Our Story
Vincent and Emma met in April of 2021 when Emma was studying French at the University of Strasbourg in a semester program that began in January 2021. Vincent was finishing his last years of med school at the University of Strasbourg as well, but we actually met through a dating application.
We continued our relationship long-distance when Emma moved to Charlottesville, Virginia for her Master’s degree at UVA in September, 2021. In October, Vincent defended his dissertation on pediatric anesthesiology and became an official Doctor of Medicine (MD-PhD)!
In the Fall of 2022, Emma spent another semester in France as part of her Master’s degree, this time in Lyon, and travelled every weekend to see Vincent in Strasbourg. She even brought her cat, Arlo, to live in France! Vincent began working as a resident anesthesiologist in November, 2022.
In May 2023, Emma graduated from the University of Virginia with her Master’s in European Studies and Historic Preservation. In August 2023, Emma relocated to France for her first job in France as an English language assistant in an elementary school. Vincent continued working as an anesthesiologist in the orthopedic surgery unit and digestive surgery unit.
Vincent proposed to Emma in March 2024. We had an intimage civil wedding ceremony on May 3, 2024 at the town hall in Vincent’s childhood village of Hangenbieten in the presence of a few close family members and friends.
We are now focused on finding our future home together and plan to buy a house in the next 1-2 years! We are excited about what the future holds and we hope to see many of you in the future in France. Most of all, we are thankful for the support of you, our family members and friends, during this time in our lives!
2021
When we first met, France still had strict COVID-19 regulations including a 5pm curfew! Thanks to a dating app, we were still able to meet and our first date was a hike and drinks on his terrace. Our second date was playing lawn games and cards in a public park - thanks to very few restaurants being open. Eventually, France loosened its restrictions and we were able to go on a few traditional dates in restaurants. To this day, we like to “thank COVID” for bringing us together.
This photo is from June, 2021 during a trip to Corsica. We rented a car and explored the towns of Ajjaccio, Bonifacio, Sartène, and Porto Vecchio. Emma returned to the USA in July to prepare for her move to Charlottesville, Virginia to pursue her Master’s degree at UVA. In October, Vincent successfully defended his dissertation on pediatric anesthesiology and became an official Doctor of Medicine (MD-PhD)!
2022
We got through many months of long-distance thanks to frequently traveling to see each other. Vincent’s first trip to the USA was in March for Emma’s birthday. We rented a camper van and drove from San Francisco to Los Angeles along the Pacific Coast Highway. This picture was taken on a sunset hike in Griffth Park in Los Angeles.
Emma spent the summer traveling the south of France with a group of professors and graduate students from the University of Virginia. Vincent joined the group at the end of the trip and we traveled throughout the south of France together visiting Provence and the Cote d’Azur. Emma continued her studies in the fall in Lyon, France until January 2023. While in Lyon, Emma traveled frequently back to Strasbourg to spend time with Vincent and her cat, Arlo, whom she brought with her from the US.
In November, Vincent became a chief resident at the hospital where he continues to work as an anesthesiologist.
2023
2023 was a very exciting year! Emma defended her MA thesis on French chateaux and graduated from the University of Virginia in May. She celebrated with Vincent, Susan, Mitchell, Elliot, and Nina at the OMNI Homestead Resort and Spa in Virginia. In June, Emma and Vincent took a trip together to Texas and camped in Big Bend National Park.
In August, Emma relocated permanently to France and began working as an English language assistant teacher in a bilingual elementary school. Vincent continued working as an anesthesiologist at the main hospital of Strasbourg.
Here we are pictured in Paris in January 2023, where we found two businesses next to each other - Chez Vincent and Chez Emma. We of course took this as a sign that we are meant to be together!
2024
It has been another exciting year for us! We love married life and are excited for our future together.
This summer we traveled together in France visiting friends and family in La Dordogne, Bordeaux, Sospel, Menton, Monaco, Nice, Grasse, and Provence. We are looking forward to a few months spent at home before we travel to the US again for the wedding of close friends, Rachel and Matt, in Philadelphia in November.
Here we are pictured at the Bordeux Wine Festival in June 2024, cheers-ing to our future together as husband and wife!