Our story began as all great modern love stories do, on a dating app. We connected online in the fall of 2022, when Sian was starting her second year of law school and Alec had just moved to Atlanta after nearly 11 years in Iowa. Sian was living in Athens while attending UGA, but found herself in Atlanta twice a week interning with a judge on the Georgia Court of Appeals. Our first meeting was on a Thursday evening at Cafe Intermezzo in Midtown Atlanta. We intended to just meet for tea and dessert, but Sian was starving after a long court day and couldn't resist when she saw mussels on the menu. Alec thought it was bold to order mussels in red sauce on a first date and was immediately intrigued. Sian admired Alec’s story of self discovery and his courage in starting this new chapter in Atlanta. Alec was smitten with the way Sian lit up discussing her work at the Court of Appeals. Over a shared pot of tea and slice of chocolate cake, we each privately realized we had just met someone very special. In the following weeks and months, we continued to win each other over with our shared love of words and history, our quick wit, and the ease with which we could dissect the ways of the world together. For Christmas that December, Alec surprised Sian with a jigsaw puzzle (Ravensburger, of course, because we never skimp on quality when it comes to puzzles). For Alec’s birthday a month later, Sian got him an embossed, leather bound copy of the Federalist Papers. Two perfect gifts. While Sian continued through law school, we carved out many sweet moments together between Athens and Atlanta, like sharing coffee in the law library between Sian’s exams, or exploring new corners of Atlanta. We discovered our shared love of President Jimmy Carter and his vision for a more empathic, expansive, and humane world. It was on a field trip to the Carter Center in the summer of 2023 that Sian realized Alec was “the one.” (A story she is happy to tell if you ask her!) In May of 2024, Sian graduated from law school and moved to Atlanta. We continued to find endless opportunities for connection and discovery, as our unexpected and sweet love flourished in a city that is so special to both of us. Alec spent a sentimental year in Atlanta during college, along with many visits to the city throughout his life to see his Godmother and his extended Greek family. Sian had wanted for some time to live in the "City in a Forest" after returning to the Southeast following her years in Los Angeles, and has had the distinct pleasure of falling in love with the city and with Alec all at the same time. On a February evening last year, we sat by a crackling fire in a dear friend's back yard, with the planet Venus shining brightly, even in twilight. Alec had just spent the afternoon on a magical journey of self discovery, and during a moment of complete clarity in his heart, he asked Sian to marry him. The proposal was entirely unplanned; there was no ring or photographer, and Sian’s manicure was far from fresh. But there was the smell of burning firewood on the crisp air, the affectionate gaze of Venus, and two people who look at each other and and can't help but say "wow...we're SO lucky." The perfectly sweet timing of all things, the seasons of life, and our heart's call to each other set us on a journey to this sacred union. We embark on this next step to enshrine our love in ceremony, witnessed by our closest friends and family. Whether you have known our love since its inception, have seen it in glimpses, or have simply heard stories of the sweetness that has captivated us and seen the photographs of beaming smiles and glimmering eyes that always makes Sian's grandma say “they just always look so happy!” We look forward to having you as our treasured guests, to co-create the vessel of our marriage at this incredibly precious moment in our lives. We are so very glad you are here with us on this journey. B’ahavah (with love), Sian and Alec