We got married!

The weekend was amazing! We rented a large house in Somerset, CA, where we could host our bridal party, AND have the wedding and reception! People started arriving on Thursday, and we set up all day Friday. On the wedding day, it was overcast, but warm, which was the perfect weather for a summer wedding! The reception was on the backyard of the property surrounded by a vineyard and beautiful scrub oaks. After the reception, we had a reception on the patio, which included dinner, dancing, and a Wedding Shoe Game for the bride and groom! After the reception was over, some friends stayed behind and had a pool party at the house, and Sunday morning became a time for one last big breakfast with all of our friends and immediate family that came out. The location was a huge blessing and allowed us to spend time with friends and family who were able to come. After returning for one class in Reno, Vince and Kristen headed off to Lake Tahoe for a “mini moon” to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter. We went hiking, did an escape room, saw a magic show, did a couples massage, and just enjoyed each other’s company in a beautiful place that is only an hour away from our new home….RENO!

We bought a house in Sparks! What should have been a 30-day escrow turned into almost 60 days of an emotional roller coaster, with plenty of paperwork, tears, and moments of joy. We were so happy when the process was completed, and we were also quite relieved and surprised that the house actually went through. We moved in with the help of a few friends and family, and spent the first couple of weeks doing construction in the house. We are still in the process of making it a home, and are slowly completing projects as time and finances allow. And needless to say, the complications in the escrow process were worth the battle, because WE LOVE THIS HOUSE! The Lord really blessed us through the whole process (in more ways than we have room to explain), and was faithful through our offer, escrow, moving in, and even multiple small blessings of furniture from people we know. We’ve made the house our own and have had a great time building furniture, deciding decor, and just enjoying the space. We live in Sparks (near Reno) next to a Marina, and we’re less than 20 minutes from all of our favorite spots. It’s a 2-bed, 2-bath, and the perfect size for the two of us and our guests. We have a small backyard and a cute front yard. The neighbors are kind, and the location is great. We frequently say, “man, I love this house” and look forward to hosting our friends and family whenever they come to visit! We’re also looking forward to hosting our new friends, bible studies, and hang-out times. It’s been an adventure already, and we know it’s just the beginning!

Kristen always swore she'd never meet a man at a bar, but plans don't always work out like we thought! In January 2020, Kristen, her sister Lorin, and her best friend Brittany went to the Broken Arrow Saloon in Tracy, CA. Kristen introduced herself to Vince's friends, Sean and Katie, so that she could become a better dancer like them. That night she met Vince and everyone else with them, and the night ended with In-n-Out and the 7 of us piling into Lorin's small car. Needless to say, some solid friendships were created. After COVID hit, these friendships continued to blossom with Zoom dancing dates (thank you Katie), and social distancing pool parties (thank you Beans). Things continued to grow between Vince and Kristen, but it wasn't until a snowboarding weekend on Christmas of that year that a better relationship finally began to form between Kristen and Vince, and the rest is history.

Yup. That was it. What a romantic.

January 1st was Vince's birthday, and while Kristen was busy planning little surprises in Reno for his birthday, she was too distracted to realize that Vince was planning the biggest surprise of her life. Vince invited all of their friends for his "birthday celebration and New Years," and planned an Escape Room with a twist. After an exciting night on New Year's Eve, everyone woke up on New Year's Day ready for an Escape Room that they knew would be like no other. As the group worked through the Pirate escape room, they reached the final clue, which was a puzzle. Kristen put the puzzle together, and read the letters in red: "Will you marry me?" Of course, Kristen couldn't figure out what that had to do with a Pirate Escape room, so it wasn't until she turned around and saw Vince on one knee that she realized the clue was for her, and she said yes (after falling backwards and crying her eyes out from the pure joy).