By Michael: It all started in fall of 2009. It was the first week of 10th grade when everyone is still getting acclimated to the school year. Faby (being the outgoing type) was looking for a group of friends to sit with during lunch. She spotted a table where Michael and his friends were sitting and sat herself right next to him. Little did they know at the time but, from there grew a friendship that would grow throughout high school. From eating from the same tray at lunch, to talking between every class break, Michael and Faby were truly inseparable. It wasn’t until September of following year that Michael would ask Faby to be his girlfriend. Through the last two years in high school they continued to do everything together. From joining Best Buddies, taking the same classes in hopes of getting the same teacher and even visiting colleges. Speaking of college, they both insist that they separately chose VCU and not just to go to the same school as each other, though few believed it at the time. While attending VCU, Michael and Faby never went very long without being together. Both majoring in business degrees, they finessed their schedules to maximize time together. Spending afternoons in each other dorms at GRC to the family dinners at West Grace Street house. At this point, anyone who knew them knew they were bound to get married one day! Soon enough, Faby graduated college, followed by Michael a year later, where they decided to start off their careers staying in Richmond.

By Michael: Onto the day of the proposal. It was a breezy summer day in Wyoming. Faby and Michael were driving into Yellowstone with 16 of his family members through the Bear Tooth Pass. It is considered one of the prettiest drives in the country and peaks at an overlook at 11,000 feet. There were my stops and photo ops before reaching the summit, but Michael couldn’t get there fast enough. Upon reaching the last stop and spotting the perfect place to get down on one knee, the entire group happened upon a mountain goat and her baby. Faby, of course being the nature lover, got emotional before the proposal even happened. She thought it was a beautiful and powerful sight of the two animals. At last though, the moment felt right and Michael lead Faby into the meadow he spotted, over looking the valley below. He got down on one knee and asked the question that he had been wanting to ask for years! Well as you can tell, Faby said yes before turning into a puddle of tears. They currently both live in Richmond with their two fluffy cats Romeo and Caesar and are very excited to spend the rest of their lives together!