Our intimate ceremony will take place at Monument Cove within Acadia National Park. Erikka’s family has an annual tradition of camping at Mount Desert Campground. The Maine coastline holds a special place in both our hearts, making it the perfect place to start our next adventure together. We look forward to celebrating with everyone June 6th! Please see the RSVP button above for the Newlywed Celebration.

In August 2024, I received unsettling news that my mammogram results were inconclusive and needed to be better understood with a biopsy. At that point, I thought to myself, the idea of a cancer diagnosis is scary, so going on a dating app couldn't be that much scarier, right? I remember telling my friends, "Do you think there's someone out there who is kind, thoughtful, and makes yummy noises while enjoying food like me? Someone who shares my love for nerdy fandoms, such as Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and even Star Trek? Someone with an adventurous spirit who prioritizes traveling the world? And most importantly, someone who treats my pug like the royal prince he is?" Little did I know, I'd meet that exact person soon. After a couple of days on the dating app, I matched with someone who looked a bit familiar. I ended up googling him (as one does) and noticed that he went to Gorham High School, but was a few grades below me. After chatting back and forth, we realized we'd been on the same bus at one point and grew up only a few streets apart! Our conversation flowed easily and harmoniously. Only a few days after connecting, I found out about my breast cancer diagnosis. Nate provided immediate compassion, asked how he could support me through this, and offered so much encouragement. There were times when he'd drop what he was doing to bring me a hot tea and a big hug when I was anxious after appointments. Once, he met me at Kettle Cove to sit by the sea so I could have company while processing my emotions. And after my surgery, Nate visited at least weekly, demonstrating his dedication to me and our relationship. Looking back, the idea that love grew out of an emotionally challenging time is amazing and beautiful. I was surrounded by so much love and support from family and friends—likely you, who are reading this! And that, mixed with the excitement of new love, counteracted my fears. Our love has grown into an incredible partnership that's full of mutual admiration, joy and laughter. We've lived in an apartment near the Western Prom in Portland for nearly a year, enjoyed countless incredible meals (and made lots of yummy noises), rewatched and discussed our favorite nerdy fandoms (currently rewatching Avatar the Last Airbender), taken two trips to Montréal, traveled abroad to Scotland (and navigated driving on the opposite side of the road with minimal quarrels), and most importantly, created a life together with our wittle pug that we cherish every day. We're so thankful our paths crossed and are thrilled to embark on the journey of life together. Thanks for helping us celebrate our love!

The story of how I first met Erikka starts on Hinge, where I came across the profile of a cute, bubbly travel enthusiast, pug mom, foodie, and fellow Mainer — Gorham, specifically. With all the courage and creativity I could muster, I commented on one of her travel prompts. Her response? A completely unrelated: “Did you go to Gorham High School?!” I went back to her profile and realized I did recognize her — from the halls of Gorham High and, ironically enough, from Bus 28, the same school bus we both rode as kids. From there, the conversation took off in every direction. We moved from Hinge to texting and quickly set up our first date at Bread & Friends. I was ready to meet this amazing girl as soon as possible, but she had a family trip planned, so we had a few weeks to wait. That unexpected stretch of time turned out to be a gift. It gave us the chance to really get to know each other before ever meeting in person, which made it all the more special. During that time, Erikka shared that she had just begun what would become her fight — and eventual victory — over breast cancer. Having loved ones who had faced cancer themselves, I did my best to show up with support and steadiness. After a particularly tough few days, the idea of a beach walk came up as a way to relieve some stress. That suggestion turned into our unofficial first date: cozy clothes, a beer at Lone Pine in Old Orchard Beach for a little liquid courage, and a sunset walk along the shore. We agreed we’d still dress to the nines for our “official” first dinner at Bread & Friends when she got back. I remember flying to Old Orchard that night, nervous and early, waiting outside for her to arrive. When she did, I was completely in awe — like I needed someone to pinch me. We grabbed our beers, talked endlessly, and walked the beach on a beautiful night that I didn’t want to end. I left even more excited for our upcoming dinner date. By the time Bread & Friends finally arrived, the anticipation had been building for weeks. Neither of us had been there for dinner before, and as self-proclaimed foodies, we were thrilled. Our waiter, Neville, made us feel right at home, and the food and ambiance were just as incredible. With every bite, we both made those unfiltered foodie noises, grinning at each other across the table. The night ended with what we still claim is the best French toast to ever exist — a dessert we talked about for months afterward. We didn’t know it at the time, but that dinner wasn’t just one of the best meals we’d ever had. It was the beginning of something that would shape the rest of our lives. I left that night smiling for days, knowing something special had started. I still smile — and feel incredibly thankful — when I think about what that night led to. I smile every morning when I wake up and see the beautiful woman who will be my wife and get to be dad to Xander, the sassiest and snuggliest pug around. And I’ll keep smiling as we build our life together, because meeting each other has been the greatest adventure of all — and I can’t wait for everything that’s still ahead.