In January of 2017, Julianna was home from college and the holidays had just passed. Her friend Sophia was showing her pictures from her new job's Christmas party at Savino's Hideaway. Julianna saw a picture of Joe and asked Sophia who it was. Not long after that, Sophia went to Joe at the request of Julianna to tell him that her friend thinks he's cute and would like to get to know him! She gave Joe her Instagram account and the two were introduced “digitally” on social media. Julianna reached out to Joe to start a conversation, the first of many. Soon after, they decided to meet, and at the end of February, their plans to meet were finally about to take place. The two went out to Coram Diner, and even though they’d just met, they immediately began talking about the serious topics - politics and religion, family, life goals, past hardships, and more. That night marked the start of the rest of Julianna and Joe’s lives.... even if they didn’t know it yet.

As months began to pass by, the two went on seeing each other, going to the beach, to concerts, hanging around and getting to know each other’s friends, all the while feeling the pull between them grow. On May 24th, 2017, they went on their first real “date” to Amicis' in Mt. Sinai where Joe intended to ask her to be his girlfriend. However, plans went awry when the romance was ruined by an invitation to an impromptu bonfire with friends back at the house. Feeling like the mission failed, Joe made sure to make the “official” designation happen on May 25 of 2017. Joe knew that what was right in front of him these last few months was someone truly special, someone who would change his life forever. Julianna had figured that out much earlier, but thank God for her patience!

It’s been four years and eight months since that day, and since then, Joe and Julianna have built a relationship oriented around God, around family, and around dedication to each other. They balance each other out, make each other laugh, and support each other through life’s biggest challenges. They have traveled to other countries together, have been part of momentous moments in life such as the weddings of friends, and have been through the ups and the downs together. Most importantly, they began building a foundation of faith together for their future by continuing to go to church and continuing to have the tough and important conversations, always navigating through them together.

In February of 2021, after 4 years of knowing each other and growing, Joe was finally going to ask Julianna's father Eddie for Julianna's hand in marriage. On a Figueroa family vacation to Florida, he was able to find the right time. Thus is history in the making...

On a sunny and warm Saturday in October of 2021, 8 months later, just two days before Julianna's birthday, Joe had planned it all out. They went out to Eastern Long Island for a day of fall activities, planned by Joe (which made Jules suspicious, since Joe never plans things!) They stopped at coffee shops and food trucks along the way, and eventually wound up at Harbe’s Farm. The place was definitely packed. Julianna went to the bathroom while Joe ran back to their parked car to get his "wallet". When the two met back up in the middle of the crowded lawn, Joe had a flyer in his hand for a scavenger hunt - find all the clues and win two free drinks at their vineyard. They decided to go for it, and as they worked their way around to each clue, Julianna noticed that nobody else of the hundreds of people around them had this purple-colored flyer in their hand.... weird. As they came to the last clue, they were led away from the bustle to a quiet sunflower field. Waiting for them down one of the aisles of sunflowers was a the little chest which, little did Julianna know, held her engagement ring. Joe got down on one knee and proposed. It was the moment they’d both been waiting for.

As we begin this blessed new year of 2022, we are so excited to be preparing for marriage. The love and support of all of you - our friends and family - continues to be a great blessing and gift in our life. We are so excited to have the chance to share this with you all and look forward to celebrating our wedding on September 1st, 2022!