Celebrate with us!

Emily and Bryan met in July 2015 at the first day of training for their Americorps program, College Advising Corps, on BU's campus. Over the summer, they found themselves sitting together at trainings and walking together on campus tours. During an elevator ride at UMass Amherst, Emily noticed Bryan looking at a picture of a math worksheet on his phone; finding out he was helping his brother Fabrizio with his 5th grade math homework, she realized this guy was something special... --------------------------------------- Emily y Bryan se conocieron en Julio del 2015 en un entrenamiento para el programa de Americorps, College Advising Corps en Boston University. Durante esas semanas se encontraron juntos bastante en talleres y visitas universitarias. Un dia en un asensor en una de las universidades, Emily notó que Bryan estaba revisando una tarea de matemática en su celular; al darse cuenta que le estaba ayudando a su hermano Fabrizio con su tarea del 5to grado, ella realizó que aqui había alguien especiál...

Over the next 7 years, Emily and Bryan stayed in touch, texting a few times a year and meeting up for brunch to catch up on life, dating, professional journeys, and families. Essentially, they had MANY non-date dates, getting to know each other, and being there through tough times. They started spending more time together while in grad school, studying and listening to music in the library. Each of them wondered if the friendship could be something more... but kept thinking it wasn't the right time. --------------------------------------- Durante los próximos 7 años, se siguieron hablando por texto, y saliendo a almorzar de vez en cuando. Hablaban de todo: familia, dificultades románticas, y sus vidas profesionales. En estas citas inoficiales se empezaron a conocer mas a fondo. Al matricular en el mismo programa de posgrado, se quedaban horas estudiando y escuchando música en la biblioteca. Por dentro, se preguntaba si esta amistad podría crecer en algo mas, pero nunca era el momento adequado...

One fateful day in summer 2022, Bryan invited Emily to hang out with him and some friends. They went bowling (one of Emily's favorite activities - yes, she won), and afterwards, they couldn't find a reason for the day to end. They started playing a board game, Tak, which was based on a game in one of their favorite fantasy books (note: total nerds). They were quite well matched, each winning alternating games - until Bryan decided to up the stakes. He asked Emily if they could put a wager on the next game: if he won, he could kiss her, and if she won, she could have whatever she wanted. She agreed, and they proceeded to have the most intense, cutthroat game of Tak they'd ever played (though Emily liked the idea of kissing Bryan, she hated losing. Emily won - and somewhat dejected, Bryan asked what she wanted as her reward. She paused for dramatic effect, then said "same as you" :) --------------------------------------- Un día en el verano de 2022, Bryan invitó a Emily a jugar a bolos con unos amigos. Despues del juego (obviamente Emily ganó) no querian que el día terminara. Jugaron un juego de mesa llamado Tak, basado en una de sus series de libros de fantasia favoritos. Alternaron victorias hasta que Bryan tiró el lanze. El propuso una apuesta: si el gana el proximo juego, el la besaba, y si ella gana, ella puede pedir lo que quiera. Lo que siguió fue el juego más reñido de Tak que habian jugado: aunque Emily no le chocaba la idea del beso, le aterraba perder! ...y Emily ganó. Desepcionado, Bryan le preguntó que querria. Despues de una pausa, Emily dijo "lo mismo que tu"... =]

Thus began a joyful relationship, grounded in care, respect, and friendship. They spent a year dating across Somerville and Brighton, with many late night bus rides and Ubers, before moving in together in 2023 in Watertown. They built a home, with lots of crafts, homecooked meals, and a million plants. They brought their friends and families together for pumpkin-carving parties, apple picking escapades, Thanksgivings, Christmas sleepovers, and Passovers. They traveled to Italy and Spain to see Bryan's brother play soccer, and visited family and friends in California, Pittsburgh, NYC, Long Island, upstate New York, Atlanta, Vermont, North and South Carolina, Washington DC, and Cape Cod. --------------------------------------- Y así empezó este noviazgo: primero cruzando de Somerville a Brighton en bus y en Uber, y despues viviendo juntos en Watertown. Ahí contruyeron un hogar juntos, lleno de comida casera, manualidades y demasiadas matas. Integraron sus familia y amistades para tallar calabazas, cosechar manzanas, Dias de Acción de Gracias, empijamadas de Navidad, y celebraciones de Pésaj. Han viajado a Italia y España para ver a Fabri jugar futbol, y visitado a familia y amigos en California, Pittsburgh, Long Island, NYC, upstate Nueva York, Atlanta, Vermont, Carolina del Norte y del Sur, Washington DC, y Cape Cod.

It was during their trip to Valencia, Spain in March 2025 that Bryan planned a whole engagement day in secret. Emily, Bryan, and Fabri traversed a large expanse of Valencia that day, from garden to garden, enjoying the remarkable statues of Las Fallas and bemoaning how the festival closed off bus routes, which were crucial to Bryan's plans. Running late, they arrived at Jardines de Monforte, with Bryan very stressed and Emily unsure why this garden meant so much to him. They walked through beautiful lined pathways, a water lily pond, rose bushes, and plentiful orange trees. Emily sat down on a bench for a rest, only for Bryan to say "can you get up for a moment please?". He guided her to the front of a massive Japanese Pagoda tree, got down on one knee, and asked if she'd join him on more journeys together and marry him. She said yes, and Valencia celebrated with a barrage fireworks that evening! --------------------------------------- Fue en ese viaje a Valenica, España en Marzo del 2025, donde Bryan planeó en secreto su propuesta de matrimonio. Emily, Bryan y Fabri atravesaron lo que parecía ser todo Valencia, de jardín en jardín, disfrutando las maravillas de la féria de las Fallas. Despues de un largo recorido, lleno de buses desviados por la féria, por fin llegaron a los Jardines de Monforte, Bryan bien estresado y Emily cansada de andar todo el día. Ahí anduvieron por senderos bellisimos, estanque de lirios, rosales y mucho árboles de naranja. Emily se sentó a descansar, pero Bryan no la dejó, pidiendole que lo siguiera un momento. Bryan la guió al frente de un gran arbol de Pagoda japonés, se arodillo, y le preguntó que si querría casarse con el. Ella de inmediato dijo que si, y esa noche todo Valencia celebró con juegos pirotécnicos!