Hey there, lovely visitors! Thanks for stopping by our wedding website. We’re excited to give you a glimpse into our quirky love story that’s filled with unexpected encounters, adventure, and a whole lot of laughter and love. Believe it or not, Emily & I grew up together in Roswell, GA and lived just a mile away from each other from elementary through high school, but we weren’t exactly the best of pals. Fate had other plans for us, though. We reconnected during our college years in the most random way possible—in an Art History class that I still scratch my head about, wondering why the college counselor thought it was a good fit for me. Now, here’s where the fun begins. Emily, being the incredibly pure and good hearted woman she is, was a little hesitant to talk to me because, well, let’s just say I had a rebellious streak. But destiny had its way, and before we knew it, we became inseparable college buddies. Together, we navigated the ups and downs of college life, survived MARTA adventures (those public transportation stories, though!), and tackled the perplexities of adulthood. I knew deep down that Emily was something special, so I took it upon myself to court her. And man, did that process take years! I went to some great lengths to impress her- from attending Passion City Church (you know, for that extra spiritual appeal) to ditching the 2010 World Cup Semi Finals to rescue Emily when her car broke down an hour away in downtown Atlanta. Talk about dedication! Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we went on our first OFFICIAL date after years of being best friends—a memorable river float on the Chattahoochee followed by a hibachi dinner. But let’s be clear, folks. Emily had a specific definition of a date: only if she was ordering an entree did it qualify. I had to prove my culinary prowess! Naturally, our journey over the past 12 years has had its fair share of ups and downs, but we braved through it all, growing stronger with each passing challenge. Fast forward to the end of 2019 when we took a leap of faith. Emily moved out to San Francisco, where I had been for a few years, and we moved into a cozy 400 square foot apartment in North Beach. After years of that long-distance relationship, the stars finally aligned, and we found ourselves in the same city again. They say love knows no boundaries, not even square footage! The honeymoon phase hit us like a tidal wave (in the best possible way). But just as life loves to throw curveballs, COVID arrived, turning everything a little crazy. But hey, silver lining alert- It brought us the closest we've ever been. We were fortunate to stay healthy and experience California without the usual tourist crowds, allowing our relationship to flourish amidst the chaos. In our journey towards engagement, milestones kept leading us closer to the inevitable—getting married. We covertly referred to it as a “housewarming party.” Then, during a series of wacky days on vacation in Guatape, Colombia, we stumbled upon paradise. As the sun dipped below the horizon, a breathtaking rainbow arched over a serene lake. In that picturesque moment, I dropped to one knee and proposed. Emily said “yes!” through tears and it was the best day of our lives, crowned by nature’s blessing. Now, we’re excitedly planning our dream wedding, ready to celebrate and create cherished memories with our loved ones and closest friends. And that, dear friends, is our whirlwind love story—filled with laughter, adventure, and a touch of unpredictability. We can’t wait to celebrate our journey with you and create new memories together on our special day. Stay tuned for more updates, and get ready to party the night away with us! Cheers, Ivan and Emily