"You are my greatest adventure." -Ellie, Up

Not every fairytale begins with a glass slipper or a magical spell—some begin in the halls of high school, toward the end of senior year, when two people meet at just the right time. It was the kind of timing that most people wouldn’t expect to last. But from the very beginning, something about us just worked. Our first date was at the roller rink, an idea I proudly suggested. I was convinced I’d glide circles around him. Spoiler: I was the one who ended up falling. It was a perfect start to our story: fun, a little chaotic, full of laughter and magic.

Since that night in 2016, we’ve built a life full of memories, laughter, Dodger games, and Disneyland trips. We’ve lived through years of long-distance while we both went to school, and it wasn’t always easy. Communication was tough, schedules didn’t align, the time zones were different and there were plenty of moments where the future felt uncertain. There were even people determined to prove we wouldn’t work, but we stayed committed, grounded, and determined to prove that what we had was worth it.

Fast forward to what I thought would be a normal Disney day— a regular part of our routine as a Disney-loving couple. Herman tried waking me up early which I wasn’t thrilled about and definitely didn’t do. Eventually we made it to Disneyland and as we walked the park, he strayed from our normal park routine, insisting we visit Galaxy’s Edge earlier than planned which was unusual for us. After some time, he led me to the front of the Millenium Falcon and there, with a nervous smile, he dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. Through joyful tears, I said yes… and just as I caught my breath, I saw my cousin nearby, recording the entire thing. He had secretly flown her out, knowing how much it would mean to me for her to be there. It was thoughtful, selfless, and perfectly him.

It’s funny to think that the guy who once claimed he didn’t like Disney now knows the park map better than most (sometimes even me). Disneyland is our happy place and is one of the most meaningful parts of our story—a place filled with laughter, adventure, and the reminder that magic is real when you’re with the right person. Now after 10 years we’re ready for our greatest adventure yet and we’re so excited to bring our favorite people into the magic as we say, "I do." “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney