I Do!: Jonathan Pollino and Doug Kupferman

COVID brought Jonathan Pollino and Doug Kupferman together — literally.

Pollino, an assistant principal at a New York City public school, and Kupferman, an administrator in special education, said they were both homebound and recovering from the virus in December 2021 when they matched through a location-based dating app. While both are Long Island natives, at the time Pollino lived in Astoria, Queens, and Kupferman was in New Jersey.

For their first date, they watched a movie via Zoom. They spent the rest of their quarantine getting to know each other, and when they finally met in person at Sweet Afton restaurant in Astoria, there was an instant bond.

“We felt an immediate, deep connection,” said Pollino, 33. “It was during the tail end of social distancing, with restaurant restrictions still in place. Doug insisted we have brunch outside, even though it was January and the middle of winter. We sat there; I was wearing gloves as he ate, and we talked for hours.”

Early in their relationship, Kupferman had made it clear that Pollino would be the one to propose. “We have to play to our own strengths,” Kupferman, 38, said.

Since they spent their summers on Fire Island, Pollino decided to propose on the beach there on Aug. 12, 2023. He then surprised Kupferman with a celebration at their rental house with family and friends.

The couple got married Aug. 3 at the TWA Hotel at Kennedy Airport, with 191 guests in attendance.

“We were married under the Solari board in the Sunken Lounge and partied the night away in the Constellation Ballroom, where we brought in lighting specialists and entertainment to really make the space pop,” Pollino said.

As Pollino is a world traveler who has visited more than 45 countries, their hope is to take a more extensive international trip next summer. For now, the newlyweds live in Pollino’s co-op in Astoria and said they look forward to purchasing a home on Long Island next year.