Raised in the New Jersey suburbs of New York City, Zandy took a leap of faith and decided to move cross country for her first job as a nurse practitioner. Little did she know, history would be made two weeks later in the Arizona desert. She’d go on a Hinge date to a blues and beer festival with a goofy bald guy - despite him being dressed as a swamp creature on his dating profile. Their first date lasted nearly ten hours, spanned over two meals (Cane’s and Paradise Biryani), and it was the first time Jared’s new dog Jasper decided to relax from his constant vigil staring out the window by the door.

The rest was a whirlwind. They were endlessly amused by each other’s creative, curious minds, and saw each other as kindred spirits. On their third date, Jared asked, “can we make this official?” and Zandy said “slow your roll.” But even before she changed her answer to “yes” a month later, Zandy told her mom on the phone that she thought this could be the person she would marry.

And they continued to fall in love, energized with the same excitement for adventure.

Jared showed Zandy his favorite hiking trails in the Superstitions. Together they backpacked the Havasupai trail in the Grand Canyon and the Laugavegur trail in Iceland. They shared a love of sushi and oyster shooters, reading out loud at bedtime, and collecting hot sauces, boasting a several-dozen-bottle collection. Zandy soon became a staple at Jared’s shows, learning the lyrics to his songs (sometimes even better than Jared) and getting the whole crowd to dance. Their fondest memories of Phoenix together include long walks with Jasper in their Coronado neighborhood backyard, where they threw raucous Halloween parties and hosted several patio concerts.

Then on December 7, 2024, Jared proposed to Zandy on a hike in the Four Peaks Wilderness, an iconic area in central Arizona. Zandy’s answer came a little quicker than Jared’s first question over two and a half years before. Another year later they continue to live life to the fullest, getting to know their new home in Charlottesville, Virginia and planning their epic wedding with all of you!