M & S

Manny & Stephanie both swiped right on Hinge during the peak of COVID. Their first date? The coldest day of January 2021, bundled up at an outdoor brewery because, well... pandemic. But despite frozen fingers, they talked for hours — and Stephanie couldn’t wait to tell her medical school roommates he might be the one. The next year was full of drives between Blacksburg and Roanoke, lots of pup snuggles on Carolina Ave, and more of Stephanie’s baked goods than Manny could count. After Stephanie graduated medical school, they moved in together in Roanoke, where Manny became her rock through intern year — groceries, dinners, encouragement, and all. These days, Stephanie’s finishing residency in Roanoke, while Manny is busy crushing internal medicine residency in Northern Virginia. Though they’re navigating long distance, they’re counting down the days until they’re back under the same roof — this time, as husband and wife.