M & J

You’d think two people who lived in the same town their whole lives would’ve crossed paths sooner, but fate had other plans. MaryCatherine and Joe officially met in 2017, at a Paint and Sip fundraiser in Cresskill (yes, Cresskill, 45 minutes away). A beautiful cause, and, as it turns out, the unexpected setting of a love story. Now, before you start picturing romantic candlelight and Cabernet, hold up! This was a high school fundraiser. The “sip” was actually juice, not wine. But little did Joe know, that juice was about to introduce him to the girl who’d totally change his life, launching what would turn into almost a decade of love, laughter, and the occasional eye roll. Joe was the first to say “I love you,” and MaryCatherine said it right back. They both knew early on that they had something special, even if they were just babies at 18 and 19 years old. Since then, they’ve pretty much grown up together. They’ve cheered each other on through nursing school, student teaching, grad school, and all the craziness in between. Joe became a nurse, MaryCatherine became an elementary teacher, and through every all-nighter, exam meltdown, and existential crisis, they’ve been each other’s cheerleader, therapist, and snack provider. In 2019, MaryCatherine moved to Florida to work at Disney for eight months, and Joe was nothing but supportive by visiting her, FaceTiming constantly, and handling the long-distance like a champ. That kind of devotion? Definitely forever material. In 2021, the roles reversed. Joe moved to Pennsylvania for a year to work in a hospital as a nurse in the operating room. He was living on his own and navigating a new city. It could get kind of lonely, but MaryCatherine visited almost every weekend. They got a little taste of real life together! They'd go grocery shopping, run errands, and pretend they were already living their married life (minus the shared Amazon account). Fast forward to now: MaryCatherine is living her childhood dream as an elementary teacher, and Joe has the best of both worlds as a nurse and an EMT. Through every challenge and milestone, they’ve stuck together and proven that your first love can absolutely last a lifetime. Now, after nearly ten years of memories, inside jokes, and friendly debates about whether to watch Netflix or Hulu, they’re gearing up for the next big chapter... their wedding! And honestly? The best part is they’re doing it together, surrounded by love, laughter, and a whole lot of joy.