It all began on July 19th, 2016, at the most romantic location imaginable: Avila Dog Beach—where the sand is soft, the waves are salty, and everyone’s covered in fur and drool. Michelle met Joel... and instantly fell for someone else. Her name was Kaia, a 4-year-old golden retriever with a goofy grin, a wagging tail, and immediate main character energy. Joel was there too. He came with the leash. As it turned out, Joel wasn’t so bad himself—he played guitar, loved to explore new places, knew where to find the best fish tacos (Ruddell's!), and didn’t mind when Michelle got more excited about seeing Kaia than him. What started as a simple beach day quickly turned into a whirlwind of bonfires, wine tastings and concerts as they melded into each other’s friend groups. Within that month, they were seeing their first live shows together, HoneyHoney at SLO Brew and Sean Hayes at Castoro Cellars. Fall found them wandering through pumpkin patches with the pups, and day-tripping to Cambria hiking through Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. They even bonded over their love for animals at a Zoo to You wine tasting in Paso Robles where they held baby alligators—romance at its peak! Yes, Michelle asked if they could keep one, one of Joel's first glimpses into her enduring compassion for all animals. That first holiday season was a true test of endurance: Michelle joined Joel’s family for Thanksgiving in the Sierras, where she met his parents Betty and Bill and sister Kyla. Thanksgiving was followed by a Red Rock Canyon hike in the Mojave Desert, and their first camping trip to Kirk Creek in Big Sur in December - freezing, adorable, character-building (Michelle survived!). Then it was up the coast to the Bay Area to celebrate Christmas with Michelle’s family, where Joel met her mother Pam, sister Lauren and brother-in-law Michael. Then it was back to SLO for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve at the Fremont Theater, dancing the night away to Donovan Frankenreiter.

They started January 2017 off with a bang as they headed to Los Angeles to attend the NAMM show together, Michelle got to see what Joel does for work with the Ernie Ball Music Man guitar company, her first glimpse into the overwhelming amount of guitars in the world - which would later come to fill the rooms in their house! In February, they rented a cabin with friends and hit the slopes in Shaver Lake, where Michelle was busting out nose butter 180s and Joel was falling... deeper in love. 💘 The rest of 2017? A blur of sandy paws and starry nights: more dog beach days, road trips to Big Sur, a second camping adventure to Jalama Beach, and paddling picnics to the Avila Lighthouse. Zac Brown Band, Hunter Hayes & Blake Shelton were just a few of the concerts they danced and sung their hearts out to throughout the year. Joel also met Michelle’s amazing grandparents and extended family for Thanksgiving—he survived a house full of Bay Area sports fans! And thoroughly enjoyed Papa's stories of Japan. Michelle and Joel took the long way home, cruised Highway 1 through Half Moon Bay and checked out the jellyfish and otters at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

In 2018, life got even more real—and more fun! Kaia continued to be the sunshine of their lives, as the couple spent weekends hiking Big Sur, long boarding the Bob Jones Trail, and exploring all the beautiful beaches in the central coast. That summer, Joel’s lease ended, and a room opened up in Michelle’s house, so they leveled up: cohabitation... with five other roommates. Romance + chaos = ultimate bonding. Their first trip to Vegas together was the high life and ultimate getaway—suite with friends, lazy river floats, and all the fine dining. By July, they were up in Bodega Bay celebrating Pam's second 30th birthday, followed by a stop in Napa, where they casually hung out with cheetahs and giraffes at Safari West, more animals that Michelle wanted to take home! For Joel’s birthday, they scored an oceanfront campsite at Limekiln in Big Sur — because nothing says romance like the sound of ocean waves under the stars. Then came their first fishing charter in September, where they caught so much cod they basically lived off fish tacos for the rest of the year. That November, they switched up the menu and hosted their first Friendsgiving together. Joel spatchcocked and smoked a turkey on the Traeger, and Michelle made a butternut squash soup so good it became a permanent Thanksgiving tradition. The leftover turkey and soup even made an appearance at Jalama Beach, where they camped and surfed with Joel’s family to close out Thanksgiving weekend. They wrapped up the year in Oakland, celebrating Michelle’s birthday with her family over piles of the most delicious buttery king crab legs!

If 2018 was the year of fish tacos, 2019 was the year of taking adventure to the next level — and occasionally forgetting sunscreen. The year kicked off with Michelle and Joel chasing the spring super bloom in the Carrizo Plains as Kaia frolicked through the hills painted with wildflowers. Weekends were spent cruising up Highway 1 to McWay Falls, and exploring hidden coves and trails in Big Sur. Summer brought hiking, paddling, and wine tasting throughout the Central Coast. Joel’s band was gigging the winery circuit in north county including Tooth and Nail where Michelle worked. They celebrated Kaia’s birthday with an oceanfront hotel stay in San Simeon. Kaia discovered her talent for beach volleyball and even took a celebratory leap into the hotel pool. The couple hopped aboard the Surfliner down to L.A. to celebrate Bill’s birthday with the ultimate concert experience — Paul McCartney at the Dodger Stadium! For Joel’s birthday in August, Michelle pulled off an epic steak dinner over an open camp fire at their beachfront campsite in Big Sur — proving that romance and red meat pair perfectly with ocean views. By fall, they were back to their signature dish lineup of smoked turkey and that legendary butternut squash soup that’s become their Thanksgiving MVP. Then came their grand finale of 2019 — Japan! For Michelle’s birthday, they jetted off so she could meet Joel’s grandmother, Masako, and trade their usual cozy holiday for a tropical Christmas on the island of Okinawa. They fed dolphins, held blowfish, and witnessed the graceful glide of a giant whale shark. They even hopped a ferry to explore and free dive in the Kerama Islands. They ate soba sipped buku buku cha, and ended the year feeling like true world travelers — full of gratitude, adventure, and sushi!

2020 began with a bang — quite literally — as Michelle and Joel rang in the new year in Kitanakagusuku, watching fireworks and waving sparklers over the Pacific from Masako’s backyard. It was pure magic… until the early morning alarm went off so they could line up at Futenma Shrine for their New Year fortunes. (Spoiler: at least one of them got “medium luck,” which in hindsight feels like an understatement for how the year turned out.) After soaking up the last of Okinawa’s sunshine, they boarded a very long flight back to the States — blissfully unaware that “remote work” and “flatten the curve” were about to become part of everyday vocabulary. By spring, they were navigating the pandemic like everyone else — with hand sanitizer in one pocket and stimmys in the other (BTC!). Work went remote, Kaia became Employee of the Month (every month), and dog walks were the new happy hour. Early summer brought some much-needed outdoor therapy — wine tasting and hiking around Harmony, Cambria, and San Simeon. They swapped crowded restaurants for picnics, patio dining and a newfound appreciation for snacks eaten on tailgates. In July, they headed to Lake Nacimiento with friends for a very exclusive summer camp of paddling, wakeboarding and tubing. By August, they were celebrating Joel’s birthday in style at Ragged Point Inn, where they soaked in the views, surfed Pico Creek and Sand Dollar Beach, and cooled off in the streams below Salmon Creek Falls — a perfect mix of adventure and freezing cold water. They closed out August with sunshine and sand at Silver Strand Beach in Oxnard with Lauren and Michael, and a few too many IPAs. September brought a “treat yourself” weekend in Solvang, where they checked into a suite and embarked on a legendary foodie adventure that revolved mostly around Danish pastries and pretending calories don’t count on vacation. October found them back at Lake Nacimiento, this time with Michelle’s family, renting a house for boating, barbecuing Tri-tip , and stargazing so good it made everyone temporarily believe they were amateur astronomers. For Thanksgiving, they headed to Tehachapi to spend time with Joel’s family — exploring mountain-town wineries and feeding deer. December was a full-on holiday tour: an early Christmas in Cambria with Joel’s family at the beach, followed by birthday and Christmas celebrations in Oakland with Michelle’s family — complete with plenty of laughs to close out a year that was, well… unforgettable in every possible way.

2021 brought many more adventures. They kicked things off in San Diego that March with Michelle’s family, where they surfed Tourmaline, checked out the plethora of boards at Bird’s Shed, and ate their body weight in fish tacos. Next, they met up with Joel’s sister Kyla to help celebrate Howdy’s birthday — proving once again that in their circle, even the dogs get parties. By June, they were soaking up sunshine in Cayucos, where they rented a beach house with Joel’s family to celebrate Father’s Day and Kaia’s early birthday, complete with a piñata for the pups! August was one for the books — house boating, paddle boarding and barbecuing around Lake Shasta for Joel and Kyla’s birthday bash. Come October, it was time for some grown-up fun — wine tasting with Michelle’s family at Epoch and Halter Ranch. They capped off the fall with another Cayucos getaway, this time with Michelle’s family and Joel finally met the legendary family friends Jimmy and Catherine! By December, they were back in the Tehachapi mountains with Joel’s family — and Michelle got to experience her first white Christmas! Which, up until that moment, had only existed in the form of a beloved movie on repeat every December at the DeBarr house. The couple wrapped up 2021 by hopping a plane to Puerto Vallarta to meet Michelle’s family and soak up some tropical sunshine to close out the year. Because nothing says “Happy Holidays” like tan lines in December. It was a year full of laughter, family, dogs, surf and sunshine — the perfect mix of everything that makes their life together so them.

Michelle and Joel blasted into 2022 with peak vacation energy — launching paper lanterns and fireworks from the beach in Sayulita, mezcal in one hand and al pastor tacos in the other. The next morning, slightly more sunburned but equally enthusiastic, they hopped aboard a tiny panga boat to Punta Mita, where they came face-to-face with multiple humpback whale pods. They spotted giant stingrays gliding under the boat and caught coolers full of snapper that a local restaurant later turned into the freshest, most brag-worthy fish tacos of their lives. Spring brought the usual hikes and beach bliss along the Central Coast… until their world shifted in the way only deep love can. Their beloved Kaia passed on to greener pastures, where she now digs at the most heavenly beach with unlimited tennis balls and zero leash laws. They were left heartbroken but surrounded by years of memories that felt like sunshine. Grief arrived in waves, but Michelle and Joel held each other close, carried Kaia in their hearts, and discovered that love — even in its saddest moments — has a way of growing deeper. Summer took on a new shape, quieter. They explored non-dog-friendly hikes and beaches for the first time in forever, visited natural history museums, and finally checked Hearst Castle off their list. It was different… but reminded them that life keeps unfolding in unexpected, beautiful ways. Fall swept them into the Mojave Desert, where they visited Manzanar and the Museum of Western Film History, then wandered through the cinematic landscapes of Alabama Hills and enjoyed the crisp mountain air at Whitney Portal. Somewhere between the desert sunset and granite peaks, their spirits felt a little lighter. Then winter brought the unexpected kind of magic — the kind that feels both wild and perfectly timed. Though they weren’t looking, life sent them a new little guardian angel (the kind with paws instead of wings): a two-year-old English Cream Retriever named Daisy. Michelle's cousin, Ashley, breeds her and was in search of a new guardian home so she reached out. Becoming Daisy’s guardian parents was instant destiny. She settled into her new home like she’d been waiting for Michelle and Joel her whole life, and they soaked up every minute of introducing her to her first coastal Christmas and to a house overflowing with love. It was a year of joy, heartbreak, healing, and new beginnings — a year that reminded them that love doesn’t just show up in the celebrations… it shows up in the hardest moments, too. And that sometimes the universe sends you exactly who you need, exactly when you need them.

2023 started off strong with Michelle and Joel helping Daisy settle into full Central Coast mode — visiting monarch groves and botanical gardens, exploring hiking trails, and laughing hysterically at her zoomies along the sandy beaches. But life with Daisy wasn’t all sand and sunshine — the couple soon learned the unique challenges of having a dog in heat. Let’s just say there were more diaper changes and laundry loads than anyone anticipated. Before long, Daisy was pregnant, and had to swap the zoomies for mellow walks to cool her paws off at the shore. Spring brought new life in the sweetest way possible. Daisy returned to her ranch in Central California, where she delivered a beautiful litter of puppies. Michelle was right there beside her, supporting and crying happy tears, and maybe trying to figure out how to sneak another puppy home. While Daisy stayed behind to nurse her new babies, Michelle and Joel focused inward — on health, sobriety, and growing even closer together. They spent their days hiking in Montaña de Oro and Harmony, went to Earth Day Festival at Laguna Lake, and rocked out to the resonating tones of American Aquarium at The Siren in Morro Bay! By May, Daisy was back home on the Central Coast, and the trio quickly resumed their title as regulars at every dog-friendly beach in sight. June brought a family visit from Betty and Bill — and another epic musical milestone. They got to cross another Beatle off the list, seeing Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band under the stars at Vina Robles Amphitheater! That summer, Daisy took her first trip to Big Sur, where the couple hiked Salmon Creek Trail (in flip-flops, thanks to Joel’s casual “it’s just a short walk” suggestion) then enjoyed a highly deserved cool-off afterward at San Carpoforo Creek Beach. In July, they were back at Vina Robles for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, singing their hearts out to the lyrics that matched their journey perfectly — a soundtrack to their year of growth, love, and self-discovery. Joel’s August birthday brought them back to Big Sur, camping at Plaskett Creek and surfing at a crowd-less Sand Dollar Beach, which Daisy instantly fell in love with and the couple would now refer to as “Daisy’s Beach.” A new family tradition was born. Fall rolled in with golden sunshine, hikes through Fiscalini Ranch Preserve and Pismo Preserve, and Daisy absolutely slaying Halloween in her lineup of costumes — pumpkin, angel, and Minnie Mouse. All of which she felt was deserving of a bite of that year’s limited Ghost Pepper Whopper! Thanksgiving was a highlight — Kyla and Howdy joined for a weekend of laughter, waves, and one unforgettable moment when Pismo Beach PD rolled up as they were changing out of their wetsuits… to hand them a pumpkin pie. Only this couple could get a dessert delivery from law enforcement. Dinner featured Joel’s spatchcock smoked turkey and Michelle’s beloved butternut squash soup as well as a few added fan favorites — cheesy scalloped potatoes and green bean casserole. Basically, the Thanksgiving dream team. December sparkled with the Morro Bay Boat Light Parade and cozy neighborhood walks to admire Christmas lights with Daisy. They celebrated Michelle’s birthday with a production tour of Stepladder Ranch and Creamery, where she fell in love with some very huggable goats and they both fell in love with some world-class cheese and butter. The year wrapped with big changes — Pam moved from Danville to Paso Robles to be in closer proximity, and the couple helped warm her new home just in time for Christmas. Pam introduced the Abominable Snowball Game, which immediately became a new family holiday tradition! 2023 was full of laughter, love, live music, and new beginnings — from puppies to personal growth, flip-flop hikes to surprise pumpkin pies, it was another unforgettable year in the ever-growing story of Michelle and Joel.

The couple kicked off 2024 the same way they seem to kick off every year: with delicious food and fresh air. This time it was homemade Okinawan soba for good luck followed by a New Year’s Day hike at San Simeon Point — proof that they know how to balance carbs and cardio like true professionals. They were back in the Tehachapi Mountains shortly after to celebrate Betty’s birthday. Daisy had never seen snow before, so naturally, they drove up to Mountain Park to give her the full winter experience. Michelle taught her how to make snow angels, while Joel taught her how to make yellow snow — a team effort in education. February brought a major relationship milestone:
they officially moved into their very own place — no roommates!
Just the two of them (and Daisy), living in a cozy Grover Beach shack only two blocks from the Monarch Trail to the ocean. Daisy immediately approved of the location, trading neighborhood walks for sandy beach strolls like she’d been negotiating the lease herself. Spring brought their first Easter at Pam’s new home in Paso Robles — a celebration so lovely it instantly became a yearly tradition. Then came April, and Daisy was called back to the ranch to deliver her last litter of puppies before retiring from breeding. Michelle and Joel started up another round of focusing on health and routine, taking on the P90X Doubles program, which dominated their lives so intensely that Tony Horton’s catchphrases still haunt their dreams. Despite this, they made time to get outside — hiking Oso Flaco Lake, wandering the Guadalupe Dunes, they attended Surf Night and Skate Night at the SLO Film Festival, and sang along to the live music of Lord Huron under a full moon at Vina Robles Amphitheater, which felt like the soundtrack to a year of big change. While waiting for Daisy to return home, Ashley presented Michelle with an opportunity to become guardian parents to the next English Cream Retriever that will carry on Daisy’s lineage. Michelle floated the idea to Joel using a strategic slideshow of adorable puppy photos. Joel countered with practical considerations — renting, future plans, marriage, babies — and naturally, they compromised… by puppy-proofing the house. On May 31st, they set off for San Jose to visit Michelle’s grandparents, then headed east to Ashley’s ranch to reunite with Daisy and meet the newest member of the family: June. A fluffy, sweet, but alpha-of-the-liter, buttercream-colored pup who instantly won their hearts. After an evening exploring the ranch and enjoying Tri-tip with Ashley and PJ, they loaded Daisy and June into the car and headed back to the coast. Daisy, fresh off eight exhausting weeks of motherhood, claimed the entire backseat to herself. June rode the whole way in Joel’s arms, managing five hours of driving without a single accident — a miracle rarely witnessed in nature. Summer arrived with a blur of puppy chaos and heart-melting tenderness: sleepless nights, endless messes, training sessions, and so many giggles. June learned the world from the cozy perch of Joel’s backpack while waiting for her Parvo shots, and Daisy adjusted to retirement — which, for her, mostly meant more naps and more treats. Pam joined for the Fourth of July, where they barbecued bacon-wrapped… everything, then walked the Monarch Trail to watch the fireworks from the dunes at a dog-friendly distance. Betty and Kyla came out later that weekend to host the most adorable combination party ever: a puppy shower for June and a retirement celebration for Daisy. Pup cups were consumed. Tears of joy were shed. Later in July, they introduced June to Big Sur, hiking to Upper Salmon Creek Falls. Michelle came prepared with actual hiking shoes this time, and June napped in the backpack while Daisy led with confidence. Daisy dove into the cold, clear water with glee. June tried to follow before realizing it was.. freezing compared to the comfy backpack! The couple acquired their first Yow surf trainer board and loved hitting laps in the backyard with the dogs following close behind. Once June was cleared for outdoor adventures, summer was officially on. They hit all their favorite beaches and trails, and in August they returned to Plaskett Creek for June’s first camping trip. Betty and Bill joined — bringing pup cups, of course — and the days were spent surfing and lounging at “Daisy’s Beach.” They closed out August with Betty, Bill and Pam singing along to The Beach Boys’ Endless Summer Gold Tour at Vina Robles Amphitheater, complete with John Stamos — a full-circle coastal California evening! September threw a curveball when Joel got a gnarly gash while surfing in Big Sur, luckily Michelle was there to drive him to the ER, but it led to 16 stitches and a month of recovery… all while a puppy bounced around the house like a caffeinated cloud. Tough times, but they handled it like champs. By October, they were healed up and riding the Surfliner train to San Diego to visit Kyla and Howdy. They explored the NA options at local breweries, met up with Michelle’s close family friends Marc and Tessa, checked out Bird’s Shed, surfed OB, swam with leopard sharks in La Jolla, saw Mo Lowda & The Humble live at the Quartyard, and ate at Lola 55 — a Michelin-rated taco spot that instantly changed their lives. They hopped on the Surfliner back up the coast and made it home in time to catch the Dodgers winning the World Series! Joel was more stoked than Michelle. Fall — also known as SLO County Summer: Part II — brought gorgeous hikes through the Pismo Preserve, wandering through the pumpkin patch at Avila Valley Barn, and enjoying the sunshine from the shores of the dog beach. They attended Ben Weiland's "The Search For Volcano Island" film premier at Field Day! Thanksgiving was spent with Joel’s family in Tehachapi. June saw the Sierra Nevadas for the first time and was delighted as Howdy and Daisy showed her how to bark at the foxes and deer that wander through the backyard. December kicked off with Marty O’Reilly at The Siren with Lauren and Michael, then Michelle hopped on a train to the Bay to see Hamilton with Elise for an early birthday trip. After he dropped her at the station, Joel had dinner with Pam — and asked for her blessing to propose to Michelle in the coming year. Pam said, “There’s no giving her back!” and offered the engagement ring that she got from Michelle’s father. Michelle came home unaware that her life would change in the upcoming year. She celebrated her birthday at Yanagi Sushi and Grill at a teppanyaki table with Joel and Pam, blissfully enjoying flying scallops and steak while Joel was secretly planning ideas for the proposal. They spent June’s first Christmas in Tehachapi, where Daisy rolled in the snow like she’d never left, and June learned how to make her first yellow snow (a rite of passage). Before the year closed, they explored Red Rock Canyon, visited the small mining town of Randsburg, and stopped at the Buckhorn in New Cuyama. And finally, they returned home just in time to watch the last sunset of 2024 from the sand at Pismo Beach — a perfect ending to a year that was full, messy, magical, and leading them toward something extraordinary.

The year opened exactly the way Michelle and Joel loved best: high above the Pacific on the trails of the Pismo Preserve, followed by steaming bowls of their now-sacred New Year’s Day Okinawan soba — fuel for another season of P90X, which they decided to tackle early this year so they could finish before the world brightened again with daylight savings. Even Super Bowl Sunday, spent just the two of them and the pups, felt festive as Michelle whipped up enough appetizers to feed a battalion, which turned out to be winning luck because her Eagles pulled it off! Somewhere between the workout soreness and the victory snacks, the couple also acquired their very first Bitaxe, proudly adding their tiny but mighty contribution to the network. March arrived with Betty coming to petsit so Joel and Michelle could sneak away for a Santa Barbara escape: buttery lobster rolls at White Caps Beach Club, the history-soaked halls of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, checking out the Feb’s Fish model at Channel Islands Surf Shop, and NAs in the Funk Zone with Jenna. They ended the night in their bliss zone — tucked into the glowing Arlington Theater — listening to Jason Isbell play a stripped-down, intimate acoustic set. The next morning they enjoyed coffee with Joel’s past roommate Chase (and Kaia’s best dog friend, Andy), then devoured life-changing pizza at Bettina before heading home. The following weekend they dropped the dogs with Pam and ran off to the Bay, promptly eating the best Hawaiian pizza of their lives at June’s in Oakland before a full day in San Francisco: strolling through the Ferry Building, enjoying the scent of tulips and sourdough at Pier 39, then watching the Sail Grand Prix with Alcatraz as the backdrop, fried sushi in Union Square, and singing their lungs out to RX Bandits live at August Hall. They returned home refreshed — and also permanently banned from bringing Daisy and June to Nana Pam’s after the girls ripped off the screen door and excavated the entire backyard. Spring rolled in with a huge, lively Easter brunch with both families at Pam’s. In May, the couple started biking the shoreline from the Oceano Dunes to the Pismo Caves, Daisy and June sprinting beside them like joyful, sand-covered missiles. Coastal hikes, beach days, and long sunset walks filled the warm months while Joel quietly worked behind the scenes — reaching out to both families, choosing the right day, imagining how it would feel. He knew one thing for sure: it had to be on the beach, with the dogs, and with everyone ready to celebrate after. July arrived with gourmet pizza at Bear + The Wren for Lauren’s birthday, Fourth of July festivities at the Pismo Pier, and a casual suggestion from Joel that maybe — just maybe — they should take “real” family photos with the GoPro sometime instead of their usual iphone selfies. They grilled bacon-wrapped-linguica-stuffed-cheesy-peppers, then staked out their favorite spot on the dunes for fireworks at a dog-friendly distance. And then came July 5th. It started like any other summer evening. Michelle got off work, they did their weekly grocery run, then leashed up Daisy and June for an afternoon beach walk — Joel casually tossing the GoPro into his backpack, acting like it was no big deal. They reached the shoreline and set up the camera for “family photos.” Michelle leaned in, smiling, unaware. Joel pulled her a little closer, and Michelle felt him shaking — just slightly — in that way that only happens when something is about to change your life. He told her all the reasons that she means the world to him, why he wants to tackle life by her side and support her endeavors forever. 
Then he dropped to one knee. The ring box opened. The world stopped. Michelle burst into happy tears nodding yes. Daisy and June, deeply committed to the moment, enthusiastically digging sand up around them. Joel had written his proposal on paper and tucked it into a glass bottle; together they scooped sand inside as a forever keepsake. Walking home, hand in hand, freshly engaged, Michelle thought the surprises were over. They weren’t. As soon as Joel opened the back door, the yard lit up — string lights, decorations, photos, glowing faces. Both families, waiting. Someone was holding Palo Mesa pizzas (the poor delivery driver had to wait as he literally just arrived as Joel and Michelle walked in). Bottles of NA champagne were ready to pop. Everyone cheered, hugged, cried, and celebrated under the warm Grover Beach evening sky. It was perfect. It was unforgettable. It was them. Though this story already reads like a full novel, this decade together has passed in the blink of an eye for Michelle and Joel. They’ll continue to write their love story forever and look forward to celebrating the next chapter of Marriage in 2026!

Michelle and Joel fell in love with their wedding venue deciding the ceremony will be on the lawn at the Pacific Point Resort and the Reception at Ventana Grill. The humpback whale spouts were going off in the background as they toured!

An incredible engagement photo session through golden hour in Pismo that Bill kindly shot and edited into amazing photos!

The couple was in Beverly Hills for Allegra's wedding for the weekend. Over brunch, Michelle presented Lauren with a bracelet that has the words "DeBarr Sisters Forever" engraved on it as she asked her to be the Matron of Honor. Joel and Michael swam some laps in the pool as he asked Michael to be his Best Man.

Michelle went wedding dress shopping with Pam, Lauren and Betty where she said Yes to the Dress! Joel was kept entertained as the Dodgers pulled off a win in one of the most thrilling World Series!

Michelle and Joel asked Kyla to be the officiant for their wedding. She accepted and is excited to guide them through the ceremony and into the next step of their lives!