Our story began with a little friendly matchmaking. Our mutual friend Yoni told each of us that the other was interested — which was news to both of us, since we had never actually met! Even though we’re both from Memphis and our families knew one another, our paths had somehow never crossed. Luckily, Yoni didn’t give up. After some gentle (okay, persistent) nudging, we both agreed to give it a try.

Our first date was at Coastal Fish the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We hit it off right away, but a few days later Stacy headed back to St. Louis. We kept talking and made plans to see each other again when Stacy returned to Memphis for Passover. During that visit, we went on a couple more dates — including our first movie together — and knew there was something worth pursuing.

By the time Stacy came back for the Fourth of July, it was clear this was special. After a date at Hen House, we decided to make it official. From there, our long-distance routine began: Jonah visiting St. Louis, Stacy coming home for holidays, and even a New York getaway between Christmas and New Year’s.

On June 29, 2025, Jonah made the big move to St. Louis — and just a few months later, on September 2, he proposed. When Stacy came home from work, Jonah and the dogs greeted her at the door. Jonah mentioned that JoeJax’s collar tag had broken and he’d replaced it, so he asked Stacy to take a look. After a little confusion, she finally noticed the new charm — a heart-shaped tag that read, “Will you marry Jonah?” When she turned around, Jonah was down on one knee in the kitchen with a ring.

And the rest is just the beginning of our next adventure together!