Our story began on February 19, 2021, when we met for dinner at a lively Spanish tapas restaurant in Hanover, NH where the conversation and laughs flowed freely, so much so that we were politely asked to move to a new table to make way for the next reservation (thanks, COVID!). After dinner, James walked out of his way to escort me back to my car, despite his glasses being completely fogged up from wearing a mask - a charming mishap that only added to the evening's sweetness. In terms of first dates, it was about as perfect as they get.

A few dates late, James showcased his culinary skills with a delicious mushroom risotto (a specialty of his) paired perfectly with wine. While I admired his skills in the kitchen, I was even more enchanted by his collection of books (mostly textbooks), revealing that he was a secret nerd—a win in my book! While I discovered James' talent in the kitchen and love for learning about the world around him, he discovered my fiercely competitive nature. Fortunately, early on in dating there was not a card game, board game, or go-kart race I lost....so he didn't find out I was a sore loser until later!

Our connection deepened as we discovered our shared love for time with our family and friends, learning, and exploring the world. So, when James asked if he could call me his girlfriend (exactly a month after our first date), I said yes without hesitation, just as I enthusiastically said yes (albeit with tears in my eyes) when he asked me to spend the rest of my life with him on a snowmobiling trip to the northern NH in February (2024).

We have experienced so much together over the last 3.5 years, from big career changes, losses of loved ones, the births of our niece and nephew, and most recently a cross country move. All of these experiences have forced us to grow both as individuals and as a couple, learning to communicate and find those small moments just for us. We cannot wait to start this next chapter of our lives and experience all that life has in store for us and we could not imagine celebrating without all of you. Thank you so much for being a part of this journey with us!