We got married!

Dear Family and Friends, We hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. It's hard to believe that an entire year has passed since we celebrated our wedding surrounded by so many of you. We wanted to take a moment to share an update on our lives and adventures together over the past year. Since our wedding day, our lives have been filled with joy, laughter, and lots of growth. Let's dive into the highlights of the past year, shall we? Professional Pursuits: Patrick has embarked on an exciting new chapter in his career as a Program Manager for LILIE, Rice University's Entrepreneurship Center. He enjoys the role and is fueled by his passion for fostering innovation and guiding aspiring entrepreneurs. Patrick B Ray released two new singles: Mountains of Nuevo Leon and Pancho and Lefty. He’s also played over 50 shows in the past 12 months - in MA, TX, and Montana. He has two original songs coming out later this summer and will be going on a Montana tour for the 4th summer in a row. (Also fresh new merch is available in his online store.) Sophie has been busy, too, taking her entrepreneurial endeavors to new heights. She hired a talented software engineer for Green Room which has helped get to where they are today, gearing up to bring our MVP out of beta. Although the ever-changing macroeconomic landscape brings its fair share of ups and downs, Sophie's resilience and determination have enabled her to navigate these challenges mostly gracefully. Home Sweet Home: We are thrilled to announce that we recently became homeowners in Fort Davis, Texas! Our new house is adjacent to the beautiful 15-acre property we already owned. While we continue to work out of Houston and have our apartment here, we plan to spend as much time as possible in Fort Davis, reveling in the serenity and breathtaking beauty of the area. We welcome visitors out west whenever you find yourselves yearning for a peaceful getaway. See more photos and details here. Adventures and Gratitude: Our honeymoon in Japan was absolutely amazing. The vibrant culture, delicious cuisine, fast trains, and awe-inspiring landscapes did not disappoint. We are eternally grateful to all those who generously contributed to this incredible experience and the contributions that helped make our homeownership dreams a reality. Your love and support mean the world to us. Here are some photo highlights. Work, friends, family, and fun took us on a number of adventures over the past 12 months. We went to Patrick's grandpa's cabin-turned-AirBnB, Maine for our mini-moon right after the wedding. North Carolina and the Berkshires for Sophie’s family. The Berkshires again for the wedding of dear friends (Sophie was the officiant!). Birmingham, Palm Beach, and Charlotte for more wedding celebrations! Three trips to the Bay Area (CA) for music and Green Room. Memphis, TN for music and Green Room. Sophie also went to New York twice, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Nashville, Palm Springs, and Chapel Hill for Green Room. Patrick’s music has taken us to lots of fun spots around Houston and Austin and beyond for shows. We’ve also been to Midland/Odessa and Fort Davis several times to see Patirck’s family and our home. Looking Ahead: As we embark on another year of marriage and companionship, we look forward to the adventures and milestones that lie ahead. We will keep dancing through life together, two-stepping, waltzing, polka-ing, and even adding a little swing to our steps whenever we can. We have such deep gratitude for being a part of our lives and for the love and warmth you have shown us. Our wedding day was a testament to the incredible bond we share as a community, and we cannot wait to celebrate more special moments with all of you in the future. We'd love to hear the latest in your life! Drop us a line here or via call/text. With love and gratitude, Patrick and Sophie

Patrick and Sophie met via Tinder, like good millennials do. He super liked her. She swiped right. They met for drinks. Patrick discovered that Sophie did not like beer, meat, or coffee. He was appalled. But curious. Patrick drove Sophie home and took her by some beautiful Christmas lights. He left for Uganda the next day. Like the romantic that he is, he asked if she'd like to be text pen pals while they were away. They haven't stopped talking since.

Patrick had agreed to pick Sophie up from the airport when she got back from Christmas. He would be driving back from Austin that day anyway! Well, Sophie's flight into Houston got canceled due to weather but flights into Austin were available. She asked Patrick if he would pick her up there instead. Patrick was stoked - he got to sleep later. Their second date was a 2.5-hour drive. Patrick introduced Sophie to Buc-ee's and Willie Nelson.

Patrick taught Sophie to dance early on and they haven't stopped twirling around since. They do Texas two-Step, Waltz, Polka, and a little bit of Swing. There will be LOTS of dancing at the wedding. Want to learn to two-step? Start here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgMy5Gn84_c

Sophie and Patrick were early adopters of fleeing the city during COVID. Not sure that 2 weeks would really be 2 weeks and with their lives moving online they hopped in Sophie's Civic and spent three days driving North. They spent the next 3 months in Massachusetts at Sophie's parents' house. An experience they are oh so grateful for! And if you make it to our wedding, you will get to enjoy the beautiful Berkshires and see why Sophie and Patrick have fondly dubbed this experience the Great Escape.

Sophie lured Patrick back to the beautiful Christmas lights he had taken her to on her first date. It was easy. They had been back each year and taken a picture. They set up for another photo and Sophie popped the question and caught a timelapse! He said "yes," and here we are!