Although we met in Tampa, Florida in 2009, the scene for this love story is set on a warm Wednesday night on an NYC rooftop in the summer of 2015. Stephanie was attending a networking event where she fatefully ran into Will's best friend and best man, Rocco. Meanwhile, our responsible hero, Will, was just getting into bed. An early night's sleep was thwarted by a text from Rocco saying, "Stephanie is here and she's asking about you."
10 minutes, a t-shirt, jeans, sneakers, and a baseball cap later, Will arrived at what he then learned was a finance happy hour where the dress code was the best suit in your closet. With the prospects of a good night's sleep quicking fading, Will wasted no time asking Steph out to dinner for the following night.
Dinner in the West Village followed by drinks on The Standard Hotel roof until 2am was the best, and last, first date of our lives.
Montauk. If you know, you know.
The event of choice for our fourth official date was the legendary annual All Day I Dream party in Brooklyn. Little did each know of the other's love for all genres of music. From Djs in Brooklyn to Jazz nights at the Rose Bar, The New York City Philharmonic in Central Park, Marc Anthony at Madison Square Garden, indie bands at Coachella, to DJs in Ibiza, we have yet to find a music event we don't like*
*we've never been to a country concert
Our 17th wedding together will be our own. How lucky are we that we've had 16 couples, between close friends and family, get married over the last four years? Thanks in advance to all the couples whose ideas we stole*
*Good artists copy. Great artists steal. - Pablo Picasso
If you're reading this, one of two things is true.
1. The apple doesn't fall very far from the tree.
2. Birds of a feather flock together.
"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn." - Said no one ever who has lived in NYC.
October 25, 2018. New York City
Will and Steph coincidentally both had to be in NYC the same week for work. Wanting to see old friends before leaving, Steph planned a happy hour for Thursday night. Little did she know, she was planning her own engagement celebration.
The Rouse
Will enlisted the help of his cousin Pete and the future bridesmaid, Deniz, to pull off the proposal. While Will and Pete were setting up on the Broken Shaker rooftop, Deniz picked up Steph from the hotel. Steph had agreed to do Deniz a favor and shoot an "interview" video for Deniz’s business. When they finally arrived at the roof, Will was waiting with champagne, flowers, and a ring. A drop to one knee and a “yes” made it official.
The surprises didn’t end there as Stephanie's father showed up to surprise Steph, all the way from Peru.