Marcus moved to Rochester for school in 2009 but it was work that kept him here when moved back in 2012. Marcus and Amanda ended up running in similar circles on the local food/bar scene and were always friendly in passing. In 2018, they became coworkers when Marcus picked up security shifts at a new, trendy bar named Swan Dive where Amanda was working behind the bar.

They spent the next year and a half sharing many drinks, laughs, and stories as they got to know each other and become friends. In February 2020, Marcus invited Amanda to a Superbowl party that she politely declined! But have no fear, she let Marcus know that she would be happy to meet up with some mutual friends afterwards. It was at the end of that meet up, in the backyard of Lux, where they shared a long embrace and Amanda looked Marcus in the eye and asked if they could do this again some time. Marcus had his suspicions, but it was in that moment that he was convinced that Amanda liked him as much as he liked her.

Marcus scored the first kiss on Amanda’s birthday 10 days later, we had our first official date that weekend, and were official a month after the first date. And the week after we became a couple, the whole world shut time due to a little thing called COVID. Thankfully, the global pandemic only strengthened the bond as we grew together as a couple. Since then, we have traveled from New York City to Las Vegas, from Nashville to Curacao, with so many stops in between. We have changed jobs, moved into a very small apartment together, went back to school, bought a house, and most recently Amanda graduated from college with her degree in education.

It is impossible to know what is in front of us and exactly what will come next. But, one thing we do know is that we are excited to face a lifetime of challenges, and triumphs, together.

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