Jesse & Sidney first caught each other's eyes on the first day of classes at Western Connecticut State University in August 2019. While an immediate attraction sparked between them, neither one dared to make the first move. That was until Sidney returned from a 3-day concert that occurred over Labor Day weekend. The professor had the class sitting in an optimal position for Sidney to notice a sticker on Jesse's water bottle from a music festival they had both previously attended, and for Jesse to notice the band on Sidney's wrist from the event she had just gotten back from. But who would be the first to speak up? Maybe the courage came from seeing her favorite musician, or maybe she was simply that determined to talk to him. But Sidney confidently approached Jesse, inquiring about his sticker. We could say, "the rest is history," but that is far from the truth... Sidney and Jesse had their first date the following day, after realizing they had a second class together. They went to one of Westconns "famous" bars (ok... it was just the closest place to grab a drink), Square One. They spent hours talking to one another about everything under the sun. Hours melted away as they shared stories of their pasts and their mutual love for all things music, video games, and dogs... The bond continued to deepen after that day through attending concerts, hiking, meeting family and friends, and hitting the slopes. That winter, while attending a New Year's concert (ironically, the same musician Sidney saw before mustering up the courage to introduce herself to Jesse), Jesse decided it was time to make things official. Over the next three years, they walked alongside eachother through college graduation, entered grad school, and moved in with each other. Their apartment in Bethel, CT, was filled with laughter, love, and challenge—from navigating loss and financial hurdles to enjoying vacations in Florida, Vermont, and Colorado. After realizing they could stand to live together, they made the "responsible" choice to move back to Sidney's childhood home, allowing them to save money and spend every day with their dog, Jasmine. Many more adventures occurred over the years, but the one that stands out is Sidney's spring "girls" trip to Colorado. Sidney was off to visit her best friends who had moved to CO to have some time on the slopes with the girls. After a rejuvenating weekend, Sidney and the crew headed to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, where, unbeknownst to her, Jesse was tucked away in the trees, waiting for Sidney to glide through so he could ask for her hand in marriage. Jesse had been planning this moment since their last visit to CO the year prior… and he had succeeded. Sidney was breathless (only partially due to the altitude), crying tears of joy to the sounds of their best friends cheering for their love and to the sight of her, now fiance, down on one knee with the biggest, gleaming smile on his face. But, let's be real here, THIS is just the beginning of our story.