Like all good modern love stories, ours began online — though not on ChristianMingle (sorry mums), but on Scruff. Jared was preparing to move to Australia for a one-year working holiday visa and wanted to make some friends before arriving. We started chatting…and didn’t stop until the day Jared landed.

The universe tested us early — Anthony’s FIFO job in the desert kept him away for a month, delaying our first date. But when we finally met at Sixes & Sevens on James Street, sparks flew (even if an older gentleman tried to pick us both up — we politely declined).

Life moved quickly. Jared was au pairing, Anthony’s lease was ending, and before long we had our first apartment together in the Valley — naturally, gay central. We built our life between travels, like our first U.S. trip in 2019 to meet Jared’s family, and countless Skype sessions during COVID when borders slammed shut.

In between, we adopted two chihuahuas, Chloe and Vince (cute but cranky), moved upstairs to a bigger apartment, and later into our forever home in Tarragindi, adding Kalley, our Italian Greyhound.

Somewhere between house moves, dogs, and trips to Connecticut, we booked a wedding venue before even getting engaged (the gays really do it differently). After much debate over who would propose, Jared got in first in June — and Anthony said yes!

And now here we are — ready to celebrate with you.