One day, a mutual friend of ours decided we should meet. Melissa wasn't looking for anything serious, but upon first interaction, James knew that he wanted something more.

There were some hiccups, but we remained friends. Eventually, that friendship turned into a lunch and a hike in Sedona where we decided we should go on an official first date. And that's the story!

...just kidding...

Our first date was beautiful. Picture this - New Year's Eve 2017, 5-course dinner reservations at the Compass Grill, followed by drinks with friends at Valley Bar and Seamus, until we finally called it a night before staying up talking until sunrise. Neither of us could stop smiling and didn't want the night to end.

It didn't take long before we talked about our future desires; whether marriage was on the table, if we wanted children, etc. Not long after that we exchanged our first of endless "I love yous".

Before we knew it, we were moving in together after two years of dating. We learned how to talk with each other, how to heal each other, how to communicate, and how to give space. Most of all, we learned how to truly love each other and ourselves as we developed a strong partnership.

Neither of us had ever felt a love and bond so strong - we were both best friends and lovers at the same time, never hiding a thing from one another and never shaming each other. It was kismet, it was alliance, it was alignment. Even through the toughest times such as the loss of a parent or personal health changes, we thrived.

It was clear what we both wanted in life, and it was forever.

Fast forward to April 2023, after a much-anticipated college graduation and over five years of a blossoming relationship, there was a surprise engagement!

Now here we are - ready to enter into the next chapter of our adventure and we can't imagine doing so without every single one of you.

M&J

Wedding Day

4:00 PM–4:30 PM

4:00 PM–4:30 PM

Ceremony

5:00 PM–10:00 PM

5:00 PM–10:00 PM

Reception