Picture this: March 18th, 2020. Marc and Sarah both swipe right on a dating app and just as Sarah is about to board a flight 3,000 miles across the country to hunker down with her parents for what was supposed to be a "two-week shelter in place," Marc decides it’s the perfect moment to shoot his shot. Little did they know, those two weeks would morph into months of lockdown, leaving them with an intriguing dilemma: ghost each other or dive headfirst into a conversation marathon and find solace in their newfound digital connection. Each day, Sarah’s mom would catch her grinning at her phone like a teenager in love and would tease, “Is that your buddy?” Sarah’s smile would widen with every bashful "Yes" in response. By the end of June 2020, Sarah was ready to swap in her west coast view for the east coast and meet her virtual pen pal, Marc, in Westport, CT, for their first real-life rendezvous on the 4th of July. Their initial meeting was a tad awkward, to say the least, but they soon managed to bridge the gap between a face and a voice and found themselves wondering how they ever managed without each other. Fast forward 3.5 years and countless shared memories later, Marc popped the question atop a NYC skyscraper, with the Empire State Building and a full moon playing the role of backdrop. The scene was perfect as Sarah was sporting the “To the Moon & Beyond” necklace Marc had customized for her the previous Christmas—an inside joke inspired by the phrase “I love you to the moon and back.” Sarah, who was born in Corning, NY, but grew up in Sequim, WA, was adamant about having their wedding at her old elementary/middle school, Queen of Angels, where she had celebrated every sacrament aside from Baptism. For the ultimate sentimental touch, they opted for a private ceremony with just their immediate families, and on 7.13.24, they were officially married by her childhood priest, Father Nagel. While this day will hold the title of their true anniversary, they’re eagerly anticipating their BIG celebration with all their extended family and friends in 2025! 8.23.25 can’t come soon enough!