We're Getting Married!

We met over five years ago working at the same restaurant. I started there first, and Sal joined in August of 2020. My earliest memory of him is asking whether his name was Sal or Sam, because the schedule had him listed as Sal/Sam. Sal quickly became my favorite busser and food runner. He was a hard worker, just like me. We became friends fast, bonding over shared interests in working out and religion. What started as gym sessions on our days off turned into coffee dates and dinner outings. Before long, we were wondering whether we were dating or just friends. We officially started “going on dates” at Top Golf. A couple days later, Sal asked me to be his girlfriend at a drive-in movie while we watched Top Gun: Maverick. He never stopped being my best friend. He would come with me to The University of Akron on Fridays, watch every tennis match during my senior year, and go to mass with me on Sundays. He even quit his jobs and moved to Columbus so I could pursue my dream of studying Aerospace Engineering. Later, I got to watch him chase his own dream, serving our newly loved city as a Columbus Police Officer. The only downside now is that summers mean long-distance, but the saying “distance makes the heart grow fonder” feels spot on to me. On June 25th, 2025, after three years, Sal asked to upgrade my title from girlfriend to fiancée. We were in Hilton Head Island and had spent the evening shopping with family and friends. We then went to take sunset photos on a quiet beach we found the night before while getting ice cream in Harbor Town. Sal and I took a few pictures, and I noticed we had some time before our dinner reservation, so I went to pick up some seashells I’d spotted earlier. The next thing I knew, Sal had his hand on my shoulder and was asking me to marry him. I completely blacked out. I don’t even remember him getting down on one knee. He had to ask me three times before I could respond. I kept shaking my head and saying, “no way,” which, in the video, looks like I'm telling him no! But after finally saying yes, we celebrated with an engagement dinner at The Crazy Crab, also in Harbor Town. Now, as we step into this next chapter together, it’s impossible not to reflect on how far we’ve come, from restaurant shifts and gym sessions to quiet Sundays and chasing big dreams. Through every change, challenge, and celebration, Sal has always been there. He's the kind of love that feels like home, even when we’re a few hours apart. Our story is rooted in God, built on friendship, and surrounded by people who’ve cheered us on all along the way. We can’t wait to see what the future holds—together.