the University of Virginia, while Stephen was working at Merck in Elkton, VA. The two had their first date at The Whiskey Jar on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. Although the two had different impressions at the end of their first date, they soon followed up with a second, and a third, and a fourth.
Halloween
Halloween 2021 was a monumental night for the two. They went hopping from party to party dressed as Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, meeting all of Kevin’s grad school friends. Throughout this escapade around the town, Kevin fell in love and started declaring to his friends that he would one day marry Stephen.
The Charlottesville Days
From November to May, Kevin and Stephen continued dating and spending all their time together. Stargazing Nights, Batten Events, and one particularly heated C’Ville Pad Thai Showdown paved the road of the two falling in love and growing together. By the time UVA graduation came around, Stephen couldn’t imagine his life without his best friend by his side.
A “Long Distance” Relationship
After graduating, Kevin followed his dream of moving to Washington DC to start working for the federal government. This was serendipitous as Stephen was searching for a new job at the time. Stephen found a position with AstraZeneca in Maryland, and he moved to Rockville very soon after Kevin. The 21-mile separation forced the pair to brave long rides on the Red Line ride back and forth multiple times a week. The price we pay for love!
Move In Day
Kevin and Stephen were finally able to conquer long distance by moving into their current house in June of 2023. Within a week or two, the couple greeted their new roommate, Kevin’s dog, Luke. Since then, the three have lived together as a happy little family. Lukey has the hardest job, pulling double and even triple shifts on guard duty. He makes sure to sprinkle in enough daily naps, so don’t be too worried!
The Engagement
One evening in November 2024, Stephen confidently asked Kevin if he trusted him to pick out an engagement ring. Kevin pondered for a few seconds before responding “No”. Over the next two months, they took a few trips to Georgetown to order two beautiful rings. It was now on Stephen to pop the question. One night in January 2025, Kevin came home from a work trip. Knowing that the engagement was coming soon, Kevin eagerly asked about their weekend plans. Wanting to keep the surprise, Stephen said “None”. As Kevin’s face fell, Stephen realized he needed to act fast. Kevin went to clean up the kitchen while Stephen quickly stashed the rings, champagne, and engraved champagne flutes around the living room. Stephen invited Kevin upstairs for an impromptu dance; Kevin trudged upstairs to oblige. As Stephen spun Kevin around, he dropped to one knee. Kevin started crying. The two proposed to each other and spent the rest of the night soaking in the moment.
Now We’re Ready to Say “I Do!”
We have been overwhelmed by the love and support from our parents, family, and friends during our engagement. We have put so much work into this process to create a wonderful day and night for our guests. We are so excited to become husbands and celebrate with you all!