Our story starts on the island of Guam, where James was stationed with the Coast Guard and Esther was working in property management. Life on a small island has a funny way of bringing people together, and we first crossed paths through CrossFit Latte Stone, where James was coaching.

It wasn’t until the pandemic that we actually started talking, and in the middle of all that craziness, we found something steady in each other. Our first date was on July 3, 2020, at Crust Pizzeria Napoletana—and it’s still one of our favorite memories. That’s the night Esther discovered James’s “bougie” side when he made comments about the fingerprints on his wine glass like he was some kind of wine connoisseur (spoiler: he’s not!).

Not long after, James bought his first home on Guam, and Esther—being the property management pro—helped him through it all. Working on that together brought us closer and really laid the foundation for what was to come.

When James got orders back to California, he was stationed in San Francisco at the Coast Guard Training Center as an instructor. Our relationship kept growing, and during that time, Esther made the big decision to leave Guam and start fresh too.

In 2023, Esther joined the U.S. Coast Guard and actually ended up going through training at the same training center where James was stationed. At the same time, James was working toward advancing to Chief Petty Officer. The timing lined up perfectly, and when transfer season came, we were both able to get orders to Maryland together.

The Proposal

Our proposal wasn’t a big, flashy event—and that’s exactly what we wanted. We’ve always kept things simple, and the moment reflected that.

What made it so meaningful was the ring. James’s grandmother passed down the ring that his grandfather had given her on their 25th wedding anniversary. It’s an heirloom we’ll cherish and honor forever. Carrying that history and love made the proposal feel extra special. It was quiet, it was us, and it meant the world.

The Ceremony

When we got our PCS orders to Maryland, we didn’t realize just how special this move would be. On

September 1, 2025, we celebrated a private ceremony at Christ the King Catholic Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland, where we exchanged vows in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.

James’s mom did the readings, which made the day even more special. The first was from

Ruth 1:16–17, where Ruth says to Naomi: “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Those words beautifully echoed the promises we made to one another at the altar.

The second was from Colossians 3:12–17, reminding us to “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Hearing those words spoken over our marriage grounded the day in faith and gave us a guide for how we want to live out our vows every day.

It was simple, intimate, and full of joy. Even though it was just us, it felt like the perfect beginning to this next chapter. Maryland may just be another duty station on paper, but to us, it will always be part of our love story.

We’re so thankful for this day, for each other, and for the journey ahead.