Like any great romance of the 21st century, our story started on an app. We matched while Joey was out of town in Virginia, which Bill thought was a clever ploy to never having to meet in person. But a date and time was soon figured out and the first date jitters began to set in.

The Tuesday night date spontaneously became a Monday night date after Bill happened to be in Joey's neighborhood (and happened to have had multiple margaritas). They met up at Linen Hall in the East Village and spent the night talking about interests, families, and disdain for the USMNT. They would then see one another two more times that week.

Joey's Gramercy apartment became their HQ during the week. Joey was still a full-time dog walker and it was just one stop away from Bill's job in SoHo. They would abscond on the weekends to Bill's Park Slope apartment to escape the city. They both knew it was something special when they stopped complaining about the two subway change it took to see one another. Even moreso, when Joey's "no dogs in the bed" rule fell by the wayside after an adorable fluffy Nigel wiggled his way into Joey's heart. After 18 months of dating, they got a spot in a Downtown Brooklyn high rise—the perfect middle ground between their Manhattan and Brooklyn lives.

Over their 9 years, the two traveled to 10 countries, attended two World Cups in France and Australia/New Zealand, spent holidays bicoastal, endured a global pandemic in 600 square feet, and created their own traditions like their annual Friendsgiving and Memorial Day Weekend trip with loved ones (both of which turned 10 in 2025).

In November 2024 during a trip to the Dominican Republic, Bill asked Joey to marry him on a deserted beach by moonlight—the flashmob option narrowly beaten out, much to Joey's dismay. It was a quick yes, finally legitimizing Nigel with two parents.

Bill and Joey are very excited to celebrate with those they love most in the world on September 27th and are grateful for everyone who helped get them where they are today.