Chad and Marissa first met in 2018 through mutual friends and their paths would later cross a few times over the years as acquaintances. During the pandemic shutdown of 2020, their paths crossed again during a virtual video chat party. Chad and Marissa noticed a spark. Chad recalls thinking “I’ve got to find a way to get to know her.” Marissa would say, "Chad was the life of the party. His laugh was infectious and I was drawn to him". Over the next year, after a series of clandestine parties during a worldwide shutdown, a trip to the mountains in Chads Jeep, hot tub dates in the snow, and countless times spent cooking dinner and watching their favorite movies and tv shows together, Marissa and Chad claimed they were "just friends" (as if anyone else ever believed that. The only ones fooled, were themselves). Over the following years, in spite of several obstacles and a near death experience, Chad and Marissa's friendship grew to love (or maybe they just finally admitted it to themselves). In January of 2023, at one of their favorite bars, their story truly began when Chad asked her on "a real date". Chad surprised Marissa with a ring in September of 2023 and proceeded to call her his "pre-fiancé" for a year. Surely you can imagine the confusion on friend’s faces when chad would proudly claim, "this is my pre-fiancé." Marissa would just smile and laugh. In September of 2024, as the sun set over the ocean on the coast of California, Chad asked her for forever and Marissa, overcome with emotion, tackled him. Chad asked between laughter and kisses, "I guess that's a yes?". The next day, Marissa surprised Chad with a secret trip to Kawaii where they took their engagement photos and the rest, as they say, is history. They are both excited to celebrate their future together with the people who matter the most to them: YOU!