Before we ever went on a date, we spent more than six years crossing paths in the same friend group. Laughing at jokes, doing shots, swapping recipes, and bonding over the universal language of dog people. It’s just what we did. Rich had Duke, his loyal sidekick since 2012, and was ready to add a second pup to the mix. Knowing Jill volunteered with the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter, he reached out for advice. In true fate-fashion, Jill ended up being his adoption reference, and soon after, Paulie trotted into Rich’s life. Little did we know, that adoption application was the first chapter of something much bigger.

Fast forward to 2021. A comedy show and a Halloween party nudged us into each other’s paths a little more often. Then came November 20, 2021. Rich reached out to Jill to meet him for a few drinks and a bite. It was just two friends hanging out at Britesmith in Williamsville. Or so we thought. One great conversation led to another, Rich walked Jill to her car, and suddenly “just friends” didn’t quite fit anymore. The following week, we met for drinks again. This time trying to be sneaky. The night before Thanksgiving, we slipped away from our separate plans to meet at Sidelines. We were convinced no one would see us. Again, we tried to be sneaky. Spoiler alert: We failed miserably!

The Friday after Thanksgiving, our friend group gathered for holiday cocktails. We arrived separately, acted normal, and thought we were in the clear. A friend kept hinting that we’d make a great couple, and we exchanged nervous glances, thinking our secret was unraveling. Turns out, it already had. Moments before we walked in, our friends had reviewed security camera footage, courtesy of Mark, who heard Rich was with a girl at Sidelines and wanted to know who the mystery woman was. They figured it out before we could even tell them. And from that moment on, we were lovingly dubbed “The Sterlacki’s.”

From there, everything just fit. We realized quickly that the love and support we gave each other was something rare. We grew closer through shared adventures, good food, great drinks, our love for animals, and the way we held each other up through the loss of pets and the demands of our careers. That love inspired Rich’s proposal at Longneck Manor Sanctuary in Texas. While feeding giraffes, Rich got down on one knee—with a giraffe named Kafele serving as our very tall, very adorable witness, and Jill said yes!

Add in the love and support that all of you have given us through the years and that makes for one hell of a party that we are throwing on July 11, and you’re all invited!