During the doldrums of COVID-19, Drew and Marinella each found themselves single and sequestered in Paris, wondering whether it was time to leave the City of Light. Then one May evening in 2021, as Paris bars reopened and the city exhaled, they met along the Canal St. Martin through a mutual friend. The next morning Mari reported to a close friend that she had met a cute guy amid the city-wide delirium, but shrugged it off. Her exact words were “It’s not like I’m ever going to see him again.” Almost true! But almost doesn’t count. Nearly a year later, Drew and Mari reconnected and slowly got to know each other. Despite their efforts to proceed with caution, eventually they admitted to each other – and themselves! – how much they enjoyed spending time together, no matter what they were doing. Thus began a romantic cultural exchange where Drew learned the finer points of cooking and dining, while Mari learned the intricate lore of the many (many, many) Boston sports championships. Since their first official date, they have continued to learn from and support each other during both the exhilarating highs and the tough times. It was during their first trip to Italy together in summer 2023, in the magical city of Naples – where Drew’s ancestors departed from Italy for the United States – that Drew learned he had lost his brother Brendan. Though devastating, the loss brought Drew and Mari closer together, helping them understand how important family is for them both. Rather than let this experience scar their memory of Naples, Drew decided it would be the perfect place for them to begin their own family. So, a year later, on the balcony of their hotel overlooking the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvio, he asked Mari to marry him. Now, coming from worlds apart but united by their love for travel and family, the couple cannot wait to celebrate with you all in Turin, the home of Marinella’s paternal family.