After college, Steph moved back home to Bergen County, NJ and landed her first grown-up job. After realizing that post-grad life wasn't as glamorous or fun as she pictured, she became addicted to post-work happy hour sessions. A mutual friend, Kevin, started bringing Gary out to the bar (Grant's in Dumont, where they spent literally every Friday night for mooonths) and they immediately hit it off. Steph and Gary spent a lot of time getting to know each other over Dunkin' Donuts hot chocolate (because neither of them drank coffee), then started dating in March 2011.

Gary was still finishing college at NJIT in 2011 but he came home every single weekend to see Steph. They saw plays and concerts (*every* time Coheed or the Dear Hunter toured), took their first trip as a couple (Atlantic City, baby!) and started getting to know each other's amazing families. Gary graduated in January 2013 and got his first job, but Steph still felt very unfulfilled. Going back to school sounded like a good idea at the time....

Steph started her PhD at New York University in Fall 2013. Living in NYC was super cool, but PhDs are hard (who knew?). Gary heroically visited her every weekend, taking the 167 bus from Dumont (which is honestly the worst thing ever). During those first three years, he kept Steph sane and calm. He even did her laundry and cleaned her apartment while she worked! She quickly realized that she'd found a keeper, and that he was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. In May 2016, Steph and Gary moved into their first apartment in Jersey City. Surprisingly, Gary still proposed in April 2017 even after Steph refused to put on nice clothes or make up, and wouldn't stop talking about the meatballs at dinner.