Once upon a time, in a cozy living room filled with board games and laughter, Victoria and Stephen met at a mutual friend's game night. Stephen, ever the strategic player, decided to employ his best tactic: playing hard to get. Victoria, however, saw right through his game plan and was determined to outplay him. She approached the challenge with the same determination she brings to every game night - she was in it to win it. Though, don’t be mistaken, it didn’t take Stephen long to realize that Victoria was worth dropping any and all tactics to pursue. Their banter was filled with competitive spirit, and their connection grew stronger with every round of games - especially bonding over the shame of not knowing enough of the rules to be a worthy Spades partner (we’re still trying to get our Black-cards back 🥲).

Some of the early milestone moments were 1) discovering their music compatibility through a shared Spotify playlist and 2) a hang that included shooting some basketball where Stephen was just as attracted to Victoria afterwards despite chasing her air-balls around for most of the time. After some dates filled with laughter, good food, and of course, more games, they decided to make it official. Not only did they realize that the other was a formidable opponent, but also near-perfect partners.

Just as their relationship was hitting its stride, Victoria left Columbus, Ohio, to take the next step in her career: a PhD program in Chicago. They faced the challenge of a long-distance relationship with the same determination they brought to game night. Through countless video calls, weekend visits, music concerts, and TV show marathons, they kept their connection strong.

After some time of long distance, it was cemented that they wanted to go the distance, so they took the next step of getting engaged. Now, Stephen is moving to Chicago to be with Victoria, where they will continue their adventure together as a married coupled taking on the Windy City. Their journey from a playful challenge to a loving partnership is one that they cherish and see as a blessing that they are excited to continue. Though the wedding ceremony will be virtual, they are excited to share with you this new chapter of their lives for years to come! They desire their marriage to be filled with as much commitment, pursuit and joy as that fateful game night. Game on!

And then we got married! Our wedding day was a perfect mix of laughter, a few happy tears, and so much love, everything we had dreamt of and a perfect representation of the years we've spent together. It was the perfect venue & the perfect day. But the day was even more meaningful having our strongest supporters and favorite teammates present. Andre, Lisa, Stevie, and Rose, our greatest teachers through this game of life. Taelor, our officiant and trusted advisor, guiding us through this next level. Colleen, our amazing photographer, capturing every highlight. A perfect start to our new adventure together!

After our blissful wedding day, we spent a week dining and relaxing on the beautiful island of Jamaica. Since then, the last 4 months have been a thrill living together in the Windy City. Stephen is getting settled into his new position as an Accountant at the University of Illinois Chicago. Victoria is continuing in her 2nd year of graduate school at Loyola University Chicago. These months have been filled with new experiences, exploring Chicago, and building our lives together with our bundle of joy, Theo 🐱. And so, we've found our perfect match -- and we're ready to play this love story to the end!