Ironically enough, I finally got the opportunity to take Janna on our first date, AFTER leaving Moscow!! As luck would have it, Janna would be visiting Julie in Long Island. So I decided to make the trek down to NYC that evening from Boston. I remember waiting nervously in the bar of the Parker, rather un-cooly drinking water while figeting in my chair. She was late, I would later learn that this wasn't an aberration. But as they say, all great things are worth waiting for. She looked so beautiful. How did I get so lucky? We had dinner reservation at Quality Italian on Central Park. My nerves quickly calmed as we made our way to the restaurant. I was immediately impressed by her confidence, intelligence and sense of humor - I was officially smitten. She deftly handled my loud talking quirky jokes. It felt very natural. We talked and talked. Our travels, world politics, the companies we love to work for (L'Oreal and adidas) and everything else under the sun. One bottle of wine turned to two and one hour turned to four. It was such a lovely evening - I never wanted it to end. Eventually it did and I knew right away I wanted to see her again. It would be nearly 5 months until our next date, again in NY. But the stage was set for the incredible journey which we were about to embark. With benefit of hindsight, that first night foretold many things to come in our relationship. Italy. Wine. Travel. Hours of conversation on everything under the sun. I often think of the various twists and turns our lives take and the decisions that lead us there. None more so than the decision to take the plunge down to New York that night. I'm thankful I did and the rest is history.

We had been dating just for a little over a year by the time we were in Italy for a Valentine’s trip. Since we were dating distantly, we had been traveling back and forth between Boston & Moscow and everywhere in between. I had a strong intuition that Brett was going to propose as we had planned on visiting potential wedding venues that trip. If that wasn’t enough, a call from my sister with the words "Brett is planning to propose" sealed it. Nevertheless, the proposal itself happened as a complete surprise. It was our third trip already to Italy, a country we adore for endless reasons. Most of all for its wine - the glue that keeps us together. While visiting one of the wineries nestled in the hills of Tuscany, Brett suspiciously insisted we go explore the estate. As we were walking through the olive orchards Brett said “I guess there is one last thing for me to do” and got down on one knee. I immediately got tears in my eyes and for a second I couldn't believe that it was all happening for real. Obviously, I said YES since you are now visiting the website with the headline "we are tying the knot". We are so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you and to do it in the same place where we got engaged. See you in Tuscany!