Our story begins at a very authentic Mexican restaurant: Aqui. Well maybe the food isn’t that authentic but the memories sure are.

Lauren was in San Jose for a girls weekend having been invited by her best friend Carli. Aqui– being the home to the famed Swirl beverage– was a much anticipated stop on the weekend’s agenda. The girls set out for a night of fun and as a last minute addition, Eileen invited her roommate Tommy to tag along.

We know what you’re thinking… Swirls and Chips and Salsa? This is the setup for a magnanimous love story. Well you would be wrong…

Tommy left that meal thinking Lauren was too mild tempered for his liking while Lauren regarded him as loud and obnoxious. There was no falling in love that evening– only Tommy’s chair falling into the mud. And to the tune of “Go Loko”, they went their separate ways.

Until the next day that is. Sunday Funday at the Campbell House– an age old tradition. Even though Lauren had caught the eye of another suitor, Tommy had finally entered the game, going so far as to discourage the other man from asking her out.

Funny enough, their relationship truly blossomed when Lauren’s car window unexpectedly shattered. Mister fixit Tommy came to her aid giving his expert opinion that the window was indeed, broken. But it was this situation that inspired Tommy to reach out to Lauren a few days later.

“Did you get your window fixed?” A loving message to start a love story. And just one month later Tommy would roll the dice in Las Vegas, asking Lauren to be his girlfriend. The obnoxious man had become charming to the mild tempered girl who was suddenly captivating.

Two years passed and their love grew, highlighted by traveling, moving in together, and raising the "357 Zoo"- Winston the St. Bernard, the 2 hairless guinea pigs, hermit crabs, frogs, turtles, and fish! And then in September of 2022 they made their way to Key West Florida, the setting of Tommy’s grand proposal. Even though Lauren chose the pink dress instead of the white and even though a fish had bitten off one of her painted nails (on the right hand thankfully), Tommy got down on one knee and she said yes!

And now we invite all of you to witness the continuation of this story– may there be many more memories to share.

Registry