We Eloped!

In July 2019, Stephanie embarked on a trip to Fort Lauderdale organized by her close friend Dominique, aiming to celebrate the successful completion of another semester in pharmacy school, unwind, and create lasting memories. While getting ready for dinner with her friends at Dominique's college acquaintance's townhouse, their gathering was unexpectedly interrupted by the front door swinging open and a confident man's voice yelling, "Daddy's home," followed by squeals of her friends welcoming Evan. This marked the serendipitous first encounter between Stephanie and Evan. With just a few hours to spare before Evan's departure to Puerto Rico the following day, the duo spent the early morning hours engrossed in a spontaneous Bacchata dance session. Unbeknownst to them, Evan's dance prowess and self-assured demeanor would pave the way to Stephanie's heart, and thus beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Countless flights between Florida and Pennsylvania, with many teary-eyed airport goodbyes, sprinkled the next few months as Evan and Stephanie embraced a long-distance relationship. Cutting the distance a little shorter, the couple found themselves traveling from Pennsylvania to now North Carolina, and vice versa, during the start of the pandemic. After two years of long-distance, the two decided to solidify their relationship, move in, and eventually buy a house together in Stephanie's hometown of Selinsgrove, PA. But the couples love for each other continued to grow so did their love for traveling together. From celebrating Stephanie's graduation in Riveria Cancun, day and weekend trips around the US (to Evan's hometown of St Marys, Miami, Myrtle Beach, and Raleigh to name a few of the more frequent stops), to exploring the Western Caribbean and Pacific Northwest, Evan and Stephanie made a commitment to incorporate travel into their relationship whenever possible. As the two made their way through the icy waters of the Pacific as part of an Alaskan cruise in the summer of 2023, Evan had a secret he was keeping. During their stop in Juneau, the two took a helicopter to a dog-sledding base camp. There they spent the day mushing, snuggling puppies, and hiking and embracing the beauty of the icy glacial terrain. As the experience came to an end, Stephanie was left speechless as she turned around to see Evan on one knee. Evan had secretly purchased a ring, had informed his and her family of his intentions, and planned an epic and breathtaking proposal on Herbert Glacier. As they started the stressful wedding planning process, Stephanie's grandmother Ann, made the comment, "Why don't you just run away and get married?" Ann had later mentioned she meant Maryland (as they did back when she got married), but instead sparked the couple's interest in a private Greek elopement. The two will be having a private civil ceremony on 06.20.2024 at the Luzerne County Courthouse, their private symbolic ceremony at Sarakiniko Beach, Milos Greece on 06.27.2024, and then celebrating their union with family and friends during a reception hosted by the Groom's family near Harrisburg, PA on 08.10.2024