When we shared about our engagement, there was a general consensus amongst everyone: FINALLY. We started dating in our senior year of high school, attended college together, and are now finally getting married after nearly a decade. Through the years, our family and friends got even more antsy than us. Why the wait? The short answer is, we were broke. The long answer is, we were focused on growing individually and together. After we graduated college in the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were both just trying to establish ourselves in the post-graduate world. Anthony participated in an Americorps program on his way to become a K-12 teacher, while Kellina moved to San Luis Obispo to pursue her master's degree. Between being in debt and being in a long-distance relationship for two years, our circumstances did not allow us to even think about marriage at the time. For four years after college, we encountered significant changes in our personal lives. Kellina endured countless nights of studying and research to earn her master's degree. Countless is also the amount of times Anthony switched his career path. Along the way, we gained new family members and friends whom we are so grateful to be joined by on our special day. We also lost loved ones we will miss dearly at our wedding more than words can say. With every phase, we learned more about ourselves and our relationship. Our time living apart allowed us to foster our own interests, emotions, and values as people. Through cultivating our own growth, we learned how to better support each other in our moments of celebration and of grief. This year, it felt as if everything has aligned for us, as we are now both living in San Diego and kicking butt in our careers. After all this time, we feel more than ready to tie the knot and to continue growing with each other in the next chapter of our relationship. Thank you for being here to celebrate such a special time for us!