It feels impossible to nail down the exact moment that we “met”. Was it the time our families unknowingly joined tailgates together for the 2014 Penn State vs. Temple football game? Sure, let’s go with that! In reality, between 2011-2014, we were orbiting the same group of friends, all of whom were James’s former Pennsbury High classmates, and at that point Mary’s new Penn State roommates. While our paths had crossed here and there during those college days and the years following, it wasn’t until a pandemic-era apartment gathering that stopped the orbit dead in its tracks. Stolen glances across the room, cheeky chats next to the fridge, and a few of those aforementioned friends planting the seeds for our inevitable set up. “Would you go on a date with Mary?” “Would you go on a date with James?” Two big yes’s from us, both willing to take a shot on seeing this friendship in a different way. A few weeks and texts later, we set out on our first date to the Twisted Tail in the Headhouse Square area of Philly. We sat outside and agreed to a perfect selection of shared plates. We talked for hours, and discovered our shared love for deep cuts like Knoebels Amusement Park and Jon Bellion. We stayed until closing and rumor has it, we still haven’t left that date. 4 glorious years later, in December 2024, we returned to the hallowed streets of Headhouse Square, where James asked Mary to spend forever together. One big yes from her. This Levan love story is a Philly tale as old as time. Bucks County, Temple-grad boy marries Delaware County, Penn State-grad girl, brought together by best friends we're lucky never left our orbit. They say, sometimes what’s meant for you is right in front of you. In our case, what’s meant for you was tailgating right next to you the whole time.