Wow, where do I begin? The air was brisk and rain was coming down sideways as I got off the F train. While I feverishly sprinted up the flooding subway steps I noticed a dimly lit "Brooklyn Lager" neon sign, glimmering in the distance. With foolish hope that I could remain dry, I darted towards the light and found myself soon inside a cozy bar by the name of "Pete's Place". A few seats down the bar, my eye caught a glimpse of this stunning woman. She was sporting a black skirt and an adorable shirt featuring a corgi wearing people glasses. I couldn't help but to chuckle, "that's a silly shirt" I thought to myself. "Thanks!" I hear. Guess I didn't say that in my head ... "Oh -- I, um, like dogs" the words stumble out of my mouth. She laughs, "Yeah, they're pretty cool." Changing the subject she jokes, "So, it's a little late in the season to be swimming, don't ya think?" "Be smooth Steven," I think to myself, "say something clever" He did not in fact say something clever. "I forgot my bikini?" I grin. "Ugh, you're so dumb, Steven" I say internally. "Haha! And a towel too, it seems," she chuckles back. This silly banter went on for another 37 minutes before I muster up the strength and ask for her number. Three years later, and we're engaged! Okay, cool, glad I got that off my chest. So none of that's true. We met on an app. She almost didn't go out with me, but liked that after college I lived in a town across from where she grew up and decided to give me a shot. I've been the luckiest guy ever since.

Steve and I first began speaking in Fall of 2017 on an app, shortly after I moved to NYC for grad school. Steve had recently moved back to New York from Pennsylvania, just 15 minutes from where I grew up (as Steve mentioned above). We connected over Chester County and our love of Victory Beer. After about a week of chatting, Steve suggested we meet. As the busy graduate student I was, I was only available on Steve's day off. He nearly cancelled, but begrudgingly came into the city to meet for drinks. I shared my location on my phone with my roommate, just in case he was a weirdo, and made my way into Manhattan on the F train. We talked nonstop for hours, mostly about musical theater, and then boarded our trains out of the city. Steve and I had some very millennial conversations about keeping things casual, meanwhile we both stopped dating or talking to other people after out first date. On our third date, Steve invited me to see Ed Sheeran with him... 11 months later. I accepted his offer and teased him endlessly. A few months later, Steve and I were cuddled up on the couch when out of nowhere he says, "I think we're gonna make it to Ed Sheeran." I laughed, we kissed, it was all very cute and gross. We did make it to Ed Sheeran and shortly after celebrated our one year anniversary. In Summer 2019, we began to merge our lives together in Manhattan. We see as many shows as we can, enjoy the convenience of finding absolutely any food at any hour, and close down our favorite bars singing show tunes or dancing to 80s music. We then faced 2020, and learned to not only coexist, but love and grow together in 650 square feet for months on end. On our 3 year anniversary, Steve popped the big question! We continue to move through life together as one unit and we are so excited to get married and celebrate with all the people we love in one place!