Come celebrate with us!

We’d like to say we met in some romantic way. Maybe locking eyes across the room in a busy pub, or perhaps both reaching for the last apple in the fruit and veg aisle, but alas we met through the modern cesspool of online dating that was Tinder during the Covid pandemic. After several texts over a few days, each of us displaying some serious banter skills and discovering our shared love of a wide variety of music, we had a video chat to confirm neither of us was a catfish (thankfully not!). Our chemistry was palpable even through our phone screens, so we arranged to meet for our first date. Remember, this was during the peak of the pandemic where you couldn’t arrange to meet at a bar for drinks, so we agreed to meet at a park in Dublin city center to go for a walk instead. We’ll never forget the nervousness as we rounded the corner and saw each other from a distance for the very first time. We hugged hello then began walking aimlessly with no real destination in mind. There were no awkward silences as we crossed through Stephen’s Green Park. There were plenty of laughs as we then meandered through the streets and ended up at Merrion Square beside the Eternal Flame monument where Kevin dryly explained that it was a tribute to the 1980s pop group The Bangles to which Maria laughed out loud. Kevin started to think then that anyone who would both get and laugh at this ridiculous joke might just be his kind of person. Then came the first serious test of our blossoming romance. As we rounded the park, Kevin lamented out loud that it was too bad we couldn’t pop into a pub for a drink (Covid, remember?) and Maria nervously replied “Well…actually…I have a thermos full of red wine in my bag and some plastic cups”. This was the moment of truth for Maria…would Kevin judge her harshly or think she was a legend? Thankfully, it was the latter and this solidified for the two of us we would get on just fine, amazingly even. We both realized the warmth in our cheeks and bellies wasn’t just from the wine. It was full on sparks and butterflies. What should’ve been a two-hour date turned into twelve. The best first date either of us had ever had. Yet although we knew the chemistry was undeniable our beautiful relationship was a slow burn that took time. Until finally we couldn’t fight or deny any longer that we were meant for each other. Our love story has been a journey, one worth every twist and turn, the ups, the downs, and the in-betweens. Chapter One started with that cracker of a first date and we hope our story ends with us spending the rest of our lives together. We got married in Dublin in September, but the celebration of our union would not be complete until we get to share in it with our much loved North American-based family and friends. We absolutely cannot wait and hope to see you all in February!!