We're getting married!

Christie and Erik’s journey together began on the magical New Year's Eve of 2019 in Miami at the party hosted by Cristina DeCicco, Christie's close friend. Little did they know, fate had plans to weave their paths together that night. Kevin DeCicco, Cristina's husband and Erik's first cousin, aware of Erik's past salsa dancing lessons and Christie's past at teaching salsa at the University of Miami, playfully orchestrated a moment between them by suggesting they hit the dance floor together. As the salsa music played, they found themselves laughing and enjoying each other's company more than they expected. The fun and interest continued the next day on Cristina's family's boat where Erik told Christie he wanted to move to South Florida later that year. Erik was living in Jacksonville at the time, and Christie was living in Miami. Although they both knew the weekend was coming to an end and the distance was a major factor, Erik continued the connection as a friendship by messaging Christie on Facebook messenger. A few months later COVID hit, and Erik's plans of moving to South Florida were inevitably postponed as it became even more difficult to find a dental job in South Florida. Erik continued to visit his cousin Kevin in Miami every so often though, and he was able to see Christie as well as when Kevin and Cristina would host different group events. Erik finally made his big move to South Florida in late 2021, and in January 2022 Erik reached out to Christie to ask her out officially on a date. To her surprise, Erik told her he had just started working at a dental office in Pompano Beach and was living in Broward. Pompano Beach and Broward are only an hour away from Miami. He continued by letting her know he seriously wanted to date her. They continued going on dates, with every date bringing them closer together. From their first date at Greenstreet Café, to bowling at Bowlero, to Valentine’s Day at Seasons 52 and a movie, to mini golf, to a Willy Chirino concert, to a Polynesian dinner cruise, and to ice skating followed by dinner at Earl’s where Erik asked Christie to be his girlfriend, they quickly realized that the same spark they felt two years earlier while dancing at the New Year’s Eve party was very much still there. As Willy Chirino says, lo que está pa ti, nadie te lo quita, which translates to "what's meant for you, no one can take away." Now, as they look forward to their future together as husband and wife, they cherish the serendipitous moment that brought them together at Cristina and Kevin's New Year's Eve party, and they invite you to join them in celebrating their love and commitment surrounded by those who have supported them along the way. They can't wait to create new memories with all of you as they embark on this exciting journey together.

Erik proposed to Christie on January 21, 2024 at Fairchild Botanical Gardens in Miami. Erik told Christie they were going to the chocolate festival that was being held there with Cristina, Kevin, and their daughter Amelia. Erik asked Cristina to tell Christie to dress cute for some nice pictures, which actually made Christie a bit suspicious for what might be coming. They walked around and enjoyed some of the chocolate festivities until Erik all of a sudden pulled Christie’s purse and sunglasses off and quickly separated from Kevin and Cristina. He then walked her over to a fountain and got down on one knee and asked her to marry him, to which she responded, “Yes!” The surprise was not over though, as he had coordinated a few of Christie’s friends to surprise her at her house afterwards. They continue to celebrate their love for each other as they plan their wedding day and look forward to their future together as husband and wife.