Aaron literally aged into Leslie’s dating pool. No, seriously - she had a strict “30 and up” filter on her profile, and the universe (or the dating app) decided to let us match right after his 30th birthday. Talk about perfect timing. From the moment we started talking it was clear we were doomed—in the best way possible.

We had our first date on April 17, 2023, and immediately fell head over heels. By our second date, we may have had one too many drinks, and Leslie revealed a dream: a golden shovel to break ground on the house she had just started building. Most people would’ve forgotten that detail. Aaron, however, went full romantic-mode, secretly meeting up with Leslie’s best friend Katie, whom he had never met, to have the address of their future home beautifully calligraphed onto—yep—a golden shovel. Leslie got her dream shovel, cried because it was from her dream man, and Aaron set the bar dangerously high for all future gifts.

It was during that summer Leslie, a fiercely independent woman who had wondered if she was destined to do this life alone with her dogs (still an amazing life), realized she found her person. The person who not only cooks, fixes things, builds things, and does grand gestures like the golden shovel, but also the person she can laugh all night long, share everything, and travel the world with. He is the person who would be her partner in this wild ride we call life.

As if life wasn’t moving fast enough, Leslie had just begun building a house when we met, and Aaron’s daughter, Calina, joined in the adventure. One house became our home. Some may also say it was a Field of Dreams situation (she built it and they came), and on December 14, 2023 we all officially moved in together. But what really made it special was the bond that formed between Leslie and Calina. Somewhere between French braids, fashion advice, Taylor Swift dance parties, gymnastics nights, gardening, baking, and all the girl talk, they became inseparable. Leslie quickly became the go-to for all things style-related, proving to be an essential source of wisdom in areas Aaron never could be (seriously, you don’t want to see his attempts at braiding).

Then, on November 9, 2024, came the big moment. Aaron, always one for grand gestures, orchestrated an elaborate engagement plan. Disguising it as a “family Christmas photoshoot,” he secretly arranged for both of our parents to be there—none of whom knew what was coming. But most importantly, Calina was there too, right by Leslie’s side, just as she had been through every step of this journey. After the proposal (cue happy tears), Aaron had yet another surprise waiting: all of our closest friends were gathered for a celebratory lunch. At this point, Leslie was both thrilled and mildly concerned about Aaron’s ability to plot behind her back.

Now, we’re counting down the days until the big day—February 21, 2026—where we officially say “I do”.

From the time we met, to today, it has been a series of laughter, memories, new experiences, new places, and so much fun. We have traveled the world and had lazy days at home, each day better than the one before. Our life story is just beginning, but so far the book is one you can’t put down.

We can’t wait to celebrate with all of you and start this next chapter together!

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