Chris and Brad M. Snyder’s relationship began under unconventional circumstances on New Year’s Eve shortly after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Their initial encounter—a fleeting romantic connection at a TriBeCa loft party—was marked by uncertainty and guarded emotions. Chris, who had once contemplated a vocation as a Jesuit priest, told Brad they would likely remain strangers by morning. Yet, a week later, they shared a highly charged one-night stand that evolved into a series of dates.

Chris grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as the second of four sons in a working-class family. He attended Harvard University for his undergraduate studies and later earned a law degree from Yale. Aside from his academic achievements, Chris was deeply religious, singing baritone in a church choir and wrestling with his future between the priesthood and law.

For Brad, whose formative years were shaped by his parents’ divorce and related fears about relationships, Chris’s initial reluctance was both freeing and intriguing. However, the couple’s early days were shadowed by Brad’s longstanding apprehensions about commitment and loss.

The relationship came under strain after a screening of the romantic comedy “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Chris, Italian by heritage, found the film’s portrayal of ethnic stereotypes objectionable. His disapproval of Brad’s laughter during the movie escalated into distancing behavior. Shortly after, Chris ceased responding to Brad’s calls and messages, effectively ending their relationship without explanation.

This break-up reinforced Brad’s fears about abandonment, echoing his childhood experiences. However, nearly two years later, Chris unexpectedly reached out. The rekindling began with a dinner in Alphabet City and gradually led to Chris moving in with Brad. Despite lingering insecurities that at times prompted Brad to surveil Chris’s online activity and journal entries, the relationship endured.

Over time, therapy and ongoing communication helped Brad confront his fears, particularly the belief that his romantic experiences were destined to mirror his parents’ divorce. Chris’s return and commitment challenged that narrative.

More than a decade after their first meeting, the couple expanded their family through surrogacy, welcoming a daughter named Emma and later a son, Caleb. In a ceremony following a Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, they formalized their union surrounded by their children.

Their journey, spanning from initial hesitancy and breakups to co-parenting and marriage, illustrates the complexities and perseverance often involved in forging lasting relationships. Despite early doubts and challenges, Chris and Brad continue to navigate life together as a family.