Let us regale you with the tale of how we found love in the wild world of face-to-face interaction. Picture this: It's the third weekend of October, 2002, and the leaves aren't the only things falling – hearts are too! There we were, in a Denver bar previously know as JR's, surrounded by friends.

After Michelle’s friend tried to pick up one of Tami's friend, we found ourselves striking up a conversation and by the end of the night, Michelle gave Tami her phone number. The anticipation was electric! The next week Michelle spent constantly checking her flip phone (In the "olden times" before the smart phone was invented). But alas, no call came. Michelle thought she had been "ghosted" – a word that didn't even exist beyond Halloween back then...

Speaking of Halloween, the following weekend brought us back to the same bar, where Michelle was drowning her sorrows. And who should appear?!! Tami, with another friend in tow! Despite Michelle’s attempts to play it cool, Tami came right up with that excuse that would become all too familiar over the years: She had lost Michelle's phone number. Now, after two decades together, this comes as no surprise. This time, phone numbers were exchanged again and actual calls were made. ( Michelle received Tami's number.) We discovered we had so much in common – both from the Midwest, close to our families, in love with Colorado's outdoors, going to musicals and having fun.

Our first date was dinner and a movie – "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Ironically, it foreshadowed our future. The night ended sweetly with hot chocolate and a kiss. Two years later we bought a house and committed to being together. The UHauls were "unleashed". Also a sign of a past era, marriage wasn't an option, so we built our life together for almost 23 years.

A love story that started in a bar and ended up at the altar. Years later, we are excited to celebrate our nuptials at The Ryssby Church in Longmont,CO, surrounded by some of those same friends that were with us when we met, lots of new friends and our families.