Julia and Ilan met through mutual friends many moons ago, 2011 to be exact. Their friends Morgan and Tyler who are also siblings invited Julia and Ilan on their family vacation. Tyler and Ilan had just graduated high school while Morgan and Julia were entering their sophomore year of high school. Everyone was hanging out by the pool at the hotel and Julia and Ilan became inseparable, but not in the way you think. During those next 3 years, they were the best of friends. Hanging out for movie nights, friendly lunch and dinner dates, they were there for each other through thick and thin.

Yet during those three years, there were feelings growing within their friendship. Julia had "friend-zoned" Ilan twice during their friendship. It wasn't until Julia's last month of high school she thought, "Why not give it a shot?". I guess third times a charm is true! They have been together ever since. They've been together throughout college, law school and grad school. They've been there for each other during the happiest of times and the worst of times. They are each other's best friends and soul mates.

During their years of being a couple, they have always talked about the possibility of marriage, where they would love, and what kind of life they want to work towards together. Julia was definitely starting to drop major hints about getting engaged within 1-2 years, yet they both agreed they would wait until Ilan was done with law school. But, he had a plan in the making for almost 2 years at this point...

Julia started her first year as a teacher teaching second grade at an elementary school the next town over from them. Julia loves her students tremendously. They both even went to see some of their sports games throughout the school year! In January, Julia's brother Brandon was planning to take "leave" come home for a week in March from the Marines. Ilan, Julia, and her parents knew he was trying to come home. Julia was even working with her school principal to have him come in to read to her students!

So one day in January, Ilan decided to start making moves on this proposal that would change their lives for the better. Ilan called Julia's school principal asking permission to propose to her in the classroom in front of her students. Her principal loved the idea and was completely on board! The plan was to use Brandon as the decoy while Ilan would propose to Julia after he read to the class.

Fast forward to March and Brandon got the green light to come home! Julia and her father went to the airport after school on a Thursday to pick up Brandon. While they left, Ilan, the principal, and the camera crew (shout out to Justin!) were scoping out the classroom for the perfect spot to ask a very important question. The next day, Julia taught her class as usual. At the end of the school day, Brandon came to the class with Ilan, the camera crew for "class pictures", the school principal and the school nurse. They all read together, asked questions about Brandon, and his Marine Corps life in California. Then it was time for class photos!

First the students went to the front of the room with Brandon, then Julia, the principal, the nurse and finally Ilan. This was the moment where their lives changed! Ilan got down on one knee and the students went crazy because their teacher Ms. Funcheon was now becoming Mrs. Danon :)