It all started with Craigslist - it's not as creepy as it sounds, promise. I was heading into junior year of college and needed a summer job. I was determined to make this summer one for the books - boy, was that an understatement. I applied online, interviewed and got the job. I was a hostess, he was a food runner (I'm pretty sure he was a bus boy, but he insists otherwise), and the next thing I knew he was sitting in between cousin Pete and me at my family reunion. Yes, you heard that right - the first time he had the pleasure of meeting my Grandma, he also had the pleasure of meeting all 75+ of her relatives. While some may have refused to attend the family reunion of a person they had only been seeing for a few short months, not this guy. He was fearless. In it to win it - even with the mediocre haircut I made him get an hour before (El, again, I'm sorry).

Almost ten years later, we're in our very own dining room, surrounded by pictures and artwork of family and friends, designing our wedding website. We have no idea how we got here or where time has gone, but WOW, are we grateful. When I reflect on the past ten years, not only do I think about how neither iPhones or Instagram existed, but I also reflect on how Elliot and I have evolved as individuals and as a couple. God knows we are far from perfect and have a ways to go in many aspects, but I must say it is pretty cool to know that you've found "your person".

I'll spare you all sappiness (for now) as we all know I could go on forever, but if you're reading this you know darn well how excited, honored, and over the moon I am that this loving, hilarious, beyond perfect guy is stuck with me forever - he's simply the best and I'm one lucky lady. Huge thanks to all of you for your support throughout the years, we'll see you on the dancefloor.

Annie will tell you I was rude at first, only heading to the host stand to ask for the final reservation count. The truth is I'm about as suave as a door knob and it was the only excuse I had to talk to her. Clearly I made an impression and before I knew it we were passing notes back and forth, spending every night after work talking about anything and everything, and challenging each other to "Word of the Day" - we'd each pick a word and the other person would have to use at least 3 times before the day was done. Lame, I know, but at some point between Mike's Pastries and the dictionary, I realized this girl was one-of-a-kind, completely different than anyone I had ever met, and I had to call her mine.

Everyone who meets Annie experiences the automatic warm, caring, as-if-she's-known-you-forever, type of vibe. At first it may seem to good to be true, but once one gets to know Annie, you realize her genuine, humble, caring nature has no limits. She amazes me daily with her thoughtfulness and willingness to give, and has taught me more than I ever expected.

Nearly ten years later, here we are. She still tells me I make terrible jokes, but laughs at all of them - and when I say laugh, I mean LAUGH. Her driving is some of the scariest I've seen, but there's nobody I'd rather share a front seat with. Never did I ever think I'd let a girl tweeze my eyebrows or attack my face with a comedone extractor (look it up), but by now I'm numb to the pain of both so it's not so bad. Where each of us is imperfect, the other makes up for it; she's the yin to my yang. Over the years we've learned the value of communication, honesty, patience, and laughter. We have learned the importance of each not only in our own relationship, but in all of our relationships. There's no doubt we still have tons to learn and challenges to overcome, but we're ready to take it all head on together and can't wait for you all to be there on day one.