Till death do us part

It all started with a Twitter DM during our senior year of high school. Joe was about ready to give up on getting Francesca’s attention, but he thought, “What’s one more try?” Luckily, it worked. Francesca and Joe weren't planning on dating senior year, but after giving him a chance, she quickly realized Joe was someone she didn’t want to let go. Our first date? Francesca picked Joe up in her mom’s orange Hyundai Tucson, and we went to see Ouija Board—not exactly her first choice, but we made it fun, even if she gave Joe a hard time for not putting his arm around her. A few days later, in math class, Francesca turned to her friends and said, “I think he’s the one.” A few weeks later, on 12/13/14, Joe took Francesca to Casa Nova to meet his parents. Nervous and excited, Francesca ended up spilling water all over the table! Somehow, it must have worked, because Joe officially asked her to be his girlfriend that night, and of course, she said yes. From then on, every morning during our final year of high school, Joe would pick Francesca up, and we’d drive to school together. We’d park in his sedan behind Tottenville High, chatting and laughing while waiting for class to start. Some of our favorite moments were driving around Tottenville, dreaming about future homes, or cruising down quiet, snowy streets to admire the snow-covered trees. We spent our college years apart—Francesca in Rhode Island, and Joe in the Bronx—but we made it work with countless calls, visits, and, during Joe’s summer at sea, daily emails (Francesca kept them all). Fast forward almost ten years, after endless steak dinners, cozy naps, workout sessions, car meets, and binge-watching our favorite shows (Only Murders in the Building and The Blacklist), Joe proposed on Christmas morning 2023. The whole thing went down with a little behind-the-scenes planning: Francesca, wanting to set the “vibe,” asked to put on a Yule log, but Joe said no. Turns out, he wanted the video camera to catch the moment he popped the question—and Francesca had no idea it was coming! But when the moment came, she said yes (again!), and now here we are, planning the next chapter of our story. Joe keeps Francesca grounded with his calm, steady presence, while Francesca brings energy and excitement into his life. At the end of the day, we’re just two people who balance each other perfectly, and we can’t wait to celebrate our love with all of you on February 27, 2026, at the Estate at Florentine Gardens. Thanks for being a part of our story. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!