You have ravished my heart with a single glance of your eyes. Song of Solomon 4:9

Michael and Vanessa first met while working at the Nike Factory Store("The Swoosh") in Ontario, CA in 2011. They initially weren't friends... at all! haha. One day, Vanessa, a newly-hired "athlete" at the store, was working the sales floor, and encouraging sales. Michael was VERY busy replenishing the sales floor this day. Vanessa caught him putting items in places they didn't belong... So in true, Vanessa, know-it-all fashion, she offered to help him locate particular items... and told a manager about it to ensure she did not have to put it all back where it truly belonged... haha! If you've heard this story from Vanessa, she's told you that she was just trying to help Michael since she's always been the ultimate team player and encourages everyone to play fair... If you have heard it from Michael, he has told you that it was his slick and sly game-play in attempt to get her attention... either or, her attention was caught like a back-handed catch on the third base foul line; super quick. By chance or fate, Michael and Vanessa reconnected years later in Fullerton, CA while out on the town with their separate groups of friends. Text communication, social media follows and follow-backs, first dates, second dates, hours of conversation-HISTORY. The couple soon realized that their core values aligned; they both cherish time with family, have a love for sports, music, and lots of adventure. Michael and Vanessa LOVE to look back at these days and remember why they give each other that bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two outs, last at bat, tied game, GRANDSLAM, full of butterflies kind of feeling. They are truly glad that there is wonderful joy ahead, and can not wait to share their wedding day with you!

Michael proposed to Vanessa in her preschool classroom the day of her students' Winter Holiday performance. It was a hectic day right before Winter break, and she had NO idea it was coming. Thanks to Michael's cousin Lauren, she made a short video that has helped the couple capture this moment. Please copy and paste the link into your web browser if you would like to watch! https://youtu.be/rFPqXb0p6JY With it being the time of year for teacher performance evaluations, and Vanessa being a first-year teacher... she was not quite sure why she was asked to meet her vice principal in her office right before her students were going to head to the school's stage to perform... she was extremely nervous! But the entire school was in on it! During this time, both of their families somehow found their way back to her classroom without being seen, and later Vanessa arrived for the surprise of her life!