Nichole and Michael first met in the Fall of 2007 in their first week of freshman year at St. Genevieve High School. Michael was walking home after class one day when he crossed paths with two fellow freshmen. What he thought at the time was that these two were dating; what he didn’t know at the time was that they were cousins, one would become a future groomsman and the officiant at his wedding, and the other was Nichole, bride-to-be at the very same wedding. Michael asked where they were going, Nichole responded that they were on their way to buy fish at Seafood City (per parental request), and Michael insisted he tag along because he was “already walking in that direction anyway.” This encounter became the beginning of a friendship that only grew stronger during their next 4 years of high school. The summer after graduating high school, some of their friends moved away for college. While Michael stayed in the San Fernando Valley, Nichole moved to San Diego. It wasn't until two summers later while catching up at a party when Michael learned Nichole had moved back. They went on to spend the rest of the summer together at parties, in smaller friend groups, meeting each other's family, and alone with just the two of them. In the Fall of that same year, on the night of 11/9/2013, after planning to do so during their full day at Aquarium of the Pacific, and again while having dinner at Souplantation, it wasn't until the end of the night while enjoying cups of coffee at Starbucks when Michael finally mustered up the courage and asked Nichole to be his girlfriend. Years went on of crunch and brunch dates, impromptu dinners, traveling the world, and big life updates like graduations, career changes, and moving in together with their two cute pups, Max and Yoshi, but even the brightest light can cast a shadow. Having each other as a pillar of support during difficult times made them much more bearable, and mundane things like sharing a meal in a hospital cafeteria became breaths of fresh air and memorable experiences. Nichole and Michael proved time and time again that it wasn't just the good times they would show up for, but that they would be inseparable even through otherwise dark times. In 2023 during the hours leading up to Michael's mom's birthday celebration, Nichole and Michael decided they would split the day between getting ready for the party and spending quality time together. They chose their outfits for the cocktail hour theme, Nichole got her nails done, Michael got a haircut, they enjoyed a relaxing lunch at Topanga Social, and got ready for the party at Nichole's parents’ house. Nichole joked, “maybe I'll cut my hair when we get married… so maybe I'll never cut my hair,” but only one of them knew that these moments would be their last as girlfriend and boyfriend. They drove to Auntie's house where the party was being held, Michael led Nichole to the front yard, the same yard they hung out at day after day as friends in high school, Michael took her by the hands, and Nichole's eyes lit up as she said, “do I get to cut my hair now?” The following year was full of quality of life changes: they moved back to the San Fernando Valley, Michael returned to Kaiser Woodland Hills as an OR nurse, Nichole started her career as a Speech-Language Pathologist, and they are currently planning their wedding, set exactly 11 years after that special night at Starbucks, for 11/9/2024. Please join them on this day as they celebrate love, friendship, laughter, and happily ever after.