We're getting married!

Once upon a time, back in April 2017, fate played its digital cupid when Andrew and Emma crossed paths on the quirky realm of Bumble. Little did we know that this app would lead to a lifetime of joy. Now, picture this: Andrew, the bold dater living in Edgewater, NJ, and Emma, his better half, a stylish student from FIT, living it up in Manhattan. When destiny arranged their first date, it decided to throw in a touch of humor. You see, Andrew had second thoughts and canceled before that fateful meeting – but hey, who can blame him? First-date jitters can be quite the pranksters! However, the universe had different plans in store for them both. After following each other on Instagram, a daring move on the night of Emma’s 19th birthday in November 2017 changed everything. Andrew slid into her DMs, making an entrance as grand as any birthday surprise. And voilà, the spark ignited, and the rest, as they say, became history. Fast forward to January 2018, and the Meatpacking District set the stage for their unforgettable first date. Amidst the city's vibrant energy, they found a connection that blossomed with each passing day. Love, of course, knows no boundaries, and Andrew and Emma embarked on adventures together, exploring the scenic beauty of California, the romantic charm of Italy, and the passionate allure of Spain. Their journeys created lasting memories that painted the canvas of their love story. When the world faced the challenges of Covid, their bond grew stronger. In the midst of uncertainty, they found solace in each other's company and decided to take the plunge, moving in together in Long Beach, NY. And now, with laughter echoing through the streets of Sutton Place, or maybe Midtown East (depending on who you ask), Andrew and Emma have found their current home. Each day, their love grows deeper, and their story becomes more enchanting. So, I present to you a tale of two hearts intertwined by destiny, laughter, and love—a tale that will continue to unfold, chapter by chapter, until the end of time.

His Perspective: I knew I wanted to pop the question somewhere in Manhattan that held meaning for us, away from the tourist crowds. During one of my daily walks around the neighborhood, I found the perfect spot right by the water in Sutton Place. Once I decided on the location, I enlisted the help of Emma's best friend, Casey, who agreed to come down to the city on May 20th for a "friend's brunch" nearby. She would guide Emma to the spot where I'd be waiting by the water and then hand her off to me. But, as OutKast said, "you can plan a pretty picnic, but you can't predict the weather." Literally, the entire week had a forecast of pouring rain for that day, and unfortunately, Emma had caught a bad cold that week too. The first thing she said to me on the morning of the big day was, "I feel awful, I don't want to get out of bed today." Rain or shine, in sickness and in health, this proposal was going to happen – mostly because over 60 of our closest friends were coming to a surprise engagement party that I had been planning for the entire month. So, I woke up bright and early while Emma was still sleeping, got a haircut (Emma always said, "I'll know it's coming whenever you schedule your haircuts"), and headed to my post to shoo away all the dog walkers and wait for Emma. While Emma thought I was off playing basketball that morning in Chelsea, as I usually do every Saturday morning (shout out to Bhavik for reposting an old Instagram story of us playing to further the deception), the plan went off without a hitch. Little did Emma know, the last surprise was yet to come, and we were off to Spain to celebrate less than 48 hours later. Her Perspective: As most of you know, I had been asking Andrew every month when he was going to pop the question, and all he would say is, "just make sure your nails are done each week." So, after months of perfecting my manicures and sending TikToks of rings, I had a feeling in my gut that the proposal could happen in May, as it was post-busy season. I have to admit I was very patient until the weekend of May 13th. Andrew and I were on our typical weekend walks through Central Park when we got into a heated argument over when the engagement was going to happen. Needless to say, I was very upset, and little did I know that Andrew was an Oscar Award-Winning actor, because apparently, the plan was already in the works. Later that week, I came down with a really bad cold and wasn't feeling like myself. I had plans with Casey for the weekend to go shopping at my favorite TJ Maxx and have brunch. On the morning of May 20th, I texted Andrew that all I wanted to do was sleep and stay home. Despite feeling under the weather, I got dressed, and Casey met me at my apartment, where I grabbed my raincoat and my TJ Maxx returns, and we headed out the door. It was pouring rain, and Casey suggested we check out some apartments her cousin was looking at in Sutton Place, so we went there. As we were walking and admiring the million-dollar townhouses, we stumbled upon "Little London," a quaint spot on the East River overlooking the 59th Street Bridge. As we usually do, Casey insisted we take some pictures, so we headed down the ramp...and then I saw Andrew and said, "why are you here? Can I put my TJ Maxx returns down?" From that moment on, I couldn't tell you what happened or if he even went down on one knee, but it was the best day ever, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.