10 years in the making.

Olivia and Michael first met at SUNY Purchase in the Spring of 2015. Olivia was a Sophmore, Assistant Stage Managing their first Opera, and Michael was a Freshman working on the costumes crew. Eager to curry favor with an upperclassmen, Michael bought Olivia the absolute largest 'Very Berry Refresher' from Starbucks every single day of the production. Olivia was mostly concerned with how that much liquid would necessitate multiple bathroom breaks during this 4 hour show. Suffice to say it was a missed connection.

Six months later, their good friend Judy thought they would get along really well and, clearly, she was right. After talking late into a cold October night on the campus quad, their meet ups became a part of daily life. Their shared love of the Code Lyoko brought them to weekly watch parties, and Oliva's hyper competitive nature made Smash Bro's Brawl an instant staple in their lives. Somewhere amidst Spring Awakening in the city, cooking fajitas in the dorms, and commiserating in the PAC prop shop, their affections grew. Until finally, on either November 19th, 20th, or 21st, they started dating. For two so organized, how ironic they can't remember exactly which day.

When Olivia graduated in 2017, the couple went long distance for a year. With Michael in the weeds of senior year, every decision Olivia made in the big city was with the simple certainty that in a year Michael would join them. She bought a dresser twice as large, and bed twice as big, and two night stands to match. And after the weekend's furniture delivery festivities, Michael assembled said furniture supervised by a tipsy Olivia. The year, flew by fast. Michael commuted in on weekends to see Olivia as often as school would allow. Olivia found work Stage Managing across the city. And together they made that small NYC apartment a home the two of them could share (with three roommates and drooly cat named willow).

After many apartments and roommates, from wonderful to nightmare (157th st shall live in infamy), Olivia's supernatural apartment sleuthing found them a goldilocks one bedroom (with a dishwasher!). With years of cohabitation under their belt, it was a smooth transition from bustling roommate living to just the two of them, plus one very loving cat (Miss Moomie 💕).

Why not? They knew a year in they were committed to each other, and forever was just a given. But they'd never celebrated that in a big way. After a decade of love, it was about damn time. Rings, photos, & close friends and family made their 10 year anniversary feel special in a new way.