Deering Estate

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktails

Dinner and Dancing

Our Wedding

Match Made 

Our love story did not exactly start out in the most romantic way. In fact, we both walked away from our first date not exactly sure we wanted another date. Kevin and I first met online. That's right; he slid into my DMs. Except those DMs were located on Match.com. The cheesy website claiming to be THE place for singles serious about dating. Well, I was single. And serious about dating. After a couple years of Tinder and whatever else was out there at the time, I decided to give Match a try for almost a year—until I met Kevin. Kevin messaged me on Match with a cute yet simple message. He told me how cute I was and then he told me that he was on his last three days of his free trial and he would not be renewing. In hindsight, I should have made him renew it. But he was soooo cute, so I gave him my number. I cannot remember how long it took for him to text me but eventually he did and we even chatted on the phone for over an hour getting to know each other before we agreed to meet for a first date. He lived about 45 minutes to an hour away from me&nbsp;so he drove over to my area for the date. I still remember that when he arrived, he announced his presence with a text message that said "your chariot awaits." The date was not great. He had an actor friend who was starring in a cheesy horror movie called The Belko Experiment. I love cheesy horror movies so he took me to one of those fancier theaters with reclining seats and drink service. The movie was ok. Afterwards, we went to Tender Greens for lunch. We chatted a bit about Kevin stealing my couscous and not knowing what butter lettuce was. Kevin said he felt like he was on a job interview. Needless to say, when he dropped me back off at my place, we did not kiss and I did not think we would see each other again. But we did. He asked me out on a second date. And from that date on, we were inseparable. On our second date, we had lunch at a popular vegetarian restaurant in LA called The Butcher's Daughter and walked around a popular street in Venice called Abbot Kinney. He was adorable. Nervous, but funny. And hanging on my every word while making me feel comfortable. By our fourth date, after telling him I had another date later that night, he unhesitatingly told me there was no way he wanted to share me with anyone else. We made it official about two months later on April 21, 2017 on a beach in Malibu. I felt terrible because I was preparing to take the California Bar exam so I explained I would be studying my life away all summer. He told me he understood and that he himself was finishing up his last semester of grad school and so we began dating. I told him I loved him two months later. We moved in together just three months after that. I guess it was fitting he took six years to propose! So, that's our story. I have never really enjoyed telling people that we met on a cheesy site such as Match.com. But we worked at this. We earned each other's unconditional love. We grew together both as individuals and as a couple. And we deserve this. If you have read this far, you are truly a real one and deserve a special prize. You get an even bigger prize if you correctly guess who wrote this story—it may not be who you think!

Our Story

Photos

Wedding Party

Q + A

We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency in Coral Gables. It is a 20 minute drive from the venue and we negotiated a special rate for our guests that would like to join us. Please reserve your room through the following link <a href="https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/CORAL/G-BPWD?src=envision_email_grpreserv_ENG_20230525_GroupBooking_TC000000170A000010937ENG_G-_384507" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a>.

We do not recommend staying near the venue in Palmetto Bay because the hotels are subpar and there is not much to do. But we promise the venue is beautiful and worth the drive!

Because we have guests traveling from all over the world (we are very well connected), we understand that each guest will have their own needs. If you have never been to Miami and you would like to enjoy the beautiful Miami waters, beaches, and night life, we recommend lodging in South Beach. However, be prepared to drive about 45 minutes to the wedding venue.

South Beach

If you would like to be slightly out of the chaos but still close to attractions, we recommend lodging in Coral Gables. It is about 20 minutes from the wedding venue.

Coral Gables

If you would like to enjoy most tourist attractions and Miami nightlife, we recommend lodging in Brickell. It is about 30 minutes from the wedding venue.

Brickell

Accommodations

COLLINS AVENUE/OCEAN DRIVE SHOPPING DISTRICTSouth Beach is central to the story of Miami Beach's evolution as an arts, fashion, cultural, celebrity, and entertainment hub. If any street is synonymous with South Beach, it is Ocean Drive, which features (along with many restaurants, art deco hotels, and galleries) more than 30 designer brands. Located in the heart of South Beach, Ocean Drive is, by default, the linchpin street in setting the fashion trends of Greater Miami &amp; Miami Beach.&nbsp;

CALLE OCHO (SOUTHWEST 8th STREET)Calle Ocho is the center of Cuban life and culture in Miami’s&nbsp;Little Havana&nbsp;neighborhood. Declared a “national treasure” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, this vibrant and iconic enclave is known for its authentic Cuban restaurants, popular ventanitas (takeout windows), warm and toasty Cuban bakeries, and street festivals that are too colorful for words.

WYNWOOD WALLSNon-stop energy and in-the-moment style are the hallmarks of Wynwood, Miami’s creative and cultural hub. North of Downtown Miami and west of Miami Beach, a Greater Miami neighborhood that was once a collection of warehouses has been transformed in recent years into one of the world’s hippest hangouts. Full of eclectic restaurants, bars and shops, Wynwood also offers visitors countless opportunities to enjoy the best of international contemporary art, whether in galleries or simply on the street where colorful murals make it a go-to place for Instagrammers. A stroll along the main thoroughfare of Northwest 2nd Avenue and its side streets reveals all the things that make Wynwood famous. There are craft breweries like&nbsp;Wynwood Brewing Company&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cerveceria La Tropical&nbsp;alongside independent boutiques, taquerias, food halls and laid back bars such as&nbsp;Gramps&nbsp;that have outdoor spaces for some fun, al fresco. On any given day, you will find locals caffeinating at&nbsp;Panther Coffee&nbsp;before heading to neighborhood co-working spaces or grabbing a bite at much-loved eateries including&nbsp;The Salty,&nbsp;Coyo Taco&nbsp;and&nbsp;Zak The Baker. Boutiques such as&nbsp;Frangipani&nbsp;and&nbsp;Wynwood Tribe&nbsp;carry made-in-Miami and international merchandise that will make a stylish memento for your Miami trip.

SOUTH BEACH MIAMISee the Miami Beach you know from the movies in the iconic South Beach neighborhood. Miami Beach, a slender, nine-mile-long barrier island along the Atlantic Ocean, is divided into three distinct neighborhoods. South Beach—from&nbsp;South Pointe Park&nbsp;north to 23rd Street—is the most famous of the trio, home to sandy strands, swaying palms and the pastel-colored Art Deco buildings that have become synonymous with this iconic destination and render it so undeniably photogenic.

BAYFRONT PARKBayfront Park is a coastal park in downtown Miami, adjacent to the American Airlines Arena. The walking paths along the coast are spacious and clean, surrounded by green plants, and there are many sculptures embellished in it. Sports, performances, festivals, and other activities are held here.

Michelle & Kevin

Michelle & Kevin

Q + A

When do I need to RSVP by?

Will there be food?

What if I have dietary restrictions?

Will there be alcohol?

What should I wear?

Will there be sand?

Where should I stay?

Will there be transportation to the venue?

Will there be parking?

What will the weather be like?

What should I do if I cannot make it?

Do you have a wedding hashtag?