Jeremy & Michael 

A mural, a pun, and the brightest smile was the winning combination on Hinge that caught Jeremy's attention. Conversations quickly graduated to texts off-app, and an inevitable first date  was scheduled in January 2019. The catalyst? When Michael casually dropped that he was in Pittsburgh spending the holidays playing cards with his grandmother, they realized their shared family values and love of board games. And so, what more fitting a place for their first date than at Board Room Dupont in D.C. Amidst conversation, dinner (nervously picked at on Michael's part), and a few rounds of teaching each other their favorite games (Sequence and Otrio), the perfect blend unfolded. Little did they know, this crisp snowy evening in January would become their first evening of forever.

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Before long, packing a weekend bag and heading to Adams Morgan became second nature for Michael. The next two years held weekends full of of hikes or jogs through Rock Creek Park, afternoons at a museum, friend introductions, concerts at 930 Club and Anthem, long walks around D.C. playing Pokémon GO, exploring wineries in Virginia—these were the first few chapters of their love story. National and international trips over the years brought Michael and Jeremy even closer. In summer 2021, they decided to overcome their physical distance and move in together in Arlington, Virginia. (You know it's real when a suburbanite can lure a city boy out of his metropolis!)

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The trip that brought them a giant step closer to marriage was Labor Day weekend of 2023 in Denver, Colorado. Jeremy's masterful planning orchestrated a seemingly ordinary hiking day led by a local guide... who secretly doubled as a photographer. As the hike culminated at the mountain top with a serene lake and a stunning alpine forest, Jeremy seized the moment to propose to Michael. Excitedly, Michael said, "YES!" and returned the proposal in turn. As they reflect on the last five years, full of shared moments with cherished friends and loved ones, Jeremy and Michael eagerly anticipate celebrating their wedding with all of you on New Year's Eve 2024!