Though Emily and Aaron grew up on opposite coasts, their paths seemed destined to cross long before they actually did. Some might even say an invisible string connected them… (Emily was allowed exactly one Taylor Swift reference, and this is it.)

Emily grew up in Allendale, Michigan, before heading to the University of Michigan for college. After graduation, she moved to Utah to work for Qualtrics, and eventually to Seattle in 2019.

Aaron, on the other hand, was born and raised in Foster City, California. He also attended the University of Michigan, then pursued a career in politics and attended graduate school at the University of Washington, eventually moving to Seattle in 2021.

Here’s the twist: Aaron and Emily actually lived in the same dorm, East Quad, during their years at Michigan. Emily was living there for an intensive language program, and Aaron was part of a community service-focused learning community. Despite likely sharing the same dining hall (and probably the same meals), they didn’t meet until almost nine years later.

Fast forward to Seattle – Emily had been there for four years, and Aaron had been there for two. On April 28, 2023, they finally met after matching on a dating app. Emily almost didn’t make it to the date because of an appointment running late, and Aaron was late because he got distracted petting a dog (on brand, as Emily would learn – the dog part, that is).

But when they finally sat down for dinner, things quickly clicked. They both wildly overestimated their spice tolerance and spent the next 20 minutes sweating profusely. Once they recovered, the conversation flowed easily – so easily, in fact, that they spent an hour discussing their D&D characters. And when they realized that Emily had a mutual friend with Aaron (who, bizarrely, had been on a group trip to Bulgaria with him at seventeen), they knew it was fate. (Their mutual friend, Hannah, predicted a month into Aaron and Emily’s relationship that she would receive their wedding invitation in her mailbox…. and now she’s officiating it!)

Just a month in, Aaron asked Emily to be exclusive while out to dinner. After she said yes, he reached across the table for a “hand hug” (in his defense, it was the middle of the meal, and they couldn't hug properly), and Emily thought he was trying to give her a high five. Confusion ensued (and laughter), but she at least didn’t change her mind.

Freya, Emily’s cat, was a bit slower to warm up to Aaron. (Even though Emily’s heart filled with joy when Aaron laid down on the floor to pet Freya when he first met her.) For the first few months, she’d hide in Emily’s room, poke her head out to check if Aaron was still around, glare at him, and retreat. But after many treats, she finally accepted him – and she’s even learned to sit on command for snacks. Now Aaron has nearly two dozen nicknames for her. In return, Freya will sometimes tolerate a 30-second cuddle.

Over the last two years, Emily and Aaron have grown deeper in love, traveled together, bought a house, and added a new member to the family – Freya’s new sister Artemis!

Aaron proposed at Disney World, booking a private fireworks cruise and popping the question while fireworks lit up the night sky over Magic Kingdom.

We’re so excited to have you celebrate with us during our wedding week. We can’t wait to share this special time with all of you!