Jimmy was a recent graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory living in Cape May Court House, New Jersey. He was home for the summer, but planning to return for his Masters at his Alma matar in the Fall. Erik was working for a vineyard in the beautiful Virginia countryside. They met the old fashioned way…online! It started off with a simple hello, then became deeper with favorite holidays, and even deeper cuts with Disney vs. DreamWorks. A few weeks later they decided it was about time to meet face to face, not just through FaceTime.

Jimmy was heading down to Shenandoah and needed to take some exams for final enrollment. It seemed to be the perfect weekend for the two of them to get together finally. They decided to meet up at a local Thai restaurant, while alerting their friends on both sides for an emergency call/text in case things went South quickly. Both were a bit nervous, but a few jokes and playful banter eased the tension. Erik even gave Jimmy a quick lesson in chopstick skills, he just passed. After a great meal they went to a local bookstore, McKay’s, to share with each other their favorite tales (and even pick up a few gently copies too). They finished the evening at Erik’s local favorite, Shilla Bakery for some more stories and tales over shared bubble teas and a Bing Soo ice cream dessert. The time flew on by and they both forgot to text their friends for an exit strategy.

Jimmy and Erik became a “facebook official” couple after Erik drove up to see Jimmy in the summer show he was wrangling a crew of children in, Shrek that summer in Cape May, NJ. After a moonlit walk on the beach, they decided to be exclusive (maybe). Jimmy finally moved back to Winchester, Virginia to begin his graduate studies at Shenandoah that Fall and the #Adventuresbegan. Their early years of courtship were filled with #basic trips going apple picking, taking vineyard selfies, concerts, and sharing their favorite passions with each other. Erik adopted Jimmy as his sous chef in the kitchen, sometimes allowing him to add a dash of spice here and there, or do the dishes. Jimmy asked a reluctant Erik to watch a stream of musicals to broaden his theatrical understanding. "They were okay," said Erik. There was a lot of learning and patience on both sides. Jimmy & Erik’s groups of friends quickly became Their Friends together with weekly potluck dinners with Erik’s friends, and evenings with Jimmy’s college chums that evolved into musical soirees.

After being a commuter couple and drifting from Manassas & Winchester they decided to finally move in together in August of 2015. It also saved a lot of gas money. They loved this first little place together and the fact they could successfully cohabitate in a space; another check on the list. After a few years, job changes, and some joint investments later (an Ikea couch and smart TV) they decided to move a bit closer to both of their offices. They moved to their current apartment in Lansdowne, VA in 2018 and lovingly call their 4th floor walk-up unit the Penthouse of Mouse. The space reflects all of their loves in the realms of nerdom from Broadway, Disney, Pokemon, Harry Potter, and board games!

Erik had a great idea brewing for a potential proposal when Jimmy scored tickets through friends to see the one and only Hamilton in NYC! It would be the perfect time to ask sometime after the show because with all the hype and anticipation, Jimmy would never see it coming. He didn’t. After being foiled a few times, Erik decided to just take the leap and ask when they returned home. While unpacking their bags, he presented Jimmy with a music box to commemorate the time he performed his dream role of Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast over the summer. While Jimmy was fawning over the music box, Erik turned to him, cupping a ring in his hands. Erik asked, and Jimmy sputtered some words through tears that sounded like a “Yes!”

While prepping for their wedding celebration on April 4, 2020, their big day had to be rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic to August 29. As the days went on, and some government orders were being lifted, they both felt it was not right to move forward with their new date. They decided to push it back again in hopes to celebrate with all their guests.

In the midst of the pandemic, they had decided in March 2020 with the venue that the world would probably be opened back up by the summer time. Unfortunately restrictions moved them to choose a new date for everyone's safety with the hopes things might be different in late Spring of 2021.

The couple were hoping for a return of normalcy, but alas no such luck. With less than 90 days out to the wedding, strict regulations still had not been lifted for event sizes. Family traveling from other states still had quarantine travel rules in place as well. It was decided that this date would have to be passed on as well, and Erik & Jimmy decided to cancel the wedding altogether.

It will be our first "anniversary" of filing for our marriage certificate. We legally married on March 6th, 2020 in preparation for our original Wedding date of April 4th, 2020. We picked up our paperwork bright and early at the courthouse, while in the test-run of our gorgeous custom suits. We went 15 minutes away to Casanel Vineyards in Leesburg, VA and had an officiant conduct a brief ceremony in the gazebo on the pond and vowed: we would have and hold, through sickness & health, for richer or poorer; we said "I do" legally.