This is Us

Jesse and Sara’s journey began at Bishop Canevin High School, where they both attended from 2013 to 2017. High school was filled with shared experiences that brought Jesse and Sara even closer. Freshman year, they shared homeroom and 9th period, which meant they saw each other at the start and end of each day. However, their classes rarely overlapped, a pattern that persisted throughout high school. This led them to seek out extracurriculars to spend more time together—even if it meant joining activities they didn’t particularly enjoy. Case in point: their time on the bowling team. It wasn’t until after graduation that they confessed to each other that neither of them actually liked bowling, despite spending so much time on the team together!

Their story took an exciting turn in 2014 when they went to homecoming together, sparking a relationship that continues to flourish. (Although, depending on who you ask, the details around that story are still up for debate!)

They were also both members of the marching band—Jesse as the drumline captain and Sara as the dance captain. These shared passions formed the foundation of a relationship built on teamwork and mutual respect.

After graduation, life brought new challenges and opportunities. Jesse began helping out at Sara’s family diner, Rea’s, where Sara had been a fixture practically since she could walk. Contrary to the old saying that working together tests relationships, the experience only strengthened their bond. They worked side by side every weekend for nearly six years, an arrangement that not only deepened their partnership but also kept them close despite their busy schedules. Sara attended La Roche College while Jesse pursued his degree at Robert Morris University, but they always made time for one another.

Fast forward to 2024: Jesse and Sara have both established themselves in their respective careers and recently achieved an exciting milestone—they closed on their first home together in Green Tree, PA. This new chapter is a testament to the love, hard work, and dedication that have defined their relationship.

It’s been a wild ride, but every moment has brought them closer to this special day and the start of the rest of their lives together.

The Proposal

On November 11th, 2022, Jesse convinced Sara to go on a casual date. Since Sara loves tacos, Jesse took her downtown to Tako, a trendy taqueria. Despite it being his idea, he cheekily made her pay for dinner, setting the tone for the evening. After dinner, they walked through downtown in the pouring rain, heading back to the garage where they had parked. But Jesse had one more surprise up his sleeve. He led Sara into Arthur Murray Dance Studio for a private dance lesson—a playful suggestion he had made, as it was quite known that Sara loves dancing, while Jesse easily had two left feet.

During the lesson, they danced to three songs, but it was the third one, a slow dance to Hunter Hayes’s “Wanted”—a song that had been significant for them since high school—that made the moment unforgettable. As they swayed together, Jesse twirled Sara and then, to her complete surprise, got down on one knee. His question, “Will you marry me?” was met with a confused but heartfelt response: “Don’t be a dick!” (which will forever be remembered as the best reaction ever).

As if that wasn’t enough, the night didn’t end there. Jesse revealed a limousine waiting outside, and Sara had no idea that it was filled with their closest friends, who had no idea what was happening either—Jesse had told them he’d won the limo ride at a church Chinese auction. They all drove around Pittsburgh, stopping at the West End Overlook for photos, and finished the night at Tequila Cowboy, celebrating with laughter, love, and all the people who matter most.