Hello, lovely ladies! You may recognize me as the bride who became a wife in a garden by the river on a rainy August day. And for those of you who aren’t familiar with my fondness for the Gocco, Ray LaMontagne, and red umbrellas, allow me to introduce myself.

I’m Emily, and I met Nick – the love of my life – in a science lab in 2007. He was a graduate student in a white lab coat, and I was a journalist with a camera bag slung over my shoulder. Two years later we said, “we do.”

We spent our first week as Mr. and Mrs. on our own little piece of paradise – complete with beach beds, tamarindo margaritas, and candlelit gourmet dinners.

And then it was back to reality. I returned to Pennsylvania, and Nick returned to New Jersey. That’s right. We spent our first two months of wedded bliss in separate states.

In October, Nick left his job and moved into my – our – humble second floor apartment in central Pennsylvania. We stacked his science books and history novels next to my food memoirs and chick lit. We piled bins of camping gear in the bedroom beside ski equipment, bikes, and golf bags. We cooked together in the kitchen with retro cabinetry and half-size appliances while our lovely wedding gifts – a KitchenAid stand mixer, a Le Creuset Dutch oven, Noritake dishes, and stemware – sat in my parents’ basement. But it didn’t matter, because we were together.

Then, on a Monday in December, Nick prepared to interview for a job we were confident he would get — a job in the place we wanted to remain.

On Tuesday he got the job! Right after the company changed its location.

On Wednesday we discussed every possible scenario over chocolate martinis. We talked about commuting to our respective jobs from a central location. We wondered if we should move further west and whether I could find a job I enjoy half as much as the one I have now. We even dreamed about buying a Victorian mansion and running our own Bed and Breakfast.

It took us a few more days to formulate a plan, and a month later we moved 50 miles west to a quaint town halfway between our places of employment.

So here we are. Happily married and happily building our first home together. Our commutes are not ideal, and we decided to postpone purchasing a house until we settle in a more permanent location. But we have a kitchen with ample counter space and a patio with a grill and herb pots and each other, plus all of our belongings are finally under one roof. Life is good.

I’m looking forward to rejoining the beautiful and talented EAD family and sharing tales from my own newlywed adventures. So nice to meet you!

{photo credits: wedding photographer Robert Winton, author’s personal collection}