Our story didn't start too long ago. Our story started with my cousin, Maria. For years, Maria has been trying to get Anthony and I to meet and it just never happened.

Well in July of 2023, I (Stephanie) went to Maria's house to borrow a dress for a wedding. She mentioned to me that her friend's son is single and she'd like for us to finally meet. She asked me if she can give me his number and I told her no, she can give him my number. Well she did and a week later I went to her house to give her the dress back and she asked me if I heard from him. I told her no and she said she's going to put us in a group chat. I told her please don't, we are not five. Well she didn't listen and she put us in a group chat. Right after that, Anthony texted me separately(: I was heading to my best friend's wedding that weekend and then was leaving for Italy the week after. I remember Maria saying to not wait too long to meet because Anthony moves quickly...(yes we all know).

I listened to her advice for once and said to him that I can hangout the Sunday I was getting home from the wedding. I remember my family being shocked I was going to go on a date with someone after a whole day of traveling home from the wedding...I was shocked myself.

Sunday came and we went on our first date. It was at Dox in Island Park. Anthony didn't want me to travel too far and I didn't want him coming too close to where I live incase I needed to escape. I will never forget that night, one because I wanted to see him again and two because at first I was confused as to why he was so quiet and only letting me talk, but then he opened up after he listened to my stories and I was touched by his looks (of course) and his personality/story (:

We spent the next few days together, before I was off to Italy.

We talked the whole time in Italy and he was at the airport in a brand new outfit with roses to pick me up. Two weeks later, he asked me to be his girlfriend after a sushi date.

Fast forward to a few months later... we moved in together, he planned a dream trip of mine to Greece, and told everyone he was around (besides me) that he will be proposing this year. He stuck to his word and gave me a dream proposal right before the dream trip on July 21, 2024 at Oheka Castle. Who knew that one year my life would completely change in the best way possible.

After the dream proposal and dream trip, we had one more surprise as we began the wedding planning. We found out we were going to be parents to a precious little girl!

Our whole world has changed within 1 year and we couldn't be more excited to begin this next chapter as parents, husband and wife, and to celebrate with all of you!