Gil and I met the summer before freshman year at the University of Colorado Boulder. We both individually attended “admitted students’ day” to finally see the campus that would be our potential new home for the next few years. After a full day of orientation lectures, I was introduced to a curly haired, green eyed guy with a contagious laugh and jovial way about him. We became fast friends and within a few months, our daily breakfasts turned into 4 hour long brunches and study sessions turned into just another excuse to hang out with each other. As college goes, we drifted in and out of each other’s lives for the next 4 years- but never fully lost sight of each other. I believe everything happens for a reason and as fate would have it, we reconnected our Senior year and promised not to let the other go again. I didn’t know it then, but the guy that encouraged me to dye my hair pink if that’s what I wanted to do or get the cool tattoo I had been wanting to get, would spend the next nine years encouraging me to be myself and supporting me however he could in doing so. At the end of college, and in our time living in Denver, it was Isa who supported me through what was a really difficult time in my life. Struggles with school, and navigating jobs that were clearly wrong for me, it was Isa’s love and tender care that let me feel confident enough to pursue tattooing as a career. Her joy and big smiles kept our first apartment bright and we loved decorating our space together. We would keep up an almost weekly date night routine which let us explore much of our new city through our mutual love of food, and spending time in deep connective conversation with each other. Our genuine friendship and mutual support has always been the foundation of our relationship. After so many years of living in Colorado, we found our way back to the coast, both of us having grown up with the ocean we found it was something we couldn’t easily live without. Naturally, Miami, where Isa grew up, was an obvious next chapter for our little family. There, we had the opportunity to spend some really important time with Isa's mom, Belkys, 'mi suegra' or future Mother-in-law, before her passing. Through Belkys, I learned where Isa gets her supportive nature from, as she was actually the person who, through a friend of hers, connected me to the tattoo shop I started my career in. After 4 years in Florida, we are off on a new adventure and decided to move to Providence, Rhode Island. We cannot wait to explore a new city together along with the little pup that turned our family of two, into a party of three. Back in 2020, Gil, unsurprisingly, wanted a big floppy pup that we could bring around friends and out in public. Unknown to him at the time, he was getting something even better- the grumpiest, ankle biting, elderly Chihuahua he didn't wish for, but couldn't help but fall in love with. Although little Bear cannot be at our wedding, due to reasons previously mentioned, keep an eye out for little Teddy acknowledgements throughout our wedding weekend and know that he is just as excited to welcome you to our new home, Providence!