Their story started in the parking lot of NJROTC during the COVID year of high school. It wasn’t until they reconnected through mutual friends (and outside the confines of ROTC) that she actually started to notice him—and let’s just say things escalated from there.

First impressions were everything.

She thought he seemed a little more mature than expected.

He thought she looked a lot better outside of ROTC—though to be fair, most of high school was spent behind a COVID mask, so the reveal was pretty dramatic.

Things really started to fall into place when he helped her get an old car running in just one day. That’s when she realized, “Wow, this might actually be something real.” For him, the moment came on their very first date. They walked to the beach, and on the way back some unexpected family drama showed up—but she stayed. And that’s when he knew she wasn’t going anywhere.

Since then, they’ve been side by side for all of life’s big milestones: proms, graduations, new jobs, career choices, moving in together, and recently, adopting two cats who now run the household. He even sold a truck he really loved to pay off his sports car (a gesture that could only be described as true love).

There wasn’t some big cinematic proposal—no flash mobs, no skywriting. They simply decided together that marriage was what they wanted. And honestly, that’s what makes it perfect: two people who grew up together, chose each other, and continue to choose each other every day.

She loves his willingness to change for their family and he loves the way she treats others.

And together, they’ve created a life full of laughter, late-night talks, and a little bit of chaos (thanks to the cats).

What started as “Two cadets in ROTC” turned into the worst case of fraternization—and their favorite love story.

I&J

Wedding Day