Our Story

2008

High School Sweethearts

NP: During my freshman year of high school, we started spending a lot of time together. Days spent at the parks, taking the school bus home to his mom's house, walking his dog to Kiwanis park, which is where we would eventually take our first walk to as a couple. The next few years we spent growing up together and honestly becoming best friends. SK: I was a junior. She was a freshman. I had a crush! There was some stiff competition to get her attention. I was stand offish and didn't want to compete for a girl. But I totally did. I felt something for her unlike anyone else I have ever met. I did everything I could to sweep her off her feet. At 16, I knew very little on how to do that. I laid out goofy things that appealed to her and asked her to be my girlfriend...she said YES!

2012

Loveland + Philadelphia

NP: After Steven graduated high school, we ultimately decided to part ways in 2011. In 2012, clad in Drexel gear, I moved to Philadelphia to pursue my undergraduate degree. Although I missed him greatly, except for the sparingly infrequent texts here and there, we didn't really stay in touch. SK: Life without Nicole was lonesome and stale. I didn't know what I wanted out of life and goals weren't on my to do list. I was in a band with some of the best friends a guy could ask for.

2013

Reunited in Cincinnati

NP: Wanting to be closer to home, I made it through my Freshman year at Drexel and decided to move back home. After a few weeks of being back, I heard that Steven was in the hospital. I went to visit him and even during a difficult time for him, it was like we never missed a beat; we spent the next year reconnecting. They say home is where the heart is and mine felt right at home with him. SK: Our relationship over the next couple years was like most teenage relationships. We were figuring out life while trying to entertain the ideas of our peers, maintain a social status and be happily ever after. With her schooling and my working a day to day job, we wanted more from life. We were ready to venture out together.

2014

Cincinnati to Philly

NP: While reconnecting and after long talks about our futures, we decided to head back to Philly along the PA turnpike so that we could explore something new, together. In 2015, we moved to Chestnut Hill. We spent weekends enjoying the nature around us, strolling the beaches of Cape May, and hiking the Pocono Mountains with our Boston Terrier Olive. The years in Philly with him will always be some of my favorites. SK: To just move wasn't something either of us thought. But she was my bright future. She gave me hope and optimism. Philadelphia upon us and we were in it for the long haul. We occupied our days exploring the city, driving to her parents and beaches in New Jersey, and exploring the hiking trails near us and Chestnut Hill. It was an amazing experience we got to share together.

2016

...Back Again

NP: While our adventure together in Philadelphia was one that truly shaped us as individuals as well as a couple, we both obtained opportunities in our fields back in Cincinnati. Back on the turnpike once more, we made the trip home. SK: We were both torn between staying in Philadelphia and moving back to Cincinnati. Either place was fine as long as I had my best friend with me. I like to think we're unstoppable together. We make it work. Cincinnati was the place we ended up. But we had our little dogs and each other and knew we would see it through.

2018

The Proposal

NP: Christmas morning was spent in FL with my family opening presents and later opening champagne and gathering around the tree. One minute we were talking about opening the last gift under the tree and the next Steven is down on one knee in front of it. I can only imagine he said some really nice things during my emotional blackout. I said YES. We kissed. I cried. And cried some more. It was the best day of my life. SK: Asking Nicole to be my wife was all I wanted. Christmas morning, we opened gifts and had breakfast. I left one gift unopened. I just had to convince her to stand up in front of the tree. I pulled the ring out, saw her expression and asked for her hand in marriage. She said YES! I got butterflies as if it was the first time I asked her to be my girlfriend.

2020

We're Getting Married!