Our story began in the summer of 2019, though it almost didn’t happen at all. Marissa had flown to Scotland to help her friend move for university—a trip that only came together at the very last moment when her friend’s visa was approved the day before their flight. Marissa herself nearly stayed behind to study for her licensing exam. One evening in Edinburgh, Lee almost decided to stay in—it was his mom’s birthday, and going out wasn’t really part of the plan. But something nudged him to join his friends for a night out. Fate was quietly at work. That same evening, on one of Marissa’s final evenings in Scotland, their paths crossed at a lively bar called The Shack. That night, Lee came to the rescue when Marissa, her friend, and her friend’s mom were dealing with an unwelcome stranger at the bar. It was the perfect “hero entrance,” and it left quite the impression. Life carried them back to their worlds—Marissa to Texas, Lee continuing life in Scotland—but in the spring of 2020, as life slowed down during COVID, they reconnected. What began as friendship quickly grew into something deeper through countless conversations, shared laughter, and the simple joy of really getting to know one another. By spring 2021, they took a leap of faith, deciding their connection was worth the miles between them. That fall, they reunited as an official couple, beginning a long-distance love story marked by airport hellos and goodbyes, adventures on both sides of the world, and the kind of bond that only grows stronger with time and effort. In April 2025, Lee asked Marissa to be his forever at the Houston Arboretum, with her beloved dog Xena carrying the note that popped the question. Surrounded by nature and love, Marissa said “yes.” What started as a night of chance—and nearly missed opportunities—became the greatest blessing of both their lives. Now, after years of flights, time zones, and a love that has only deepened, they cannot wait to finally celebrate their marriage with all the people who mean the most to them.