We met the modern way—on Hinge, the app that's “designed to be deleted.” And for us, that turned out to be true. Rebecca was working at Kevin Guest House and Joe was at the UB medical school next door. In true Joe fashion, he insisted on riding his bike over to meet her, even though the buildings are basically neighbors. What was supposed to be a coffee date, so Joe could write a late-night thesis, turned into something more. We wandered over to Coco, shared a bite and a couple of drinks, and sat talking for hours at the bar. That night became the start of everything. Each year since, we’ve returned to those same bar stools on our anniversary. Rebecca even wears the same yellow top and jeans she wore on the first date—because some traditions are just too special to change.

Joe proposed on one of the biggest days of his life—Match Day. The two were packing for a private celebration at Curly’s, and Rebecca, in true event planner mode, was laser-focused on getting there early to set up decorations. Meanwhile, Joe had something else on his mind. As Rebecca was gathering supplies, Joe said he had something important to ask her. She barely looked up and said, “We have to pack and stuff—stop being stupid.” But he wasn’t joking. Joe asked her to marry him, and Rebecca, still in go-mode, sarcastically said yes and insisted they had to get going. Then she noticed her sister Aubrey filming the whole thing—and that’s when it clicked. Joe dropped to one knee, and Rebecca said yes for real. She painted her nails in the car on the way, to prepare for photos. As friends and family arrived at the party, they shared not just one big announcement, but two: Joe had matched into pathology at SUNY Buffalo—and Rebecca had matched with Joe for life. The perfect match!

That morning—exactly three years after their first date—Rebecca and Joe eloped in a joyful, intimate backyard wedding surrounded by immediate family. To keep the surprise, Rebecca’s grandma was invited over to her dad’s house for what she believed was just a hair and makeup trial. Upon arrival, she discovered she was about to witness something far more meaningful: Rebecca and Joe’s wedding. Their beloved chocolate lab, Hanna, led the procession in a white dress—and pulled Joe’s dad, also named Joe, down the aisle behind her. The groom looked handsome in his tuxedo and custom socks featuring his beloved dog’s face—a playful and heartfelt nod to Hanna’s place in their love story. Rebecca’s grandma, serving as the flower girl, was wheeled down the aisle by her daughter—Rebecca’s mom, Jennifer. She used the same flower basket Rebecca once used when she was a flower girl at her mom and late stepfather Robin’s wedding. Rebecca’s father, John, had the most special walk of all—escorting his daughter down the aisle. Her cousin Darin officiated the ceremony, and Joe’s stepdad, Lloyd, assisted with lighting the unity candle. The rings were hidden beneath the chairs of two surprise ring bearers, their nephew, Cooper and Rebecca’s uncle, Jim. Before the couple exchanged them, each family member took turns warming the rings in their hands, filling them with love and well wishes for the future. Rebecca’s bridal look was rich with meaning: Her something old: custom earrings made from freshwater pearls gifted to her as a young girl by her Aunt Sue and Uncle Jim. Her something borrowed: the cherished flower basket. Her something new: a beautiful dress, scored as a bargain and tailored to perfection in record time. Her something blue: a heart-shaped patch sewn inside her gown—cut from one of Robin’s beloved Old Navy Fourth of July shirts, worn proudly year after year. After the ceremony, Rebecca’s Aunt Lynette hosted a tea party for the “bride-to-be” with the women in the family. Rebecca had some tea to spill and announced that she and Joe had just gotten married. There were cheers, clinking teacups and joyful tears. The guys drank beers and jumped in the bounce house in John’s backyard. That evening, the newlyweds celebrated at Coco, the place where it all began. Choosing to elope in a backyard wedding was a heartfelt decision. Wedding planning had become overwhelming and costly, and Rebecca and Joe realized what they truly wanted: to start their life together, surrounded by love, family and intention. Now, as husband and wife, they look forward to growing their family—one love-filled step at a time.