Mike grew up in Philly and attended Penn State Abington between Fall 2011- Spring 2013 until he transferred to University Park, graduating in Spring 2015. Val grew up in the Philly suburbs and attended nearby Penn State Abington Fall 2013- Spring 2015, also moving on to University Park but missing Mike by a few months. By 2018 when Val moved to Old City, Mike was finishing up law school and living in Fishtown. The two were finally in the same city at the same time, but it would take the couple another 4 years to meet. On the Sunday after Valentine’s Day 2022, the two agreed to meet in the middle between Northern Liberties and Prospect Park after some banter on Hinge. Although they had never met before, they spoke like old friends and Val shared her stories from her recent Ecuador trip. The two also bonded over being unfamiliar with the Spanish menu items at Barcelona Wine Bar and they both excitedly agreed to meet again. As time went on, Mike supported Val through the last half of her MBA and the two became a couple. Much to Val’s surprise, Mike was eager to join her on a work trip to London a few months into dating and while Mike happily obliged her travel plans, he enthusiastically invited her to as many Phillies games as a person can handle that season. Mike befriended Val’s two cats while Val joined Mike in watching some ‘good’ bad movies. The couple continued to travel together, much to the disappointment of their puppy, Charles. They were often traveling for friends’ weddings and acting like they had known each other well before 2022. It’s a miracle that fate brought the two together after passing like ships in the night for several years. They could not be more excited to officially become husband and wife in 2026 after missing each other for years. We hope you will join them when they are together in one spot 10/10/26 expressing their commitment to each other and promising to never miss each other so much again!