KARL & JEFF

Jeff and Karl met on May 29, 2009, after a romantic series of messages on OKCupid—which promised that we were mostly a match and only marginally enemies.

Our first date began at the iconic Westway Diner on Ninth Avenue, where we bonded over sandwiches and being overserved mayonnaise. Karl, at the time a theatre operations intern, had secured comp tickets to MEL AND EL: SHOW AND TELL, an exceptionally silly two-woman show that he was not even able to drink at since he was (gasp) still twenty. Jeff, who was only a little bit older than twenty-one, valiantly stuck to soda and still had a marvelous time.

We both remember feeling really strongly about each other, right away—which was exciting and a little scary. After a summer together, our love story went long-distance for a while, as we each finished and started degrees in NYC, Massachusetts, and Long Island. But as three months turned into a year and then many more, we were glad to see that strong connection wasn’t just in our imaginations.

In the fifteen years since, we successfully:

• 🎓 collectively acquired a bachelor’s, two master’s, and a Ph.D. (very done with school!)
• 🚙 became “car people” during a global pandemic (spent in Karl’s parents’ house)
• 🎼 taught each other about music notation (Jeff) and extroversion (Karl)
• 📺 devoured and analyzed approximately 10,000 hours of food- and house-related television (some favorites: Your Home Made Perfect, Million Dollar Decorators)
• ✈️ traveled: around the U.S. and Canada; touring in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands; and took a Caribbean cruise (“are we cruise people?”)
• 🎹 collaboratively produced 50-plus concerts with Jeff’s ensemble, the Sebastians, plus a lot of grant applications and grant reporting with a minimum of hair-pulling
• 🏠 bought and renovated a condo
• 🥤 drank around 39,000 liters of Coke Zero

Throughout it all we kept our spirits up and made sure we always hated all the same things (and people)!

Ultimately, we have felt married for a long-ass time. But as our ten- and then fifteen-year anniversaries rolled around, we realized we still wanted to do it: the big party where we gather loved ones from all corners of our lives, eat some cake, and celebrate how happy we are that we found each other. (Plus, those of you who have seen Karl at a wedding know what you’re in for. 🕺) So, we’re doing it now, and we want you to be a part of it!