We first met in English class during our sophomore year of high school. We would pass notes throughout class and even made nicknames for each other. After months of passing notes, we started dating. Our romance faded, as most high school relationships do, and we went our separate ways. During the summer after freshman year of college, we ran into each other at our old high school. We instantly re-connected and reminisced about old times we had together. As we both said goodbye and started walking back to our cars, we both glanced over our shoulders and shared a quick smile. Something clicked that day and as the saying goes…the rest was history.

Written by Michael: When Justine and I first started dating, I placed a bread tie on her ring finger in a half-joking, half-serious way, and said, “One day I’m going to marry you”. Five years later, on a trip back home to visit our families in California, I had the bread tie from many years prior packed in my suitcase and the plan for a perfect proposal. I picked up Justine and drove to one of our favorite beaches, Crescent Bay, in Laguna Beach to watch the sunset. As we were walking along the beach and admiring the sunset, I got down on one knee and proposed. I had the bread tie in a ring box and asked, “Will you marry me?” Without hesitation, Justine had a huge smile on her face, but asked if I was serious since I had always joked about fake proposing. After realizing I was serious, she quickly responded to the question with an enthusiastic, "Yes!"