It all began on a summer night at Leggetts, our favorite bar in Manasquan, NJ. Stephanie was standing in the corner with her friends, and Conner—clearly impressed—walked right up to compliment her handbag. It was a bold move, but a memorable one.

That summer, Conner's courtship consisted mostly of buying Stephanie… water. It took some time (and a lot of patience), but on August 5th, 2021, Stephanie finally agreed to go on a proper first date: dinner and mini golf. From that night on, things slowly began to take shape.

By early October 2021, we officially began dating. We spent the early days of our relationship in Hoboken, where Stephanie lived—sharing countless dinner dates, morning walks, and quiet moments that brought us closer together. Summers were reserved for Manasquan, where the beach became our backdrop and Leggetts our local landmark.

From the beginning, both of our families welcomed us with open arms. It felt like we had always been a part of each other’s lives. That deep family connection made the next step feel natural. With the support of Stephanie’s family, Conner asked for Mr. Sanczyk’s blessing while floating peacefully down the canals of Manasquan.

On October 25th, 2024, surrounded by the love and planning of our closest family and friends, Conner got down on one knee and asked Stephanie to marry him—on the beach in Manasquan, the very place where our story began. That evening, we celebrated with a surprise engagement party back at Leggetts, bringing everything full circle.

We can’t wait to start the next chapter of our lives—and we’re so grateful to have you as part of our story.