OUR STORY
In the summer of 2016, Tara returned to San Jose after her freshman year of college and started working as a hostess at Mo’s The Breakfast and Burger Joint in Almaden. Six weeks later, Parker joined the host team, and the two met for the first time. That last month of that summer was filled with shifts spent chit-chatting by the soda machine, cracking jokes at the host stand, and handing out ridiculously long wait times to try to deter people from dining in the overly packed restaurant. As late August rolled around, Tara headed back to UCF while Parker stayed in San Jose.
Fast forward to 2018 — Parker was working in tech sales in South San Francisco, and Tara had just graduated and returned to the Bay Area. She began coaching the Leland High School cheer team, where, coincidentally, both their younger sisters were cheerleaders. This twist of fate rekindled their friendship, and every so often, they would spend some time together. A year later, Tara moved to San Francisco for work right around the time Parker was also relocating. By sheer luck (or fate), they ended up living just two doors down from each other.
When the world shut down in March 2020, their time together became more frequent, and before they knew it, they were dating. But with Tara’s plans to move to NYC that June, they assumed it would be short-lived. As she packed up her yellow bugcar and prepared to drive cross-country, she asked Parker to join her, fully expecting that two weeks crammed in a tiny car would be the ultimate relationship test...one they surely wouldn’t pass. Turns out, they couldn’t have been more wrong. They decided to make long distance work for eight months before Parker moved to NYC to be with her.
In the past five years, they’ve moved to two different states, lived in five apartments, traveled to seven countries together, and have navigated more layoffs, job changes, and career pivots than they can count — all while growing more in love every step of the way.
Those who know them well know that while Tara thrives in chaos, Parker is happiest just enjoying the ride. They couldn’t be more different, and yet, more perfect for one another. Their love has grown with every adventure, and now, they’re about to embark on the greatest one yet, marriage!