We’re getting married!

Tori’s bestfriend Paige was dating Johnathan’s bestfriend Blayne. Paige and Blayne hosted a Christmas ornament party in December 2018 at their house in which all of their friends were invited. While there, Tori was introduced to Johnathan. When Tori went to go leave, Johnathan whispered something into Blayne’s ear and it caught Tori’s eye and made her very curious as to what he was saying about her. She dismissed the curiousity and went on about the night. A couple of months later in February 2019, Paige, Tori, and Blayne went to Calendars (a pizza bar/restaurant) to meet up with some friends, shoot some pool, and play darts. Guess who was there? Johnathan! They played a round or two of darts and talked a bit before everyone left. Over the next two months, Johnathan and Tori started following each other over social media, chit chatting occasionally, and getting to know each other as friends. Once they started getting to know each other, feelings were starting to develop. They started hanging out and texting every day and night. Johnathan even invited Tori to a wedding as his date. In May 2019, they took their first small roadtrip about an hour and a half from their home towns, to attend the wedding. During the roadtrip, Tori was so engaged in their conversation and not paying attention to the GPS, Johnathan ended up making two wrong turns. It was an adventure to say the least, haha! Throughout May and June, Johnathan and Tori knew they liked each other a lot and there was great potential for the future, that families were beginning to be introduced to the other person. July 7, 2019 Johnathan officially asked Tori to be his girlfriend and Tori said yes.

On June 30, 2020, Ryder and Tori moved in with Johnathan which became another adventure and learning experience for all. Tori quickly made Johnathan’s house a home. Covid, school closures, both Johnathan and Tori kept jobs, and Tori still going to school for her Masters. There were plenty of ups and downs but they were always able to work it out. Closer to the end of 2020 talks of a wedding came about. Before long, things were set in motion and in February of 2021, the engagement and wedding band were bought. Next big thing would be for Johnathan to ask the father’s permission and then eventually propose. April of 2021, Johnathan worked up the courage to ask her father for his blessing and he stated “I already approved of it.” In May of 2021, Johnathan was trying to figure the best way to propose. He wanted to make sure that everything was perfect and be what she wanted. Johnathan was laying in bed one night with Tori asleep and he thought of proposing on her birthday. This way her nails and hair would be done and all of their family and friends would be there. The plan was to propose at San Sebastion Winery on her birthday but with a party of 30 people San Sebastion was not equipped and the dinner plans had to be changed. Which meant the whole proposal had to be changed. Johnathan teamed up with Tori’s mother to find a place to seat 30 people with no luck. Finally, a family friend mentioned a brazillian streakhouse which could accommodate the party. Johnathan now had to come up with a new plan for the proposal. Johnathan met with her mom the day before the birthday dinner and asked if they could do cake and ice cream after dinner at her mother’s house which she happily agreed. That was the new plan. Thanks to Paige who had given Johnathan ideas on how to propose, he picked out two cards. One would be her birthday card and the other would be the proposal.

On Tori’s Birthday, everyone stuck with the plan- Brazilian Steakhouse and then back to Tori’s mom’s house for cake and ice cream. After dinner was finished, and everyone arrived at Tori’s mom’s, opening presents began. One by one Tori opened her presents, until the last to open was a card. Johnathan made sure to get a picture with Tori at this moment so he could be close by. As Tori opened up the last card, seeing the amount of words written, thoughts were racing through her mind. She looked over at Johnathan who had nothing but a smile on his face and she asked if she should read it aloud and of course he said yes. She read the card aloud so everyone could hear. As she finished reading she looks over at Johnathan as he dropped to one knee. No other words were exchanged except, “Will you marry me?” and Tori saying yes! The whole house cheered with excitement.