Katherine Helen Melville, hailing from the rain-soaked Pacific Northwest city of Seattle, found herself in New York City in the autumn of 2015, fresh off a redeye flight. After completing her undergraduate studies in molecular biology at the University of California, San Diego, and working as a lab technician at Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center in Seattle, she had embarked on a new journey to pursue a Master’s in Biotechnology at Columbia University. Though she had only spent a few days in NYC before, she was captivated by the adventures that lay ahead in the city that never sleeps. Nathanael (Nate) James Shoemate, had ventured from the sunny Front Range of Northern Colorado at the age of 18 to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, eager to see the world. His journey led him through the blistering heat of Afghanistan, the icy 38th parallel of Korea, the snow-covered streets of Warsaw, the flood-ridden avenues of Liberia, and the iconic yet gloomy skyline of London. He ultimately left the Marine Corps to seek education through a Bachelor’s program at Columbia University. Upon Katherine’s first night in NYC, she was persuaded by a high school friend, who also happened to be a Marine, to go out for drinks at the notorious 1020 bar in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. This is where Katherine first met Nate. Despite all of the other new friends to be made, Katherine and Nate were drawn together the entire night and spoke of home, their families, the movies they liked, and of course music recommendations. Uncharacteristically, Katherine actually looked up the artist that Nate had recommended and, to her surprise actually liked them. A few weeks passed, and a chance number of brief encounters led Nate to one day muster the courage in Columbia’s library to request Katherine’s company on a date to lower Manhattan. Completely enamored with Katherine, Nate invited Katherine to Central Park the next evening with a thermos of tea to watch the lunar eclipse, where they were serenaded by a saxophonist in training. They have been inseparable since. A brief stint in Brooklyn, a move to Austin, a crazy puppy, six international adventures, and 9 years later Katherine and Nate decided that they not only wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but that they wished to undertake the perpetual vows of marriage and pronounce their love to the world. Everyone that has been invited to our wedding has contributed to our journey and is a component of our love for each other. We are thrilled to share our wedding day with you all and celebrate our union.