We're married celebrate with us!

Scott and Jess met by chance, in Deerfield, Massachusetts, at the annual Deerfield Dirt Road Randonnée (D2R2). Both of them had participated in this event over the years - Scott living in Baltimore and Jess in DC - driving up to central Massachusetts for the ride. They didn't know each other, but later discovered that both had been at many of the same cyclocross races, and Jess had incidentally taken photos of Scott racing in a very normal and non-creepy sort of way. By the ride, Jess and Scott had ridden on separate routes for several hours on dirt roads, covering thousands of feet of elevation. They were both completely toasted, but also glowing from the beauty and rigor of the day's experience. As Scott turned in early and zipped up his sleeping bag, he got a text from his friend Lukas inviting him to hang out with a group that had congregated in a circle of tents to discuss how they had all ridden their bikes that day, as is customary. Scott made his way across the open field riders use for camping during the event under the light of the stars to where the group had set up. It was too windy for a fire, so Jess was sitting in the sparse light of a camping lantern as a newcomer joined the circle. She promptly handed him a PBR and introduced herself. ... and the rest is history

I remember that day in December, when I first knew that you were 'the one,’ when I realized what an extraordinary man you were, and when I knew that we had a future together. After months of building a friendship and giving you a pretty cold shoulder, you drive to Philly on a moments notice and we spent the day mountain biking together in the Wissahickon. I remember it also magically snowed that day. You didn’t tell me you were supposed to be on your way to Michigan or that you were going to still drive to Michigan later that night (sorry Tom and Lori, I was worried too) and so I spent most of the night on the phone with you to make sure you stayed awake. I knew after that day that you’d be in my life a long time, but what I didn’t know was that you’d be my life, my heart, my home. In our time together, because of you, I’ve grown to discover more of my strengths and better understand my weaknesses. You’ve been there for me through some of the scariest moments of my life, and so many of the happiest. I’ve learned that having an unbelievably patient, understanding person as a partner is an incredible gift that I am so grateful for. You balance me in a way I didn’t know I needed. Never fearing to ask the 'whys' that challenge my assumptions and keep me motivated, learning, and growing.

Scott - I vow to always have one too many projects going at a time just to keep you on your toes. I vow to always laugh when you put eggs in your pockets, to continue to learn from the wealth of knowledge stored away in that amazing brain of yours, and to always make a continued effort to understand your point of view when we disagree.  I vow to learn and grow with you with each passing day. I know that nothing in this world is perfect, including the two of us, but I also know that the reality of love is so much better than the fantasy of perfection. Most of all, I vow to love you.

After we first met, I remember always being taken aback that in spite of the fact that there seemed to be so many reasons for that first meeting to be our last, we were both compelled to keep that from being the case. Although I was immediately smitten, at the time the odds seemed insurmountably stacked against us ever ending up where we are today. But looking back, it seems obvious that by that point it was practically inevitable we’d find ourselves here. In that encounter the thing we found is that there is a magnetism between us, one that drove us to make choices that seemed otherwise inexplicable (which many of you here bore witness to), one that was strong enough to override every other force in our lives. During our years together, it’s become clear to me that this attraction is defined by the fact that without the other, each of us is incomplete, and that this fundamental to who we are. The evidence for how this is true is far too exhaustive to list. Looking at myself and the life I have now, none of it would have been possible without you. So many friendships, so many awesome experiences, the home we’ve made together. this isn’t to say that there haven’t been struggles; I think, though, that those hard times were hardest when in spite of our better judgement, we pushed against that which draws us together. So today, I’m here to surrender to that force, which is exactly what I intend to do.

Jess - I vow to always encourage and support you, even when I can’t believe you want to take on a third or fourth job, sign yourself up to volunteer for another program, or insist on always going way above and beyond for everyone in your life, because by now I know that you absolutely can handle it. I vow to always take inspiration from your tenacity and spirit, to do my best to respond in kind when you push me in the same way that you push yourself to make the most of all of life’s opportunities. I vow to always break down every cardboard box, and smash every empty can. Above all else, I vow always to love you