Jake and I have been friends since 2016. Through a shared love of video games, television, art, and literature, we built a strong connection that carried across the Atlantic Ocean and would help and advise each other throughout our day to day lives. Eventually, we decided to try a long-distance relationship, and we never stopped, all the way until my visa finally came through. The distance was tough. Spending five years apart from the person you love comes with challenges, and not being able to share everyday experiences made it even harder. The past 13 months were especially stressful as we waited for the K-1 Fiancé(e) visa to be issued, filled with uncertainty and anxiety about when we could finally have our wedding. But in the end, how you handle the struggle defines the relationship. Do you fall apart, or do you hold on? We held on. We endured. We won. Now we’re excited to share a long-awaited day with you and celebrate the real, unconditional love that carried us here.