We were set up by friends and family in the spring of 2022. Both of us had moved from the D.C. area to Georgia the year before—John to Athens and Roxanne to Atlanta—to pursue post-graduate degrees. Our close friends, Tom Simmons and Rachel Schuster-Simmons, had started dating in late 2020. As Rachel got to know John’s sister Maggie through Tom and his cousin Caroline through the ONE Campaign (where Rachel and Roxanne had met), Maggie, Caroline, and Rachel quickly became convinced that we needed to meet. At first, Roxanne was hesitant. Athens felt a little far, and Rachel wasn’t exactly known for her matchmaking skills. But once she heard John was Catholic, she asked to see a picture—and decided he was "cute in a bald way" so the risk might be worth it. We started texting about our families and shared values, then had a two-hour FaceTime to make sure “the vibes were right” before John made the drive to Atlanta for our first date on Earth Day, April 2022. A quick round of putt-putt turned into an eight-hour first date. We bonded quickly over John’s love of cooking and Roxanne’s love of eating—plus her willingness to always do the dishes. After three years of long drives between Athens and Atlanta, we got engaged in beautiful Sitges, Spain, on April 19, 2025, while visiting with John’s family. We’re so excited to spend the rest of our lives growing in faith and love—and to share that joy with our closest family and friends on May 9, 2026!