Our Story

Bumbling - December '21

Caroline and Joe first met on the popular dating app, Bumble. They went on a few dates and had a great time, but they both started seeing other people. In hindsight, it was the best thing that could have happened - neither of them were ready for something serious.

Both of their relationships ended and they found themselves alone, navigating major life-changes. Caroline had started her journey working as a public interest attorney in Delaware, and Joe was going back to school to pivot to a career in technology.

Sliding into DMs - November '22

One day, as Caroline was on a bar-mandated legal scavenger hunt, she saw Joe walking toward a corner deli in their neighborhood (they only lived a few blocks away from each other in West Philly).

She thought "Oh, he was really cute!", and felt emboldened to send a DM on Instagram. This act from Caroline would change the course of their lives forever.

Friendsgiving - November '22

After grabbing coffee, Joe invited Caroline to a "Friendsgiving" party he was hosting. Even though they'd just reconnected, Joe really liked Caroline and wanted to bring her into the fold.

Joe's friends all asked Caroline "So how do you know Joe?", a question to which her answer was...vague. Caroline wasn't sure what the ~vibe~ was but she felt welcomed into the friend group and enjoyed her time at the party.

Toward the end of the party, Joe asked Caroline to hang out one-on-one afterwards, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Moving In - February '24

After their anniversary trip to Lancaster, PA they moved in together.

While the road wasn't easy (the transition was slow, and they had to say goodbye to a beloved pet), they made it work. They are so happy to be building a life together in their cozy apartment in West Philly.

Flourishing - '24-'25

Through many trips to Pittsburgh and Wisconsin, they became close with each other's families. They've spent holidays together, played countless rounds of pickleball, gone on hikes, watched baseball and football games, had chaotic family dinners, and even spent a cold evening at Lambeau Field catching a Packers game!

If you know Caroline and Joe, you know how important their friends are to them. It was no surprise, then, that as they started to integrate their friend groups, things only got deeper. Each of their communities was immediatley welcoming and warm, creating lasting friendships that continue to this day.

Pittsburgh, New York City, New Paltz, Madison, The Wisconsin Dells, and Smith Mountain Lake - just a few of the places they've been together. They love to travel and explore new places, but they also love to stay home and relax on their enormous couch.

Caroline supported Joe during his career transition into tech. She was there during the 70-hour weeks while he learned how to code, and reassured him during the 6-month job search. After he landed at MANNA, she was there during every up and down - to celebrate a milestone with candy and ice cream, or comfort him after a stressful day (with the same assortment of sweets). Joe supported each of Caroline's "firsts" during her blossoming career as a public interest attorney. Whether it was celebrating her first win during a hearing, or giving her a pep talk after getting an unfavorable judgment, she can depend on Joe to be there.

Caroline and Joe's relationship has blossomed into something truly beautiful over the last 3 years. From performing together in front of friends, to navigating the ups and downs of living in the world, they share their daily experiences with open hearts and open minds. They are constantly trying to make each other laugh, and not a single day goes by where one of them doesn't don a crazy voice to pull the other out of their head. They also consistently share their views of the world and their desire for a just, equitable future for all.

The Proposal - July 30th, 2025

For almost two years, Joe and Caroline had spent most Wednesdays at Carbon Copy, a brewery a few blocks from their home. What began with their downstairs neighbors grew into a weekly ritual with about ten close friends, and along the way they became close with the host, Al.

Joe checked with Al to quietly reserve a night for something special, and with the green light, started planning a Caroline-themed game.

The categories were narrowed to four that felt most like Caroline: law (public-interest attorney), movies (film buff), music (lifelong musician), and art (art minor).

The format was four rounds of ten questions plus a bonus—44 in total. The plan was to make the final bonus the proposal itself, which meant the first letters of the answers to the previous 43 questions needed to spell a single phrase.

The phrase that fit was: “Will you spend the rest of your life with me Caroline?” Exactly 43 characters. Each answer's first letter corresponded to each letter of the proposal — Q1 “Watergate,” Q2 “Insider trading,” Q3 “Lien,” and so on—leading right up to the reveal.

With the puzzle set, Joe looped in their friends. Some joined the trivia teams as usual; others gathered at their apartment and walked over at the right moment to watch from the window. The stage was set.

And of course, you can assume the rest - she said yes! Which is why you're reading this now.