Smithtown Landing Wedding | Erica Camille photography

LGBTQ wedding at smithtown landing

Updated May 27, 2025

A long-distance leap, a first date in NYC, and a connection that changed everything

At the time, I was pouring my heart into a blog called MySilentHalf, writing about my coming out journey in a conservative Midwestern town. The response was overwhelming—I was getting hundreds of emails a day, many from people sharing their own stories, their pain, and their hope. I couldn’t read them all alone, so I asked friends to help. But I made sure every letter got read. It mattered.

One of those emails came from Sam.

Something about her story stopped me. I read it myself and felt an immediate pull. I wrote back. What followed was weeks of conversation—thoughtful, curious, honest. When I had a job interview in New York, I asked her if she’d meet me for a date.

It was our last first date.

The connection was instant. We both knew it was a little wild, but we decided to try long-distance. And we did—until I moved to New York. I didn’t end up getting that job… but I did get the girl.