There are two questions that define Emily and Justin’s relationship.

The first question bubbled up in November 2021 on their very first date when Emily and Justin had met up for drinks at a historic jazz club in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. As they got to know each other with vibrant altos and tenors blaring around them, Emily paused the conversation to reveal something deeply personal and important, a hidden secret she felt Justin needed to know before carrying on any further.

“Just so you know,” Emily confessed, sternly and confidently, “I don’t cook. Is that a problem?”

Justin laughed, far from a full-fledged chef himself, and simply looked back into Emily’s big, brown eyes and replied, “I don’t care.”

They agreed to shelve any at-home dinner adventures for the time being and selected bowling as their second date. Emily arrived at the Pickwick Bowling Lanes in Burbank, assuming it would just be a friendly, get-to-know-you competition. But Justin was aggressively throwing strikes and fast-rolls to no avail, not so much impressing Emily as making her question if this was Justin’s method of trying to be “macho.” On one 7th-frame attempt, Justin slipped on some stray lane oil, allowing Emily to peek inside at Justin’s vulnerability (and lack of balance) for the very first time. And that was when Justin and Emily fell for each other (metaphorically for Emily, literally for Justin).

From then on, the two managed to share an array of joy-filled adventures in a partially-locked down Los Angeles. When Justin traveled to Edinburgh and London over New Years, all he could think of was what would be the best souvenirs to bring back to Emily. And when he returned stateside in January 2022, Emily invited Justin on a birthday trip to her favorite local vacay spot, the enchanting and whimsical Catalina Island, and the place where Justin ended up saying I love you to Emily for the first time (FYI, Emily did say it back).

Winter and Spring 2022 would be defined by more movies, concerts, beach trips, and excursions, including a winterful stay in Lake Tahoe, a bright light weekend in Vegas to see Billy Joel, and a 5-day trek through beautiful Maui where the two narrowly avoided death while driving on the treacherous Road to Hana in complete darkness. In Summer 2022, Emily and Justin said hello to Homer, their adorable chihuahua that Emily adopted after falling in love with one of his photos at a local dog rescue. Emily also broke her leg at this time, but that didn't stop Justin from wanting to spend time with her, even building her a state-of-the-art shower chair while helping her recuperate. Come Fall, the two crossed off Canada from their travel bucket list, and in Winter, they brought Homer along for the fun in Emily’s Mazda as they ventured across the border through the Baja region of Mexico. When they got back stateside, they wasted no time in finding a place they could call home together, moving and settling into their lovely townhome in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood in February 2023.

But what about that second question? Well, 2023 and 2024 saw Emily and Justin loving, growing, and learning in ways they could not possibly imagine. They still went to concerts and movies, on trips big and small, sharing big conversations about life and the world and everything in-between. But they found equally enjoyable solace at home, sipping on coffee while nestled on their couch, Homer dutifully resting on top of them, having small talk or no talk at all, giving Justin even more time to be transfixed by Emily’s wit, empathy, creativity, intelligence, and, of course, beauty, with the two always enjoying and appreciating each other’s presence. And even in days that were tougher or harder, they never forgot to share a hug, laugh, or a smile. Justin started to think about the big question, and after coming into possession of a ring that belonged to Emily’s grandmother, he decided to pop the question in December 2024 while on the couple’s two-week trip to New Zealand. On a sun-drenched remote beach with crystal blue water and pure yellow sand, Justin waited until Emily returned from the water to ask her to marry him, and she said yes.

2025 brought more unforgettable adventures for the two, including Emily's Vanderbilt homecoming, a birthday trip to Denver for Justin, and a lovely week under the stars in Yosemite for New Years. and 2026 so far has been a blast. But we can’t wait for you to share our special day on May 23 and see the love and joy that awaits us in the years to come.