Sal & Amanda met on April 7, 2012 at Amanda's 28th Birthday Party in San Francisco. Amanda had just moved to Santa Clara for a job and her friends decided to throw her a birthday party in the city. She hesitated to have a birthday party for fear that no one would turn up, but her friends assured her that they knew a few people and would tell them to invite a few more people. To Amanda's surprise when she turned up to her birthday party it was the largest number of people she had ever had at a birthday party. Turns out partying with strangers is awesome!

About an hour in to the party a tall, dark, & handsome stranger walked into the room. Their eyes met and he smiled at her as if asking permission to come and sit beside her. She smiled back silently in acceptance. They began to talk as strangers do but realized quickly that there was a spark. They spoke of their dreams, ambitions, and hopes for the future.

Amanda was supposed to take a Travel Nurse assignment in San Diego a few weeks after meeting Sal. The day before she was was supposed to leave she received a phone call saying the assignment had been canceled and the hospital no longer needed her. She was upset for a few minutes but then decided it was a "sign" to stay in San Francisco and see where things went with Sal.

From the beginning Sal and Amanda have shared an enthusiasm for traveling, food, culture, and adventure around every corner. During their 5 years together they have been on many adventures together.

In 2012, they took their first international trip together to Cabo San Lucas. After 6 months together, Amanda invited Sal to Tennessee to experience southern hospitality and meet her parents. Later that year Sal was invited to interview for a job in Shanghai, China which he later turned down.

In 2013, Sal started a new job so he didn't have much time for traveling. Amanda went to Hawaii for 3 weeks to visit a friend and hopped down to San Diego for a girls weekend. They spent the rest of the year exploring Northern California including Tahoe, Mendocino, Napa, Calistoga, and Sonoma.

In 2014, Amanda turned 30 and they traveled in Europe for the first time together. They were able to see London, Italy (Cinque Terre, Pisa, Sicily, Lucca), & many beautiful parts of Switzerland. Sal had to leave the trip early to go back to work but Amanda traveled solo for another 2 weeks covering Paris, Lyon, St. Goar, Munich, Monaco, Nice, Amsterdam and many more. Later that year, Sal and his sister Adriana went to The World Cup in Brazil where they were able to see lots of amazing sights.

In 2015, Sal & Amanda were able to embark on their biggest journey so far. They packed up their bags and put the rest in storage and said goodbye to friends and family to move to London (or Woking...close enough). Since moving abroad they have been able to travel quite often seeing Finland, Austria, Belgium,Iceland, France,Italy (every summer), Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, & Spain.

While the idea of this lifestyle seems exotic and dreamlike they have both realized how the road less traveled can be lonely at times. They have leaned on each other through these past 2 years when there was simply no one else around.Their love for each other has grown and they are both looking forward to the path that God has in store for them next.

Aside from traveling Sal & Amanda both share a love of cooking, arguing (usually over food preparation), coffee, cookies, writing, music, and reflection. Who would have thought that God made a southern girl from Tennessee for an Italian American boy from California? Probably no one! They are yin & yang. One is quiet when the other is loud. One is awake when the other is asleep. One is calm when the other is frantic. One cooks when the other is lazy. They realize that no one will ever give 100% because they don't have to! They pick up the slack for each other when needed creating a continuous flow.

We are so excited to share our story and for you to join us on our wedding day as we profess our love to one another! See you in Charleston! SalAmanda