Before we chose each other, we were simply drawn to each other. Our love story began with a slow and steady gravitational pull. We met in graduate school in Chicago and friendship came first. For years, we admired each other from afar. We shared conversations, laughter, and an easy connection before life finally brought us together. What's followed has been a life built through everyday choices. We choose adventure, growth, joy, and each other. We've crossed state lines and, along the way, collected traditions, filled our home with laughter (and cats), and discovered that the most meaningful moments are often life's simple pleasures. At the heart of our relationship is a shared belief that, like a plant, love is something you nurture. Years after that first meeting in Chicago, we're still choosing each other every day. While our marriage began in a backyard with loved ones watching from afar, our community has been woven into our story from the very beginning. We couldn't be happier to finally gather everyone together, to celebrate the life we've built, and the people who helped make it possible.