Hello, and welcome to our wedding website! You may be wondering what, if anything, the above quote has to do with (a) weddings, (b) love, (c) Jessica and Steve, and/or (d) whether or not you will join us in Washington, DC in June.

We'll use this page to explain.

We met on January 6, 2012 at a lovely neighborhood pub in Steve's neck of the woods called James Hoban's Irish Restaurant & Bar (pictured). Jess had just enjoyed dinner at a nearby restaurant with her friend and co-worker Sarah Gragert, who'd encouraged her to continue the night - there was a birthday party to attend.

No, it wasn't Steve's birthday party. It was Meg O'Donnell's birthday party. Meg, as a super-Hoya, had spent many a summer night playing softball with her Georgetown alumni teammates... Steve and Sarah. See the connection?

Ms. Gragert gets most of the credit - and rightfully so - for making the initial introduction. But, hey, if Meg had never been born... thanks Meg!

Anyway, Jess and Sarah met up with Steve and his friend Dan Alvarez, and their conversation turned to (as conversations do) the Gwyneth Paltrow movie 'Sliding Doors'. IMDB describes 'Sliding Doors' thusly: "A London woman's love life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train. We see it both ways, in parallel." SPOILER ALERT: in the end, we learn that Gwyneth winds up with her soulmate in both versions of the tale.

Our first conversation centered around this movie. In fact, we high-fived when we both remembered its name at the same time. And so the first two quotes on this page are taken from 'Sliding Doors', and represent the connection two people share across time and space.

"I'm in love, I'm in love, and I don't care who knows it!"

We went on our first date five days later, on January 11. This time around, it was a wine bar instead of an Irish pub. Well, a really really nice wine bar: Proof, in Washington's Gallery Place neighborhood. A restaurant, even.

It will go down as the greatest first date in history. We met at the bar for martinis, proceeded to enjoy a phenomenal meal and even better conversation, and marked the end of the night with a kiss in the rain.

It's safe to say we both identified with Will Ferrell in 'Elf' after date number one.

Exactly eighteen months later, Steve suprised Jess with tickets to see 'The Book of Mormon' at the Kennedy Center. Jess, as a lover of musical theater, was thrilled. Steve, as a boyfriend about to become a fiance, was (arguably) more thrilled.

After the show, and with the irreplaceable help of his friend John Coco, Steve managed to coax Jess up to the terrace level of the Kennedy Center, through its dark and shuttered restaurant, and out to the roof. A single table with two candles, a rose, and a bottle of champagne awaited. Jess still had no clue what was about to happen.

The next few moments were a blur, but Steve wound up on his knee and Jess wound up saying yes. We think. Phone calls were made, celebration ensued, and we were engaged.

July 11, 2013 will continue to be the happiest night of our lives... until we see you in DC on June 7, 2014.