How We Met. Ben and Jess met playing rec soccer in 2011. After getting to know one another, Ben called Jess (yes, called) to ask her out. Their first date was on October 7, 2011 in Old City Philadelphia for First Friday, a monthly event during which all of the local art galleries open to the public. After walking through town, they sat for dinner at Sassafras in Old City, where they watched the Phillies’ painful elimination from the NLDS playoffs and drank pumpkin beers. Next weekend, Ben asked Jess out on a second date, to go hiking. Even though Jess replied that “she didn’t know how to hike,” Ben convinced her she was capable, and she joined him on a daytrip to St. Peter’s Village outside of Philadelphia.
As their relationship continued, they grew closer together and began to develop a shared life with one another in Philly. As Ben and Jess’s love grew, they continued to seek the occasional relief from the city by exploring the outdoors. They’ve traveled the world together, with a few highlights including summiting Half Dome in Yosemite, finishing their scuba certificates together and exploring the oceans of Belize and Thailand, enjoying the Northern Lights in Iceland, and, of course, blessing the rains down in Africa.
Our Engagement. On October 14, 2018, Ben and Jess headed to Jim Thorpe, PA to hike the beautiful Glen Onoko Falls trail, something they do every fall. At the base of the second waterfall on the way up, Ben encouraged Jess to clamber out on some rocks to take a selfie with the falls in the background. After one picture, Ben got down on one knee to propose with a beautiful oval ring. Jess (of course) said yes.
Ben continued to surprise Jess throughout the rest of the day with a gourmet picnic and champagne at the summit and a family celebration at the trailhead. The day was full of love, shared with their families in a place very special to them.