It all began in the summer of 2018, under the golden Italian sun. Michael and Mary met on a church trip to Italy — a journey that turned out to be life-changing in more ways than one. For Mary, that’s where it all started: a new friend, an unforgettable experience, and the spark of something special. But if you ask Michael, he’ll tell you their story started much earlier. He remembers seeing Mary in the high school hallways — the girl with the warm smile who seemed to light up any room. They grew up in the same town, crossed paths more than once, and even shared a few mutual friends. To him, meeting in Italy was more like fate finally catching up. After their unforgettable trip, life brought them both to Newark for college. It was there that their friendship blossomed —filled with talks, inside jokes, coffee runs, and the kind of bond that felt effortless and real. Best friends first, and then slowly, something more. Love came softly, beautifully, and all at once. They realized they didn’t want to do life without each other. And the rest, as they say, is history.