The couple met in Italy during an opera program where Raffaele was conducting a Mozart opera and Sarah was singing the soprano role. A mutual respect quickly developed into a two year friendship with Raffaele in Kansas and Sarah in Southern California. Sparks flew when they reconnected in person for another summer opera. They had their first post-opera date at Disneyland in California where they decided to date long-distance for a year. The couple celebrated their first anniversary with Sarah’s move to Kansas where they enjoyed a local-distance relationship for 16 months before Rafi proposed. On Christmas Eve 2023, Raffaele had 5 masses at Good Shepherd Catholic Church where he works as Music Director. After the first two masses and lunch, the couple decided to open Christmas presents since they were flying to California to visit Sarah’s family on Christmas Day. Present-opening alternated until Raffaele said he had one more for Sarah, tucked behind the tree. Rafi, dressed in his church clothes and Sarah dressed in her red Minnie Mouse flannel onesie (it was cold), he kneeled down to retrieve the gift and was in the perfect kneeling position when he turned to ask “Will you marry me?” Through tears of joy, Sarah of course said yes.