Our story began in the modern way—on Hinge, where Kevin couldn’t resist commenting on Sean’s prompt about the Great British Baking Show. Clearly, a shared love for soggy bottoms and baking puns was in the cards. We started messaging during the holidays in 2021, but with a Covid surge looming, we decided to postpone our first date.
Fast forward to January 2022, when we finally met in person at Spicy Moon, a cozy vegan Szechuan restaurant in NYC’s West Village. Over plates of delicious (and perhaps slightly over-ordered) food, we delved into everything from family histories and past relationships to future dreams. Somewhere between the dumplings and Dan Dan noodles, Sean asked Kevin about his FYP (For You Page), only to be met with a coy, “Well, that’s a little personal for a first date.” Sean was convinced we had ordered too much food, while Kevin was secretly holding back.
Kevin’s official induction into Sean’s life came at Sean’s 34th birthday party, where he met pretty much all of Sean’s closest friends. Little did Kevin know, this wasn’t just a party—it was an evaluation. Sean’s friends Alex and Ashley took turns cornering Kevin, each delivering their own version of “the talk.” Ashley was fiercely protective, while Alex made it clear that Kevin would need his approval before anything could be really official.
By December of 2022, we took the leap and moved out of the city to Sleepy Hollow, where we settled into a new rhythm of life together. Our evenings now consist of watching the sunset over the river, with Kevin teaching Sean about the finer points of plant care and Sean teaching Kevin about the various methods of bug repellent.
In addition to getting along so well and falling in love so quickly, we felt an immediate sense of belonging when we met each other’s families. It was as if we were being welcomed home by people we had known for years. Having a strong support system of family and friends has always been deeply important to us, and we are incredibly grateful to have such a loving and supportive community to share in our journey.