We are finally getting married!

We started off 57 miles apart — Patricia in San Francisco and Michael in Los Gatos — which, depending on Bay Area traffic, could mean a breezy drive… or a two-and-a-half-hour test of commitment. (If we could survive Highway 101 and 17, we figured marriage would be the easy part.) Our first date was at Timber & Salt in Redwood City, where we laughed so much we ended up shutting the place down. Between the banter and some surprisingly deep conversation, time flew by — even the bartender joked she wanted to join our date. Patricia even told some of her worst (and funniest) stories, and somehow didn’t scare Michael off. That’s when we knew this had potential. From there, we kept things slow and steady… emphasis on slow. Seven and a half years later, we’re finally making it official. Every mile driven, every late-night conversation, and every year together has only made us stronger. At some point, we left the Bay for St. Louis, telling ourselves it was “temporary.” But then we discovered BBQ, central air, and a backyard, and — surprise — “temporary” turned into buying a house. Nothing says “short-term plan” quite like a 30-year mortgage. And speaking of that house, Michael has fully embraced his inner handyman — customizing closets, upgrading the pantry, and basically proving that YouTube + a toolbelt can unlock hidden superpowers. After years of patience, laughter, and balance (Patricia brings the stories, Michael brings the calm and the power tools), we’ve built something lasting and joyful — and now, we can’t wait to celebrate it with you.