We met in middle school and became fast friends, but we didn't truly bond until our junior year of high school while stuck in the trenches of AP US History together. Our love of music, movies, and storytelling cultivated a connection so special, it could only be forged from the trunk of Clarissa's car, in the parking lot of a Rite Aid, eating Thrifty's ice cream. Several months later, Clarissa had bought enough Cookies and Cream to finally win Melina over, and we started dating halfway into our senior year. But six months after that, Melina moved 900 miles away to attend the University of Oregon while Clarissa stayed in California to attend Biola University. With the help of virtual study dates, game nights, and Allegiant non-stop flights, we thrived in a long distance relationship for 4 years. We moved in together right after Melina returned, and we continued to build our relationship from there. Now, after a decade of knowing each other and growing together, we are finally ready to share and celebrate this next chapter of our lives with you!

One day I just had the idea to propose in Antelope Canyon and never looked back. For Melina's 22nd birthday, I booked a trip to Lake Powell, AZ. When we arrived at Antelope Canyon, she was surprised by the presence of friends and family. I was so nervous I couldn't eat. By the time we got into the canyon, I was shaking. The tour guide led us to a breathtaking spot where the sun beamed directly onto me. I showed her cards that I had written over the years (the earliest dating back to February 14, 2021). The first letter of each of these cards spelled out W-I-L-L Y-O-U M-A-R-R-Y... I then pointed to myself and said "me" and got down on one knee. I pulled out the ring and she was teared up and and could only nod. She told me later because the sun was shining so bright on me, she couldn't even see the ring until after she said yes and I had put it on her finger. It's nice to know she's gonna marry me for me and not the fancy ring I got her ;) We celebrated her birthday and our engagement at the resort. I'm not sure how I'm gonna top that birthday present again - Clarissa Although I know she wanted something more simple and secluded, I was determined to still make it as special as I possibly could. But “special” looked different for her than it did for me — it looked like watching the sunset on the beach bundled up in sweats, like ordering a pizza too large for the two of us and reminiscing on our memories between bites, like reading a love poem (that she’d been asking for forever but I’d been too scared to write) and proposing to her from a seated position because we were too comfy to stand. So I did all that, and it was just as magical as that canyon glow. I custom designed the ring from scratch and incorporated our tattoo designs into the band for a subtle but personal touch. I also added in a couple of her favorite stones, amethyst, to leave a nod to the amethyst-colored stones in her promise ring. Honestly, I was really critical of it because it wasn’t the exact design I had envisioned from the beginning, and I was worried it didn’t “pop” enough. But, again, special for her looks different, and she adored the subtle, quiet beauty of it. Worth every penny. - Melina