Rob and I met the modern way—on a dating app! After two weeks or so of consistent chatting and Facetiming (and maybe a little light stalking on social media), we decided to meet in person. Our first date on November 17, 2021, was a whirlwind adventure: Christmas shopping at the Gloucester Premium Outlets in Deptford, dominating arcade games at Dave & Buster's (okay, maybe just trying not to lose too badly says Amber), and capping it off with seeing the movie Eternals, because nothing says romance like superheroes saving the universe. Safe to say, sparks flew faster than a Marvel fight scene!

This was the first time (and definitely not last time) that Rob personally delivered lunch and flowers to Amber's job. He still likes to surprise her with roses to brighten up her day. Roses are her favorite flowers.

Robert surprised Amber and planned a date at the “Grounds for Sculpture” in Trenton, NJ during their Winter Wonderland Light Show. Funny as it sounds, Rat's Resturaunt on the premises had very good food being that Remy was cheffin it up in the back (sorry if that joke was Cheesy).
One of Amber's favorite memory from this date was how Robert could NOT pronounce Raspberry because he was so nervous . Rob always knew how to keep a smile on Amber's face.


Rob said, "I Love You" and Amber said "I Love You Too"

We kicked off our first Valentine's Day in the most unforgettable way—at a wedding! Robert had the honor of being the best man at his friend Terrell’s wedding, which just so happened to fall on the same day. Amber chose a stunning satin emerald dress for the occasion. Coincidentally, this is Rob and Amber's signature wedding color. We spent the day celebrating love, culminating in a delicious dinner in Philadelphia. The next morning, we savored a cozy brunch at Green Eggs Cafe to cap off the perfect week.

Amber always dreamed of having a dog, promising herself that once she moved out and had the time and money, she’d make it happen. Initially, she and Rob agreed to wait until after they were married to get a dog—but fate (and Amber’s scrolling habits) had other plans. 


One day, Amber was browsing on “KeyStone Puppies” and stumbled upon a six-month-old apricot toy poodle named Loyal and instantly declared, “That’s our son.” His cuteness was unmatched, and Amber couldn’t let him slip away. When she called the owner, they mentioned another family had expressed interest, but no deposit had been made. Amber, determined not to lose him, offered to pay in full immediately. After a nail-biting hour waiting for confirmation, the owner gave the green light. 


Without hesitation, Amber and Rob geared up for the adventure, stopping by Petco before driving two hours to Gap, PA, to meet their new family member. Jasper (formerly Loyal) was even more adorable in person—albeit slightly bigger than expected. Amber scooped him up, and they headed home, showering him with love as he shook and whimpered on the ride. 


The debate over his name didn’t last long. While Rob wanted to name him Luffy after the *One Piece* character, Amber suggested Jasper, inspired by his glittering fur and her love of precious stones. Jasper it was. 


Once home, Jasper made a memorable first impression. Refusing to go potty during breaks outside, he instead christened their apartment carpet with an impressive welcome gift. Despite that, it was love at first sight, and Jasper has been their precious son ever since!

Robert was REALLY now apart of the family when he was invited on a small family vacation with the Washingtons' to Virginia Beach! Jasper even tagged along and found out he hates sand and the beach lol. This was also our first road trip together. Robert drove and Amber was the passenger princess. We made a mini stop in Richmond, VA to hang out with his Aunt Jackie and do some sight seeing!

Amber's Perspective

Rob deserves an award for his top-tier sneakiness when it came to proposing! For months, he had me completely fooled about his plans to pop the question. Apparently, half the world (or so it felt) was in on it, and no one slipped up. The big day was disguised as a "Mother's Day Photo Day" at Longwood Gardens. Rob even told me weeks in advance that he couldn’t make it because he had to help his mom with something important. Naturally, I was disappointed—how could he miss out on photos with me and my family on such a special day? Little did I know, he had something *much* bigger in mind.

On the day, my family and I all wore pink (my favorite color) and headed to the gardens. There, we "accidentally" bumped into Rob’s friends, Josh and Avi, who just *happened* to have professional camera gear and graciously offered to take our photos. I thought nothing of it, even texting Rob about how nice it was to see his friends helping out. Little did I know, these "helpful photographers" were part of his master plan.

At one point, Josh and Avi suggested taking solo shots of me. I initially declined but gave in when they insisted it would be quick. Facing away from the cameras, I had no clue my family and friends were assembling behind me—or that Rob was sneaking into position. They finally told me to turn around, but I thought they meant over my shoulder, not a full spin. There was Rob, down on one knee, calling my name while I *still* thought he was in South Jersey helping his mom.

When I finally turned all the way around, my brain short-circuited. First, I was annoyed—how dare he skip helping his mom? Then it clicked—this wasn’t just a "photo day." It was *the* moment. I burst into tears when I saw my family and friends behind him, phones out, laughing at my 900 facial expressions as I pieced it all together.

Of course, I said yes to becoming Mrs. Elliott. And honestly, I’m still impressed he kept that secret so well! I felt bamboozled but in the best way.

Our journey to becoming a two-dog household happened so unexpectedly. It all started when Amber was getting her nails done at a salon she’d been visiting for years. During her appointment, the store owner casually asked if she’d like another dog—a Shiba Inu. At first, Amber declined, explaining that she already had Jasper, our beloved toy poodle. But the owner mentioned that the dog would be free because he and his wife had too many and needed to find new homes for some of them. Intrigued, Amber said she’d consider it after discussing it with Rob, especially since a Shiba Inu was a breed Rob had always dreamed of owning someday. 


The owner suggested bringing the dog to the salon another day so Amber and Rob could meet him and decide. Amber agreed, then let Rob know about the possibility. But to her surprise, when her nails were done, the owner handed her the puppy right then and there! Placing the tiny Shiba Inu in her arms, he told her to take him home and see if it worked out. If not, she could always bring him back. 


Amber called Rob with an unexpected, “Surprise!” While Rob was understandably upset at first—bringing a second dog into our apartment wasn’t part of the plan—everything changed when he came home from work. The puppy ran straight to Rob, showering him with kisses and curling up in his lap while Rob played PlayStation. That sweet moment melted his heart. 


Rob was still hesitant about committing to another dog so soon, but he suggested giving it a few days to see if we could find the puppy another home. If no one could take him, then he’d be ours. We reached out to friends and family, but deep down, we knew what we wanted. Three or four days later, with no takers, we made it official: Choji was staying with us. 


Named after a beloved character from *Naruto*—Rob’s favorite anime—Choji has fit right into our little family. Even Jasper adores him! Now, we’re proud parents to two amazing fur-babies. Life’s a bit crazier, but it’s also a whole lot more fun.