We're getting married!!

So, it's a funny story... There were so many instances when Mitch and I could have met, but when it actually happened, it couldn't have been more perfect timing. Cliche as it sounds, it felt meant to be. We both grew up in the South Bay. I lived in Hawthorne and went to elementary school at American Martyrs. Mitch lived in Hermosa Beach and went to high school at Mira Costa. In high school, Mitch became friends with several people that attended AMS with me, and they started a band together. Many of my friends were fans of Mitch's band throughout high school and after, and I even attended some of Mitch's shows over the years because of this connection, but we were never introduced. Years later, my friend Bobby told me that Mitch and a few other guys I knew had started a new band and I should check them out, so I found their Facebook page and "liked" it. Not long after, trying to branch out and do something WAY outside my comfort zone, it was suggested to me by my friend Tyler to try out Tinder. I still can't believe I did that... I was incredibly apprehensive, but decided to take a chance for fun. I came across Mitch's page and a picture of him and his friend, AJ. I recognized AJ from school and then realized I had heard a lot about Mitch and had seen him play before! Something told me to take a chance. First thing Mitch wrote to me was how we had his band, Lose Control, as a shared interest on Facebook! I told him I had seen him play for years in his other band, since "Battle of Bands" days at the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair, and I knew they were playing soon at Saint Rocke. He offered me his guest spot, and to meet up for coffee before. We met at Java Man in Hermosa and hit it off right away. I went to Mitch's show that night and we were together ever since! There were a million ways we could have met through the years, but at this moment in time, we both took a chance, had faith and the timing was truly perfect. I feel so lucky to have found this man.

The first contact I ever made with Cristina, I thought I was making the coolest first impression ever. I saw my band as a shared interest between her and I, so I got to say something "awesome" to the effect of "Hey, this is crazy but I'm IN that band!" and then I popped my collar, ran a comb through my hair Fonzie style and hoverboard-ed around my house with my fidget spinners until she responded. Despite all of that, Cristina did actually keep talking to me and we found out the the show my band had coming up was right down the street from her apartment. So I offered her my guest list spot that was previously my brother's (sorry, Steve, but you get it) and we met up at Java Man in Hermosa so I could get her a second ticket for her friend, Rachael. I remember when she first walked up to me and we hugged for the first time, I IMMEDIATELY got nervous. She was way too pretty for me to have used such a terrible opening line on. Somehow, I still managed to make her laugh once or twice while we were drinking our coffee and getting to know each other and just like that we had a kinda-sorta date planned that night. After the band played that night, I was pulled in lots of directions saying hi to friends but I made sure to try to check in on Cristina and Rachael as much as I could. The headliner for the night was Puddle of Mudd and they were very not good. We had a good laugh about how bad they were then went to another bar where we could actually talk. Years later, Cristina would end up being not very receptive to the idea of our first dance at the wedding being a Puddle of Mudd song. From that night three years ago, I don't think there has been more than a day or two that we've gone without talking at least a little bit. To this day, I still feel like I got away with something I shouldn't have that first interaction and I'm so incredibly grateful that this woman loves me back.

It was Christmas morning. Mitch pushed Cristina awake like a little kid because he was just SO excited to open presents. He played "Santa" handing out gifts to her and, of course, their bloodhound, Wayland, too. First thing Cristina opened was a Harry Potter Snuggie that Mitch told her she should open and wear right away. We finished opening our gifts and Mitch started hanging the stockings back up on the shelf. Cristina wasn't expecting anything. Then, Mitch turned back around and said he had one more gift, got down on one knee and proposed. It was just the two of us and Wayland, Cristina in PJs and a Harry Potter Snuggie, Mitch in a bath robe in the home we share together in Torrance. It was very personal, low key, intimate and perfect. Then, we got to see both of our families for Christmas celebrations and share the good news! What Cristina found out later was Mitch had said he was running errands or going to the gym all throughout December while he was actually picking out a ring. He had her best friend, now MOH, Sydnie help him with inspiration for it and asked her parents for their blessing while he was "out running errands". FYI all of our photos are by Britt Crowe. Find her at brittcrowe.com if you want to look her up! She's amazing!