We're Getting Married!

Neither of us expected to find love when we first met. I never believed in love at first sight—I always thought love was something that unfolded slowly, over time, as two people truly got to know each other. I’ve always adored rom-coms, but I assumed those kinds of love stories were just Hollywood magic. Anthony was a realist too. He genuinely thought he might never get married or meet someone who would change his mind. And then... we met. That first night was something else. What started as first-date nerves quickly turned into excitement. The chemistry was instant and undeniable. From the moment we met, we both sensed it—this was different. This felt like a beginning. Like every great love story, ours had a twist. After that magical first date, reality set in. Anthony was deep into his aviation studies, with a military contract on the horizon that would soon take him to the Middle East for two years. I was in the thick of college, still figuring out where life would take me. So we made a logical decision: we’d keep things casual. Spoiler alert—we did not keep things casual. Cue the montage: exclusive dating, spending nearly every day together, talking for hours, laughing until we cried. We went from a few texts to constant conversations. We became inseparable. We talked about everything and nothing. We laughed at things only we found funny. Somewhere along the way, we became best friends—without even realizing it. Then… COVID hit. And in the middle of all that global uncertainty, we found something steady. Instead of pulling us apart, the chaos brought us closer. As the world paused, we leaned in—finding joy in the quiet, and building something real in the stillness. Anthony became the person I turn to with every joy and every worry—always meeting me with love, humor, and the kind of patience you usually only see in saints or dog trainers. Looking back, it’s clear: what we built wasn’t rushed or planned—or even fully expected. It was nurtured with laughter and trust. We’ve grown side by side, supported each other through every moment, and built a relationship we’re endlessly proud of. This journey together has been full of beauty, growth, and joy. And the life we’ve built? It’s the best story we never saw coming.