Growing up in Oak Park there’s always been the running joke of the “Oak Park Bubble” and the trope that “everyone knows everyone.” As youths both Justin and Devon loved and loathed their small town of Oak Park. Only 3 years apart in age (and school years) you’d think they would have crossed paths before their mid-twenties. The day was September 10th, 2022, when Carolyn Orens and Cheryl Stark sat down for a lovely fall lunch and chatted about all the things Oak Park moms talk about. When the topic of Carolyn’s son Justin came up, Cheryl mentioned her son’s sister-in-law, Devon, and the rest was history! Once Justin reached out to Devon with the line “Hey, it’s Justin, your brother in law’s, mom’s friend,” and they began talking, the love story was written in the stars. On their first date they sat and talked for hours about anything and everything, soaking up each word of what the other person had to say. Fun fact: Devon had to relieve the valet and come back to the table at some point because they were at the bar later than the valet was open till, at the time when Devon left the table, Justin was approached by a random man who said “You’re a lucky guy.” At this time, little did Justin know, when Devon was running to relieve the valet the butterflies in her stomach were just wanting to get back inside to continue talking. After that first date, they saw each other once a week until it became, twice, three times, four times and then eventually moving in together after they were both done with the 40+ minute commute from Brentwood to North Hollywood taking away from quality time they could be spending together. Justin, Devon and Luna, the cat Devon adopted while living in North Hollywood, all became one big happy family in Culver City where they have been living since. Luna loves the space, the carpeted stairs, and cuddling with her pawrents. When Devon and Justin thought about the future, there wasn’t a doubt in either of their minds that they had found their person. After living together for a little while, they knew they never wanted to stop. On October 12, 2024, in the home they live in together as a family of 3, Justin completely surprised Devon by proposing in their living room with Luna there to watch the magic happen. Devon was so shocked and jumped for joy, almost to the point of knocking their TV over! Thankfully, Justin recorded the whole thing, documenting a full 16-minute video of the anticipation before, shock during, and overwhelming joy after. Justin also coordinated with both families to plan a surprise Engagement Party the following day, as well as, planned a perfect weekend in Solvang the following weekend to celebrate! Now, they spend their weekends celebrating and enjoying quality time with friends and families, watching F1 racing and cheering on Lando Norris, going for walks in fun neighborhoods talking about their dream home and plans for the future, making delicious meals and dancing in the kitchen, doing silly projects and having “date days” and mostly, just being together, their favorite thing. Devon and Justin are so excited to get married and have fun together, celebrate and support one another, build a home and a family together, and just relish in the love and joy that comes with spending forever with their person, everyday, for the rest of their lives.