Our Story
In 2021, Mel and Jacob were sophomores at Villanova University living one floor apart in Sullivan (Sully) Hall. Through mutual interest in tennis and involvement in Greek life, their worlds became smaller and smaller until they finally met through mutual friends. Over the course of the year, they spent hours in each others’ rooms chatting, studying, watching reality TV, and of course, spilling tea. Over the Summer of 2022, Mel and Jacob spent hours talking on the phone while working remote summer internships, and upon returning for their Junior year, Jacob asked Mel to his fraternity formal “as friends”… and so it began. After having a BLAST at the formal, Jacob finally asked Mel on a date. But not just any date, because that is not the Jacob Delancy way. They went to drinks at Morgan’s pier in downtown Philly and had dinner on the Moshulu boat. Jacob asked Mel to be his girlfriend on 11/11/2021 with an edible arrangement (which is still funny to them years later).
Mel and Jacob went on their first international trip in spring of 2022, when Mel was studying abroad. They spent an entire week on the Amalfi coast, where they went to an Italian wine tasting and cooking class. One year later, Jacob shipped a few bottles into the US for valentines day, and we're so excited to have our last bottle at our rehearsal dinner. Mel and Jacob graduated from Villanova in may of 2023, spent 1.5 years of post-grad first jobs in a long distance relationship, and Jacob accepted a job at United airlines in Chicago in November 2024.
One of their favorite things to do together is take a spontaneous trip on Jacob's standby benefits. A common expression in their apartment every Friday is "this weekend we'll either stay in or go to Rome," and they wouldn't have it any other way. Over the last two years, they've explored 10 new countries on three different continents, sprinted to countless gates, and found themselves in Polaris business class WAY too many times. They have SO many favorite trips, but some superlatives go to Japan (where we got engaged!), the Philippines, Italy (Como and Maggiore), Munich, Paris, and South Africa. In the last few years, outside of traveling and getting engaged, they have skydived, spent lots of time with family and friends, and taken up some hobbies that selfishly, really improve their relationship. Mel learned how to make sourdough and Jacob has built SO many awesome pieces of furniture for their little (700sq ft) 1B1B apartment in Chicago (including a full bar and sourdough baking station)! They are so excited to keep living life to the fullest while saying "yes" as often as possible. They absolutely cannot wait to start their forever with you!