OUR STORY
It all started with $6 Bud Lights
and Karaoke…
It was 2017. Two weeks into Brandcenter, the out-of-the-box master’s program that served as a pressure cooker for aspiring creative folks. Neverending deadlines and an ever-expanding mountain of stress made for tense times, but like the problem solvers we are, we discovered the perfect release valve: weekly karaoke at a dingy-but-loveable establishment called Metro Bar & Grill (RIP).
It was on those sticky, beer-soaked floors that we first saw a piece of ourselves in each other - an unbridled love of bringing friends together and a knack for having a good time. Over the coming months, that became the foundation of a budding romance, one that felt new and different in the best way.
Those two years in school were the perfect environment for young love. In the process of creatively (& mentally) being broken down and put back together on a daily basis, we learned to lean on each other - for ideas, for a sounding board, for a brainstorm, and for loads of emotional support. By the end, we had grown not only as individuals, but as a pair. A team neither of us expected to join at the outset, but one we proudly comprised by the end.
That bond would be put to the test after grad school. A year of long distance - Paige staying back in Richmond to work a year for her alma mater, the *esteemed* Longwood University; and Luke moving up to NYC for a job - made a few things clear. First, long distance sucks. Can’t recommend it less. But second, and more importantly, this relationship was more than worth the temporary heartache. We learned to make it work despite the few hundred miles between us and counted down the days until we could put that distance literally and figuratively behind us.
Thankfully, after 12 months of wearing out the Manhattan to Richmond route on the Flix Bus (again, can’t recommend less), Paige made her way up to NYC for good in October of 2020. As the city shut down amidst the pandemic, it was the perfect chance for us to make up for lost time, so we hunkered down in Luke’s apartment every weekend with board games, a few boxes of red wine, and Luke’s two roommates, Shaun and Pat.
The 4ish years since have been a whirlwind. Multiple jobs - some good, some we still might mail a bag of flaming poo; Multiple apartments - each of which have felt like home in a neighborhood we’ve come to love; Countless nights spent galavanting around NYC with pals; and one engagement in our neighborhood park have brought us closer together than we ever imagined.
The future is brimming with hope, excitement, and optimism, and we can’t wait to bring in the next big (biggest?) moment in our lives together with all of you who we love so much. See you New Year’s Eve.
Big Love,
Paige and Luke
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
Have a tune you'd like us to play?
If you know us, music is a huge part of our relationship, weekend activities, and daily routine.
For the Wedding Reception, we’d love your songs to be a part of it! With a Spotify account, simply add your songs to the playlist to have them featured on the dance floor.
Don’t have Spotify? Are you *gasp* an Apple Music user?
Shoot us an email with your requests: paigeandluke4ever@gmail.com
