Our hope is that family and friends enjoy reading about our love story as we take you all on a quick stroll down memory lane. We hope it fills your hearts with just as much love and joy as it does ours.

It all started with a couple of kids who grew up in the same neighborhood. We met as children; from our understanding, at the age of five and six years. Our parents lived right across the street from one another. Little did we know that a simple introduction would turn into a lifelong friendship. We’ve been childhood friends for over twenty years now. To this day, our parents remain right across the street from one another. To think, throughout the past twenty years, we would end up choosing each other to spend the rest of our lives together. As we look back at the past, we wouldn’t have changed one thing nor would we have wanted it to happen any other way.

Neither of us attended the same school, highschool or college. We simply only knew each other as the “kids next door”. Growing up we would play outside together with our siblings and our neighbors. We were all around the same age group, which was likely the reason we all got along so well. We were just a group of kids having fun and spending time together, making memories and creating bonds. As kids, we were simply having the time of our lives!

Our paths would only cross when we would go outside to play for a couple of hours during the weekend. Throughout the years, it was every weekend that we would encounter each other. Although we did not see each other everyday, we always put in effort to keep our friendship “up to date”. If not for the effort we put in as kids, we honestly would not be where we are today.

Throughout the years we lived very different lives. As we got older, we did not see much of each other during our highschool or college years. In fact, we saw a lot less of each other while in college due to the fact that Justin remained local while I went to school out of state. Regardless of our location, we always found a way to reconnect throughout the years. It wasn’t until the beginning of the year 2020 that we both decided to take into consideration the thought of becoming more than friends. What did we have to lose? Only twenty plus years of friendship!

Fast forward to our mid-twenties, we decided to dive deeper and discover more about each other than we have ever before. It started with a “first date” to Big Bear Lake and on our first date we shared our “first kiss”. Sparks flew which led to our second date. Our second date landed us at a drive-in movie theater and the rest was history! After creating more memories and sharing more moments together, we knew that what we shared together was special and unique. We agreed that if we couldn’t share it with each other then we wouldn’t want to share it with anyone else.

The year 2020; “The Year of Coronavirus”, was not a pleasant year for most people to say the least. However, 2020 introduced a new beginning for the both of us. We discovered a new happiness within ourselves and because we found that happiness within ourselves, we found true happiness together. Looking back on that year, we can’t help but think how blessed we were for the year 2020. We both thank God for that year, we not only found ourselves but we found each other. So far, we have been extremely blessed and are looking forward to so much more!

We dated for exactly one year before we were certain we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. On August 6, 2021, Justin got down on one knee at the exact location he took me on our very first date, Big Bear Lake. It was there that he asked to spend the rest of our lives together. It was a moment both of us will hold near and dear to our hearts. A memory that we know for certain, will last forever.

Justin and I are so excited for what the future has to offer. We can not wait to say “I Do” on May 4, 2024 in one of the most beautiful islands of the world, Turks & Caicos. On one of our biggest adventures yet, we hope to see all of our loved ones; family and friends, share that special moment with us and witness the beginning of the rest of our lives. It will be a memory that will last a lifetime!

We can’t wait to celebrate our big day with you! Your presence is more than enough, but if you’d like to give a gift we’d be overjoyed with a contribution towards our honeymoon fund! Monetary gifts through Zelle would be greatly appreciated. It can be sent to Melanie at (909)725-6224