Our love story began in the digital age, on a little app called Bumble, back in 2019. Neither of us really were expecting much - just seeing what was out there. Who knew that a few swipes would lead to a lifetime of love and laughter.
From the start, our connection was undeniable. We bonded over our shared values, love of family, Italian heritage and mutual love for all things food. It wasn't long before we discovered we had another passion in common - hockey. But there was a catch - one of us was a devoted Islanders fan and the other bled blue for the Rangers.
On our first date, we knew this was a relationship that was not going to be short lived. We spent over 8 hours in NYC (meeting between Long Island and New Jersey) eating, drinking, laughing and getting to know each other. Courtney knew Dean was the one when they went to a pizzeria for lunch, ordering Calamari Fritti as an appetizer, and he told her she could dip right in the sauce on the plate instead of trying to be proper and pour the sauce on her own. Dean knew Courtney was the one when she dropped arugula in her hair while eating pizza not realizing for minutes until he said something.
A bond that deepened our relationship was our mutual love and adoration for Stellina; some would say (Dean included) that Stellina is now a very big Daddy's girl and prefers him over Mommy (wrong!). Because of this bond, we decided to grow our fur-family by adopting Apollo in 2020. We are proud dog parents and our little furry ones quickly became a central part of our lives.
As we look back on our journey, from a fateful Bumble match in 2019 to building a life filled with love, laughter and shared dreams, we can't help but feel grateful for everything that brought us together. From New Jersey to Long lsland and back again, our bond has only grown stronger, fueled by our love for family, heritage, Stellina & Apollo and, of course, each other. Now, as we prepare to embark on the next chapter as husband and wife, we are filled with excitement for the future that awaits us. Together, we look forward to a lifetime of cherished memories, shared traditions, and unwavering love, knowing that the best is yet come.