How We Met (the prequel) - March, 2018 Marisa has known about Ben for a few years, after first hearing about him through watching one of his films on Netflix back in 2018. Throughout the next two years, their separate lives would slowly converge with the help of mutual friends, family, and coincidences that reveal just how small the world really is. How We Actually Met - Venice Beach - October 2, 2019 It took two years and Marisa's best friend/Maid of Honor (Dominique) moving to Oceanside for the pieces to begin falling into place, but when Ben finally realized Marisa existed thanks to the overlapping friends they shared, he wasted no time setting up a chance to meet. They had never met in person before their first date at that one coffee shop (Great White) in Venice beach, and hit it off talking all things Steinbeck while tracing the numerous lines of connection that lead to them sipping lattes together and sharing their stories on that sunny Wednesday afternoon. LA to Oceanside and Back 98 miles and 1 hr 35 min on I-5 became quite an endeared stretch of interstate, because it would be the connecting line between Ben and Marisa's worlds over the next year. During their year of dating, one of their most beloved pastimes was spent with his parents at their home in Vista, which makes celebrating the wedding in their back yard extra sentimental. Arroyo Grande - October 4, 2020 On their one-year anniversary trip to the central coast, Ben surprised Marisa with a horseback ride to the top of a mountain above Lopez Lake. Overlooking the valley below and the setting sun, Marisa joyfully said yes to spending the rest of their lives loving one another. Afterwards, their sweet friends Chris and Brea had surprised them with an arrangement of flowers, charcuterie, and a decorated car. Marisa and Ben are so grateful for all of the friends that have rallied around them and their budding love story, and cannot wait to celebrate their new covenant with you!