Our story kicked off with a trip to Target.

In May 2022, we matched on Hinge, and that very same day, Grant joined Priti on a spontaneous shopping date as she picked out things for her new apartment in Old Town, Alexandria.

From the moment we started exploring the aisles together, the connection was undeniable. We spent hours chatting about our lives, interests, and hobbies, discovering just how much we had in common.

Shortly after, life took us in different directions—Grant headed off for a field operation at The Basic School, and Priti jetted off to Portugal. Though we couldn’t communicate during that time, we found ourselves constantly thinking about each other.

When we reunited 10 days later, it was clear—we were falling in love and couldn’t wait to spend more time together.

And so, we became inseparable. We spent our weekends strolling along the Potomac in Old Town, exploring funky neighborhoods in Washington D.C. and taking beach trips with fellow Marines to Ocean City, MD.

Two months later, Grant graduated from TBS and moved to Florida for further training. We both knew we had something truly special, so we took a leap of faith and embraced a long-distance relationship for the next two years.

Priti would fly down to see Grant every couple of months, and we were lucky enough to celebrate birthdays and two Thanksgivings together.

Our first Thanksgiving together was unforgettable, a day filled with warmth, laughter, and the comforting realization that we had found something truly meaningful in each other.

Cooking together revealed just how compatible and effortless our relationship felt, as every moment flowed naturally, bringing us closer than ever before.

By the second Thanksgiving, we both knew that we couldn’t imagine life without each other (plus, Grant’s turkey is just too good for Priti to miss out on!).

From the moment we realized we were meant to be, the decision to spend our lives together felt undeniable and right.

We dreamt of many beautiful places to celebrate our wedding, but with our families spread across continents, the logistics were challenging.

Then, something magical happened—Grant was offered an opportunity of a lifetime: two months of training in Fort Meade, MD followed by a permanent duty station assignment in Japan. It felt like a sign that our journey was leading us somewhere remarkable.

We made an adventurous choice to elope, just the two of us, to a place that felt perfect for our love story—Santa Barbara, California.

On July 11th, 2024, we shared an intimate and unforgettable ceremony at the stunning Santa Barbara Courthouse.

Now, we are overjoyed to celebrate our marriage with you on September 21st, and we can’t wait to share this momentous occasion with all of you.

In October, Grant's job as Strategic Communications Officer with the United States Marine Corps will take us to Camp Foster in Okinawa, Japan for the next three years.

Priti will continue to work remotely and is focusing her effort in obtaining a Masters degree in Regulatory Compliance.

We are so excited about this upcoming adventure!