In the middle of the chaos that was 2020, at the height of COVID, we found each other in the most unexpected place: an inpatient psych unit. Dante was the dedicated, ever-reliable psych nurse (who would later become the director of behavioral health), and Elise was the music therapist, bringing music and much-needed humor to long shifts and tough days. What stood out to Elise about Dante wasn’t just his skill or dedication, but his unwavering loyalty to his patients, to his friends, to his family. No matter how demanding or exhausting the job was, he showed up every day with the same steady presence, always ready to support whoever needed him. Dante says what caught his attention about Elise was her ability to light up a room not just with music, but with laughter. But what truly made us fall for each other? That moment when we “got” each other was truly somethin’ special. Despite our instant admiration for each other, our story didn’t truly begin until the spring of 2021. Maybe we needed time, maybe we needed the world to settle a little, but when we finally found our way to each other, it was effortless. What started as two people navigating long shifts and hard days turned into something we never expected: love, laughter, and a lifetime of joy ahead.

It was a chilly Saturday evening, and Dante had made early dinner reservations for 5:30 PM. Elise remembers laughing about it, even sending a Snapchat captioned, “We’re officially an old couple.” Something about it felt a little off, but Elise went along with it. On their way to this suspiciously early dinner, Dante got a call from his boss. Some nurses had called out, and since he was on call, he was needed at the hospital. He let out a dramatic sigh, turned the car around, and Elise, annoyed but understanding, asked, “Well, now can I know where we were going?” Without missing a beat, he muttered, “It doesn’t even matter now.” At the time, she took it at face value, disappointment over ruined plans. But in reality, there were no reservations at all. Dante had something much bigger in the works. As they drove back home, Brand New by Lil Wayne played through the speakers. Elise was singing along, feeling some kind of electric buzz in the air, though she chalked it up to the music and her own dramatic tendencies. Then, as she pulled into our driveway, there it was, a massive sign stretched across their first home: WILL YOU MARRY ME? On the front porch stood their dogs, Elise’s childhood best friend, Dante’s sister, and Elise’s sister, all beaming. And there was Dante, suddenly very sure of his plans. He had even booked a photographer to capture the moment. Right there, in front of the first home they bought, he got down on one knee, and in the most intimately sentimental way, asked Elise to spend forever with him. As if that wasn’t enough, he whisked her away to his Aunt Gayle’s dance studio, where a surprise engagement party was waiting—family, friends, laughter, and love filling the room, with Dante’s close friend Brett providing the most delicious party food. It was a night filled with warmth, thoughtfulness, and the kind of love that lingers long after the moment has passed.