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Michael & Raffaella

December 6, 2025 • Chicago, Illinois, United States

Michael & Raffaella

December 6, 2025 • Chicago, Illinois, United States

Our Story

Michael and Raffaella's story starts with a leap of faith, when Raffaella relocated from southern Italy to Houston, Texas for work in 2020. While both working for the same employer, they knew of each but never had much interaction. However, after spending time together at events through mutual friends (Hi, Randy!), their interest in each other was apparent. During their first date, there was an immediate connection. Over the next months, Michael and Raffaella's relationship quickly grew. Enjoy our love story!

Our famous date-not-date. If you don't know the story, you'll have to ask about it at the wedding!

February 24, 2023

Our famous date-not-date. If you don't know the story, you'll have to ask about it at the wedding!
Our crazy decision to book a trip together weeks into dating... no regrets! It was an amazing extended weekend in Sedona, Arizona discovering more about each other and fulfilling our passion of experiencing the beautiful sights and cultures our world has to offer!

May 08, 2023

Our crazy decision to book a trip together weeks into dating... no regrets! It was an amazing extended weekend in Sedona, Arizona discovering more about each other and fulfilling our passion of experiencing the beautiful sights and cultures our world has to offer!
Michael taking Raffaella for a flight to brunch after obtaining his Private Pilot Certification (KDWH -> KCLL). Despite her fear of flying, Raffaella trusted Michael to fly her in a small 4-seat prop plane. Definitely a sign this relationship was heading sky high (sorry for the corny pun)!

July 02, 2023

Michael taking Raffaella for a flight to brunch after obtaining his Private Pilot Certification (KDWH -> KCLL). Despite her fear of flying, Raffaella trusted Michael to fly her in a small 4-seat prop plane. Definitely a sign this relationship was heading sky high (sorry for the corny pun)!
Our first international trip together: 1 week driving the ring road in Iceland! A jam packed week coupled with a lot of time confined in a car was a real test of compatibility. Despite nearly running out of gas in the middle of the Icelandic countryside, we persevered and grew an even deeper connection.

September 04, 2023

Our first international trip together: 1 week driving the ring road in Iceland! A jam packed week coupled with a lot of time confined in a car was a real test of compatibility. Despite nearly running out of gas in the middle of the Icelandic countryside, we persevered and grew an even deeper connection.
Michael's first time visiting Italy. Raffaella ensured that Michael was never hungry as we ate our way across Abruzzo and Rome. Shout out to Nonna Splendora for the home cooked meals! Michael quickly learned the words: ancora, dolcetto, and basta!

January 04, 2024

Michael's first time visiting Italy. Raffaella ensured that Michael was never hungry as we ate our way across Abruzzo and Rome. Shout out to Nonna Splendora for the home cooked meals! Michael quickly learned the words: ancora, dolcetto, and basta!
Raffaella's first ski trip! We quickly found out that it's ok to not like all the same activities, with Raffaella preferring the après ski to actually skiing.

February 03, 2024

Raffaella's first ski trip! We quickly found out that it's ok to not like all the same activities, with Raffaella preferring the après ski to actually skiing.
1 year into our relationship and going strong! Picked up one of our favorite new hobbies, pickleball! Despite Michael's competitiveness, we always have a blast working up a sweat under the Texas sun.

February 25, 2024

1 year into our relationship and going strong! Picked up one of our favorite new hobbies, pickleball! Despite Michael's competitiveness, we always have a blast working up a sweat under the Texas sun.
Raffaella sharing her passion and love for baking with Michael during a weekend baguette baking class. Today, we're parents to our sourdough starter "Berto" and enjoy making the weekly Italian round loaf and Sunday pizza night. Or should we say, Raffaella enjoys the baking, and Michael enjoys participating in the eating part!

March 23, 2024

Raffaella sharing her passion and love for baking with Michael during a weekend baguette baking class. Today, we're parents to our sourdough starter "Berto" and enjoy making the weekly Italian round loaf and Sunday pizza night. Or should we say, Raffaella enjoys the baking, and Michael enjoys participating in the eating part!
After a difficult beginning to July with Hurricane Beryl hitting Houston, leaving us without power for days in the heat and sustaining damage to our home, we were able to escape and enjoy our first trip together to Chicago and Michael's hometown of Wauconda. Taking a wonderful evening walk along the river after indulging in our first Michelin Star restaurant experience.

July 11, 2024

After a difficult beginning to July with Hurricane Beryl hitting Houston, leaving us without power for days in the heat and sustaining damage to our home, we were able to escape and enjoy our first trip together to Chicago and Michael's hometown of Wauconda. Taking a wonderful evening walk along the river after indulging in our first Michelin Star restaurant experience.
Another adventure, another beer! One of our favorite things is to enjoy a refreshing IPA after a hike, this time in the serene Mt Hood National Forest in Oregon.

October 19, 2024

Another adventure, another beer! One of our favorite things is to enjoy a refreshing IPA after a hike, this time in the serene Mt Hood National Forest in Oregon.
Returning to Sedona, Arizona to relive memories of our first trip together 17 months prior. There were plenty of "Wooohooos!" as Raffaella enjoyed her first UTV experience.

November 13, 2024

Returning to Sedona, Arizona to relive memories of our first trip together 17 months prior. There were plenty of "Wooohooos!" as Raffaella enjoyed her first UTV experience.
She said, "Yes!" Well actually, after reviewing the film footage it was more of a happy gasp. Raffaella officially said the word nearly 24hrs later. Ope! The following weeks we spent travelling to Chicago and then Italy for the holidays to share the exciting news with our family and friends!

December 18, 2024

She said, "Yes!" Well actually, after reviewing the film footage it was more of a happy gasp. Raffaella officially said the word nearly 24hrs later. Ope! The following weeks we spent travelling to Chicago and then Italy for the holidays to share the exciting news with our family and friends!
Expanded the family with our little fur ball Mole (named in honor of our first official date at Xochi, an Oaxacan mole restaurant)!

January 09, 2025

Expanded the family with our little fur ball Mole (named in honor of our first official date at Xochi, an Oaxacan mole restaurant)!
We said, "I do." We got married in one of our favorite Houston locations, Hermann Park, with 14 of our closest friends in attendance and families watching on Zoom. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day!

February 01, 2025

We said, "I do." We got married in one of our favorite Houston locations, Hermann Park, with 14 of our closest friends in attendance and families watching on Zoom. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day!