It all started out innocent enough, meeting up for a romantic dinner in the Capital Hill neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Three hours later, though, our lives would never be the same, and we have been inseparable ever since. We are each other's best friends, true loves and life partners. Now, we are ready to make it official!

On a surprise trip to Savannah, Georgia, and Hilton Head, South Carolina, Chris found the right moment to propose during a sunset dinner cruise. On a secluded part of the deck near the captain's cabin, Chris dropped to one knee to ask Christine to marry him. Both Christine and the salty old sea dog captain, who had been watching, had tears in their eyes. One of the nicknames Chris gave Christine early in their relationship was "pirate queen," based on Christine's love of the water. At the time, she was pursuing her sailing license. "You can't ask a pirate queen to marry you on land," Chris said.

As we begin the next chapter of our lives, we will forge a new family unit with Chris's children Conor and Angelina, who have played an active role in planning the wedding. The wedding is a celebration of Chris and Christine's love for each other, but also a celebration of our strong commitment to family.