We like to say we officially met in Staten Island July 2020 during COVID at a backyard party hosted by a mutual friend. But the truth is, we’d been orbiting each other for years, unknowingly attending the same parties and events. It wasn’t until that one night, when John (mid-conversation interruption and all) walked up to Julia, that our real conversation began — and we haven’t stopped talking since.

Our first date was unforgettable to say the least. John did his homework (with help from his friend) and chose Cole’s Dockside, a local Staten Island favorite. What he didn’t plan for was the monsoon-level rain. We ended up seated outside under a tent with no waitress in sight — but we didn’t even notice the time fly. John spent most of the date holding up the tent pole to keep us dry, which honestly just set the tone for how he always shows up, even in a storm. Since then, we’ve shared countless memories — baseball games (thanks to John’s unwavering Mets obsession), family vacations, graduations, and adopting our perfect pup, Jax, in January 2021. For a while, we were sharing custody and shuttling him between houses until we finally moved into our first apartment together in September 2023, in Staten Island.

The proposal happened on what seemed like a normal Saturday. After breakfast at one of our go-to spots, we came home to a fully decorated apartment — a total surprise, lovingly set up by our moms and one of John’s sisters. Julia was holding a breakfast burrito in one hand and sobbing into the other. It was the most perfect moment, made even more special by the fact that it happened in our first home with Jax by our side.

After almost five years together, we’re so excited to take this next step. Julia loves John’s ambition, motivation, and endlessly caring heart — and we both feel incredibly lucky to have found a love that feels like home.