Hi, Marianne asked me to write this. Out of respect for your time, I’ll just give you the abbreviated version of the events that have led to us requiring a wedding website. In a perfect world, I wouldn’t have to tell you that we met on a dating app. Unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect world and after I “extended time” (this is essentially begging in mobile dating app form) on Bumble, we connected. Marianne left our first date thinking that we might be friends, but that would be it. I was convinced I had knocked it out of the park. I was so confident that I badgered her via text for two weeks straight. She agreed to a second date against her better judgment. Something clicked for her. Something had already clicked for me. Marianne later told me that I arrived to our first date “dressed like a communist in a bad way.” It was the best explanation she could provide. I asked inordinately personal questions and was otherwise “very un-Billy-like.” My only saving grace was my wild overestimation of how the first date had gone. We then spent a year locked down, spending most of our time together. We both quickly figured out that this was what we wanted, forever. I know how lucky I am, and I try to remind Marianne of this every day. From her loving and hilarious family to the love and affection she’s shown my dog Opal, to the quiet comment I heard my mother make to her husband that “She is so good for him,” I’ve been lucky to find a perfect partner. If you had a hand in making Marianne who she is, thank you. Okay, this should do it. If you can’t make the wedding, we completely understand but please gift us with an additional 15% “emotional tax” due to our missing your presence. You understand, of course (Marianne asked me to remove this joke because she has far better taste than me). With love and gratitude, Billy and Marianne