Marisa and Michael’s story began in May 2023, when Michael sent Marisa a direct message on Instagram. He introduced himself and mentioned that they had both studied engineering at Manhattan College. Although their time at Manhattan didn’t overlap—Marisa graduated in spring 2017, and Michael transferred there for the fall of that same year—their shared academic background and mutual Instagram connections brought them into each other’s orbit. At first, Marisa was hesitant to respond. Michael was, after all, a stranger, and aside from a few exchanged likes on each other's posts, they hadn’t interacted before. Still, his friendly demeanor and Manhattan College connection nudged Marisa to reply— along with Marisa’s best friend Erika telling her to answer if she wanted saying, “there’s no rules”. Their initial conversation had some back-and-forth, but eventually fizzled out. Michael worried that his messages hadn’t landed and that Marisa had simply been polite. Days later—on Memorial Day Monday—Michael shared the experience with his mom. To his surprise, she had an entirely different take: she thought the conversation had flowed beautifully and insisted he’d be "crazy" not to continue pursuing it. Michael valued his mom’s advice and, though still unsure, messaged Marisa again to ask how her weekend had gone. That message sparked something special. Marisa replied, and the two quickly fell into what they now remember as some of the best conversations they’ve ever had. Their first date soon followed at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, near where Marisa was living at the time. From there, a summer unfolded—one filled with unforgettable dates, sweltering heat, sudden rainstorms, and the beginning of a relationship that bloomed into something lasting and cherished. By the end of that season, they had officially become boyfriend and girlfriend, carrying with them memories they’ll hold close for the rest of their lives. Fast forward to May 2024: Marisa and Michael purchased their first home together—a place that quickly became a haven of laughter, love, and shared dreams. Then, one year later in May 2025, Michael proposed to Marisa at Rye Playland. It was a location filled with nostalgia and meaning, as it had hosted one of their unforgettable first dates. That location is now etched in their hearts not just as the place where they got engaged, but as the day they fell in love. All of that said, cheers to their wedding coming up in 2026!